Santana SA-CD Multi Hybrid Edition [Limited Edition] [Cardboard Sleeve (mini LP)] Customer Reviews

Santana debut album 7 inch version on Super Audio CD. Compared to the other 7 inch releases, it is somewhat austere in terms of execution, but it should not be missing in your collection if you enjoy Carlos' fantastic guitar playing. Beautiful sound in stereo and in multi-channel, super nice. recommended!

Remixed and remastered. The stereo layer is simply outstanding. Music just hangs in the air. Various drums can be distinctly heard. The quad mix has the same fine sound. In my 5.2 listening room the separation is superb. It places the listener in the center of the musicians. Meaning that guitar is left front, keyboard to the right, drums in surround right and brass in surround left. Takes getting used to. Most of my multichannel music maintains the soundstage in front and the surrounds provide ambience. This quad recording really places you in the middle of the performance. I enjoy it more with each listening.

Rarely has such a debut album attained such a level of perfection, but Santana were around for three years so they had plenty of time to become a tight unit and belting powerful anthems. Santana was part of that second wave of San Fran bands, but did not really sound as psychedilc as their forerunners, mostly due to Mexican-born guitarist Carlos Santana and the wild percussionists giving such an incredible Latino timbre to their feel. Their music reminded everyone that indeed the Californian Spanish heritage was indeed still a reality. From the more traditional rock side come the excellent singer/keyboardist Gregg Rollie and the superb Michael Schrieve. The mix of influences is an excellent example of early fusion (before the term got coined as a twin of jazz-rock) between many Latin America musics and the more "white RnR", blues, jazz and they were highly innovative (if not progressive). Santana got their big break from their stellar gig in Woodstock propelling their debut album to unhoped-for heights with tracks like Soul Sacrifice.

Stunning packaging and presentation of this album let alone awesome SACD sound in quad. All of these 7” releases are gorgeous. I’ve bought several different ones and they are all excellent in every way.