Lock The Door & Cover Me – Santana

 Carlos Santana has always been an interesting artist.  There has never been any doubt whatsoever about his ability.  He finished 15th on Rolling Stone’s 2003 list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.   Can’t complain about that can you?   We all know the Mexican-American Carlos Santana as the pioneer of Latin, Salsa and Jazz Fusion Rock from the late 60′s onward.   For what was then a relatively untapped genre (and no Trini Lopez or Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass doesn’t count) you don’t come out smoking any better than 1969′s Santana, 1970′s Abraxas and 1971′s Santana III (known by some as The Man With The Outstretched Hand).   One nice thing about Carlos is he’s not afraid to play other people’s music.   It’s really rare that an artist is secure enough in his abilities to do a lot of covers.

Santana was a dishwasher and a busker in San Francisco for many years until he got his big break.   Technically the Santana Blues Band formed in 1966, but it really wasn’t until Santana, as they were later known, played the Woodstock Festival that they arrived.  Clive Davis, then running CBS Records, jumped on the talented act on the spot.    Everyone knows Clarence (Sonny) Henry’s “Evil Ways,” Peter Green’s “Black Magic Woman and ” Tito Puente’s “Oya Como Va,” but Santana has a massive catalogue of music.  Some would say a bit too much.   As a fan of their music, I kind of wish they had condensed some of the output, but after the first three there was a period of prolific record making, but not so much commercial potential.   1977′s Moonflower is a critical favorite.   1978′s Inner Secrets should be (I love this record).  1979′s Marathon went Gold too, but 1981′s Zebop! was a big radio friendly record.  J.J. Cale’s “The Sensitive Kind” was a hit.  Santana’s own “Primera Invasion” into “Searchin’” was a big smash at the time.   Russ Ballard’s “Winning” was also very popular.   If Santana’s star was fading at the time, this definitely righted it.

The sleeper on this record for me though was Santana’s cover of the Cat Stevens B cut “Changes” from his 1972 classic Teaser and The Firecat.   The song was actually listed as “Changes IV” on the Cat Stevens record, but no matter.  Santana took this song and whooped it up and made it a happening number.   Let me say this right here and now; I love Cat Stevens.  Call him a guilty pleasure or whatever you want, but he was as popular as Elton John or James Taylor as far as singer songwriters go in the very early 70′s.  I’m not happy with his decision to drop out of the life or pursue religion, but I have no choice but to respect that decision.  Now that he’s on the no fly list I’m not sure what to think, but I can tell you I will always be a fan of his music.

As for Santana, Carlos and his band released some 29 records including live albums, compilations and studio CDs.   In 1999 they had their best selling record ever in Supernatural which, according to Wikipedia, went double digit multi platinum behind several hit singles featuring special guest artists.   By and large I bought five to seven Santana records after their first three and I finally did see him for a second time live last summer at Boston University, but I’m not an over the top Santana fan.  I really like this cover though.  It’s a good enough song as it was released originally, but the charge that Santana put into it was really cool.   I hope you like it.

Santana – Changes.mp3

Cat Stevens – Changes IV.mp3

Santana – Changes.mp3 YSI

Buy or download Santana’s Zebop! from Amazon here.