The Top Ten Songs by Santana

Carlos Santana is the visionary, the frontman with the soulful guitar, surrounded by, without question, the most talented array of musicians ever assembled in pop/rock music history. There has never been a tighter band, before or since, who has such intense rhythms, beats, and energy. Santana's music is one of a kind that crosses all boundaries and music genres. Once you hear it you never forget their sound. It's like getting a good dose of medicine for the soul.

What is truly remarkable about Santana is their incredible longevity that certainly had its share of immense growing pains over four decades. It was the formation of the band's unique diversity right before Woodstock that lead to their stellar performance at this legendary music festival which launched them into mega-superstardom. In 1999 Santana made an amazing comeback that had one of the longest delays between #1 albums, according to the Guiness Book of World Records (2005). Naturally with all the great music Santana has put out during the last forty years, with their singles and albums, it was a difficult task to choose the Top Ten songs. Here's what I feel, attached with some personal sentimentality, my list of the Top 10 Songs by none other than Santana.

10.) No One to Depend On (1972)

One of two charted singles from their third album titled appropriately enough, Santana III. This song was more of a staple on FM radio stations, which catered to a more album-oriented listener, as opposed to the commercial Top 40 air play rotations on AM radio. This single got its share of both formats, a worthy accomplishment for its time. As you will find on virtually all of Santana's music a lot of Carlos' exquisite guitar work and fiery percussion. This has it all.

9.) Everybody's Everything (1971)

This is another of the charted singles from the album, Santana III. It features the teen sensation of Neal Schon on guitar, who was only 15 years old at the time. Tower of Power is prominently heard on horns as well as Gregg Rolie's fine work on keyboard. I remember hearing this song all the time on the radio in my very early teens and of course loving it. The strangest thing was I never knew who the artist was until many years later. However, Everybody's Everything reminds me a lot of another song that was out at the time titled Get It On by Chase. Incidentally, a year after the release of this album, Neal Schon and Gregg Rolie left Santana to form Journey.

8.) The Game of Love (2002) (feat. Michelle Branch)

From the album Shaman the single was released in 2002 on the heels of the massively successful Supernatural. There is a great mix of Carlos's and Michelle's guitars. Michelle Branch is the featured vocalist that has become somewhat of a trademark with Santana in their more current recordings. This rhythmic song won a Grammy Award for "Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals" and reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

7.) Europa (Earth's Cry Heaven's Smile) (1976)

If you want to hear Carlos' passionate guitar work throughout an entire song, this is the one for you. A sensual instrumental from the Amigos album is considered one of Santana's most popular songs. It is frequently heard on oldies, classic rock, and contemporary jazz radio stations. Absolutely one of my all-time favorite Santana songs.

6.) Evil Ways (1969)

Their first Top 40 and Top Ten hit single in the U.S. that reached the Billboard Hot 100 charts at #9. It's also from their first self-titled album Santana. Back in the day when there were two distinct radio listeners, FM for progressive rock and AM for the Top 40 radio-friendly songs, two versions of this song were being played. An edited version was featured on AM radio and on FM it was played with its full introduction, organ instrumental, guitar improv, and no fade outs at the end. Of course today FM is the dominant place for listeners, while AM is now relegated to talk radio shows.

5.) Maria, Maria (2000)

2008 marked the celebration of 50 years for the Billboard Hot 100 charted songs. Billboard compiled a list of its Hot 100 All-Time Top Songs. This featured Santana's song tht came in at #96. It also placed at #2 on their list of Billboard Hot 100 Latin Songs of All Time. From their mega-selling album Supernatural the song features The Product G&B, an R&B duo. This is the second #1 single from that album which stayed at the top of the chart for 10 weeks. It won a Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

4.) Oye Como Va (1970)

I'm very surprised this song is not a main fixture on the hit TV show, Dancing with the Stars during their Latin dance routines, especially the cha-cha-cha. More than likely Oye Como Va is way too hot for prime time. The title of the song is colloquial Spanish for "hey, what's up" or "how's it going". Originally the song was written and composed by the mambo and Latin jazz musician Tito Puente in 1963. Santana's cover version comes from their second successful album Abraxas.

NPR included the song from its numerous arrangements, remakes, and various tempi in their "NPR 100: The most important American musical works of the 20th century." Overall, it's a song that is unforgettable, because of its classic rhythm and tempo of cha-cha-cha. Even though this song has been covered by Latin musicians in the last forty years, it's Santana's version that is the most widely recognized. To say this is one of my all-time favorite Santana songs is a gross understatement.

3.) Soul Sacrifice (1969)

If you want to see music history in the making here is their performance of an instrumental piece from the Woodstock documentary film that helped catapult Santana into the higher stratosphere of superstardom, then click on the song title to watch this epic performance. Sadly, we do not hear this kind of fiercely tight musicianship in today's music whatsoever due to high-technology massively taking over.

The most famous part of the song, and in the film, is the two-minute drum solo by their drummer, Michael Shrieve. It begins right at 3:07 and ends at 5:11 when the entire band all comes together in precise synchronization. Soul Sacrifice is featured on their debut album Santana. A reissue of the 2004 Legacy Edition features the entire "live" Woodstock set. I never grow tired watching this film clip. Every time I view this it's as if I'm seeing it for the first time. The editing of the crowd, the drummer, and the other musicians give it that frenzied excitement when you see it to the end. An absolutely unforgettable performance!

2.) Black Magic Woman (1970)

There is a very interesting music video (click on the song title) that is of course pre-MTV. I like this video a lot, because of its extended play version. However, the kaleidoscope effect gives it a mysterious aura that works well with the lyrics to this song. One of the two cover songs featured on this Top Ten list it was originally written by Peter Green for Fleetwood Mac. It had minor success on the charts in the U.K. Santana's version is a medley from the 1967 Gypsy Queen with Gabor Szabo. You can hear a mixture of jazz, Latin rhythms, and Hungarian folk music. The single is from their #1 album Abraxas. Black Magic Woman is one of Santana's biggest hits. This version is now used as a music video game in Guitar Hero III and Guitar Hero: On Tour.

I vividly remember living in Japan as a tween when this song came out. The radio station we listened to for all military personnel and their families, FEN or Far East Network, (now called AFN or Armed Forces Network) was available to anyone who wanted to listen. During their nightly prime time Top 40 show I'd listen to while doing my homework, the on-air radio personality (or DJ or Disc Jockey) wanted us to mail in our requests for some popular songs to play. They never did this before, so I wanted to send in my postcard request of Santana's Black Magic Woman. This would be the equivalent of sending an email instantaneously. Lo and behold, one night they announced my full name, the military installation I was from, and the song I requested by Santana for all of Japan, South Korea, Guam, American Samoa, and the Philippines to hear.

1.) Smooth (1999) (feat. Rob Thomas)

What the Woodstock music festival and film did for Santana at the start of their career, the Supernatural album and this #1 single took them to a whole new level for the 21^st Century. The first of many featured artists to perform alongside Carlos Santana, Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty, wrote the song originally intended for George Michael. When Carlos heard the demo by Rob he wanted him for the final version instead. Smooth was the first chart-topping song for Santana's long-standing career since Black Magic Woman peaked at #4 in 1971. The song won three major Grammy Awards: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. From the Billboard magazine rankings of the top songs over the first fifty years of the Hot 100 singles, Smooth was ranked as the number-two song overall, second only to The Twist. It is the Number One rock song in the history of the chart.

Santana has proven to the world they can go the distance in the highly competitive and ever changing music industry. They have been fortunate enough to have massive hit singles, albums, and concerts. Always experimenting and exploring new musical avenues that were not as commercially successful for them initially, but have stood the test of time to this day. You can get acquainted or reacquainted with Santana's music by going to Amazon.com or Itunes.com. It will be the most fulfilling musical journey ever.

SOURCES:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

http://www.rockhall.com/inductee/santana

Leng, Simon. Soul Sacrifice The Santana Story, London: SAF Publishing Ltd., 2000. Print.

Fong-Torres, Ben. Santana Abraxas, San Francisco: Columbia Records, 1970. CD.