Track Listing

1. Eternal Caravan Of Reincarnation
2. Waves Within
3. Look Up (To See What's Coming Down)
4. Just In Time To See The Sun
5. Song Of The Wind
6. All The Love Of The Universe
7. Future Primitive
8. Stone Flower
9. La Fuente Del Ritmo
10. Every Step Of The Way

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4009 in Music
• Released on: 2003-10-06
• Number of discs: 1

CD Description
Though there were hints of jazz fusion on Santana's first three albums, 1972's CARAVANSERAI introduced a dramatic shiftin the band's sound, away from essentially pop-based music to a freer, more harmonically complex jazz/rock hybrid. In addition, the record marked a splintering of the original Santana lineup (soon to splinter further still with the departure of organist Gregg Rolie and guitarist Neal Schon, who then formed Journey).
Seemingly unconcerned with the pursuitof hit singles, guitarist Carlos Santana and crew here turnin an exquisitely moody disc of mostly instrumental jammingwith a brooding intensity akin to Miles Davis's classic BITCHES BREW, underscored by the San Francisco-based ensemble'strademark propulsive rhythms. The new approach reaches its apex on the fiery, Chick Corea-like "La Fuente Del Ritmo", which features future key Santana musicians Armando Pereza (percussion) and Tom Coster (piano). Also of note is bassist Doug Raunch, who replaces David Brown's meat-and-potatoes R&Bplaying with a more technically accomplished style that edges the group closer to Tower of Power territory. A dark and perhaps intentionally non-radio-friendly album that likely shocked many fans upon its release, CARAVANSERAI is an underrated, but important and fascinating, chapter in Santana's history.

Customer Reviews

Searing beauty
This is an astounding album. It sounds very different from anything else in the Santana canon, largely because it was very much a transitional work, retaining a sense of the psychedelic Latin rock of the first three albums whilst pointing to the fusion direction of later albums like Welcome and Borboletta but not entirely crossing over into jazz. Despite the success of the first 3 albums, by late 1971 Carlos Santana had become disillusioned with the rock n roll lifestyle and its trappings and felt that the music he had been making was no longer what he wanted to do. Clearly, this caused tensions within the band and Caravanserai was recorded with a different line up from the first 3, although Rolie and Shrieve were still present (this was Rolie's last album with the band however).
The album is something of a paradox, being fairly dense and abstract while at the same time being light and soulful. I know this sounds like a total contradiction, but if you hear the album, you'll know what I mean. Most of the tracks are instrumental and the first five or six are really one single flowing track, with shifting moods and delicate, heartstopping guitar playing. The bossa nova influenced cover of Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Stone Flower" is lovely and the closing "Every Step Of The Way" contains mindblowing hyperspeed riffing with much use of Carlos' trademark almost infinite sustain. It is less immediately accessible than the first 3 albums and may take a few listens but this will be amply repayed, the inherent beauty of the music shining through.
Although I love the first 3 Santana albums, as well as later even more fusiony albums such as "Welcome", "Borboletta" and "Moonflower", this is unquestionably my favourite Santana album and one of the albums I listen to most frequently out of my entire collection. And every time I listen to it, it reveals something new to me. If you think "Supernatural" and "Shaman" are fantastic albums, then it's very possible that you won't like this as it's a million miles away from the all star Latin pop on these albums. However, you owe it to yourself to hear this album which firmly stakes Carlos Santana's claim to being one of the most innovative guitarists of the 2nd half of the 20th century.

My favourite album of all time
I bought this album from a record fare when I was 15 or so after I'd read about Carlos Santana through various guitar magazines and thought I'd give it a listen. I remember thinking at the time of my first hearing that it wasn't what I expected and that it would probably end up at the back of my collection, forgotten and ignored. However, for the simple reason that I couldn't be bothered to bend over and put another record in its place it remained on my stereo and inevitably got played more and more until it gradually grew on me, and grew on me.

So much so that Caravanserai has become my most favourite and loved record, and Santana my favourite artist/guitarist of them all.

This masterpiece takes you on an hypnotic and trancendal journey from beginning to end, and the feeling of soul and passion transmitted throughout is so evident, particularly in Carlos' solo on 'Song Of The Wind', and my favourite 'All the Love Of The Universe' - inspirational.

18 Years on and I've become a great fan of the man. If you've not heard any Santana before and want to hear a true underhyped legend at work then don't even think about it, buy Caravanserai and begin your journey.....

nearly the one
I first saw Santana in the 70's on the 'Lotus Tour' and I thought that the music at the time was like a huge snake, twisting and turning it was incredible.
Caravanserai has always reminded me of that concert and it still holds up today I've always thought it the 'one' This remastered edition is splendid, all the detail is there particularly on La Fuente Del Ritmo
The first side (old money) track 1 to track 6 really flows and no more so than on the opening Eternal Caravan of Reincarnation, the bass lines on this remastered cd are astounding .
One gripe after waiting this long there are no bonus tracks it would've been great to hear alt versions or better yet a special edition.
The 5 stars are for the music.