When you say the name “Santana”, people of a certain (elder) age will immediately think of songs like Black Magic Woman, Evil Ways, and No One to Depend On. Oh, but wait. Other people of a certain (younger) age will immediately think of songs like Smooth, Maria Maria, and Game of Love.
Five decades of relevance is a rare thing in the music business. Across this generation-spanning time of making music that matters, I’m going to count down my Top 5 Santana hidden gems – deep tracks that are just as go-to for me as the big hits. They are songs that don’t generally come up in even deep conversations about the band.
#5 Life Is a Lady/Holiday (Inner Secrets, 1978)
On an album of commercially-oriented tracks and cover songs, this two-song instrumental medley stands out. It is minimally produced, relying primarily on guitar and keyboard, and stripped of the customary Santana percussion section. Both halves of the medley have a simple, lyrical quality while featuring Carlos’ famous ability to make you feel his guitar sound like it’s crying (Life Is a Lady) or smiling (Holiday). This is a lovely track.
#4 Break feat. Ally Brooke (Blessings and Miracles, 2021)
On an album of commercially-oriented tracks and cover songs (sound familiar?), I am always moved by this song written by the prolific hit-maker Diane Warren and sung by ex-Fifth Harmony member Ally Brooke. Carlos’ incredible ability to lock in as an accompanist and make two people feel like one is on full display here. Ally returns the favor by matching her vocal to his tender, understated playing.
#3 Your Touch (Milagro, 1992)
This mini-concerto is, quite frankly, the sexiest song I have ever heard. It has four movements that tell a complete story: attraction (1st verse); lust (2nd verse); fulfillment (Carlos’ intense solo followed by a brief band segment); afterglow (the end of the prior section through the end of the song). When it’s over, I feel like I’ve been taken on a journey much longer than six-and-a-half minutes.
Given the extraordinary length of Santana’s hit-making career, it’s appropriate that I cannot decide my favorite between these two hidden gems released nearly 50 years apart. With that in mind, I’m listing them in chronological order.
#1 (tied) Toussaint L’Overture (Santana III, 1971)
For their third album, the band went BIG with “an album that’s all about instrumental firepower.”[1] A key component of that firepower was the addition of teenage phenom Neal Schon on guitar, who along with keyboardist Greg Rolie would leave the band to form Journey two years later.
This incendiary track starts big and ends bigger, and every part of the band gets to strut their stuff. But things get really spicy during the dueling guitars after the extended percussion break. Put on your headphones and listen to Neil give Carlos that work. He will be in your left ear and Carlos will be heard in your right. After they each take a solo turn, it’s a frenzy of everybody splashing around in the pool accompanied by some intense background vocals before Carlos finally gets the last word with a soaring solo. The whole experience leaves me exhausted.
#1 (tied) Back in Black (Guitar Heaven, 2010)
Rap by the legendary Nas meets AC/DC meets the roaring guitar of Carlos Santana. I don’t have too much to say about this track other than to say it seriously crushes so hard. And the last minute of the song after the brief guitar break, Nas starts free-styling, Carlos goes wild, and the seat belt lights are on due to the heavy turbulence. The whole experience leaves me exhausted.
So, there they are. My five hidden gems across the fifty-plus-year career of the Santana band. Click on the link below and let me know what you think!
[1] Apple Music
Ray's Musings 
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