ORIGINAL ALBUM CLASSICS

While I dive into Santana albums from 1972 to 1987 on 2 compilations of 10 CDs, ratings will come after each 3-4 listnings of each album, maybe some comments aswell. This compilation have releases from 1978 to 1987, issued in 2009

First spin - Inner secrets from 1978, not bad at all as many pretend to be, really, like it from start to finish, pieces like Dealer / Spanish Rose or Stormy with superb guitar solo by Santana and some very cool vocals by Greg Walker- 3.5 stars for sure

Marathon - 1979, again 3.5 stars is famous for great instrumental Aqua Marine for good reason, another highlights another instrumental Marathon or Lightning in the Sky. Very nice guitar work , no worries for me about if is or not a Santana album as sound and atmosphere.

Zebop - 1981! -3.5 stars for sure, another worthy Santana album but here things move slightly to some more mainstream AOR direction but still Santana sound is here like on E Papa Rè, and instrumental ones are in front here like Tales of Kilimanjaro or Primera Invasion. Nice one

Shango - 1982 - 3 stars - Now Santana on some pieces sounding like Journey same period like on Hold on or Nowhere to Run, while instrumntal Nueva York stands as highlight. Still ok most of the time, Shango is kinda easy listning compare with older material, but not bad at all really at least for my taste.

Freedom - 1987 - 3 stars, this is typical 80s mainstream rock album with some latin, pop rock and R&B sounds. Again overall forgettable release for Santana, but not entirely dull, there some very cool moments like instrumental Mandela or the opening Veracruz, the rest are unintristing but not that really bad.

So, from this period for me Inner secrets from 1978 is the winner for sure and overall compilation is a worthy one to have. 3.5 stars