Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Dawn/Go Within
2. Carnaval
3. Let The Children Play
4. Jugando
5. I'll Be Waiting
6. Zulu
7. Bahia
8. Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen
9. Dance Sister Dance (Baila Mi Hermana)
10. Europa (Earth's Cry Heaven's Smile)

Disc 2:

1. She's Not There
2. Flor D'Luna (Moonflower)
3. Soul Sacrifice/Head, Hands & Feet
4. El Morocco
5. Transcendance
6. Savor/Toussaint L'Overture
7. Black Magic Woman
8. I'll Be Waiting
9. She's Not There

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17905 in Music
• Released on: 2003-10-06
• Number of discs: 2

Customer Reviews

Carlos has never bettered this before or since.
Catching the band on the cusp of their two finest phases, one as the tour de force extended jam of Latin infused blues rock, the other as a smooth, well produced soul/funk, tight song oriented band, this album is a classic.

The Latin infused blues rock era is caught live on tour in Europe in 1976, while the soul/funk tight song oriented direction is heard for the 1st time with all new studio cuts. Both styles are scattered across all 4 sides and melded together seamlessly.

"Dawn/Go within" starts the album, a studio cut which fades in beautifully and then funks along nicely until the huge roar from the crowd makes it obvious that we're been transported to the start of the live show. "Carnaval/Let the children play/Jugando" are delivered en suite, with the high point being the very 1st time we hear Carlos play the guitar on Carnaval; deliberatley held off for as long as poss. for maximum effect.

Even before the crowd stop cheering "I'll be waiting" has begun, and we're back in the San Francisco studio for one of Carlos' finest love songs ever. The guitar solo is fab too, with some deliciously seductive picking. "Zulu" is a platform for bassist David Margden.

Side 2 (yes, I have this on vinyl!) contains the legendary "Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen" and "Europa", both live, and, I believe, better than their studio originals for it. Carlos uses his trademark feedback sustain on both expertly, and you can hear him toying with it and making sure it's there when he needs it.

Side 3, and we're back in the studio with (what was until recently) the bands biggest hit; "She's not there". This is proof that covers can be better than originals (sorry Zombies, your's was great, this is awesome). The title track "Flor d'luna" follows, a medlodic Latin instumental and great for playing along to; both lead & ryhthm parts. "Soul sacrifice" takes us back into the concert arena for the bands percussion showcase. Skin up and get yer bongos out.

Side 4 wraps things up with a perfect balance of half live & half studio tracks. Highlights are "Transcendance" (studio), an excercise in crescendo, featuring possibly the best solo on the album with some stunning right hand technique, and "Toussaint L'overture" (live) which is the perfect climax to this classic album.

Carlos has never bettered this before or since, and this is one album you simply can't live without.

F;lora de luna !
On tour with two mighty albums at the time, Amigos and Festival. Here we have the best from those two albums trunked over Europe and Uk.Truely great tracks. However, hold tight, be prepared to be completely blown out of your seat with the best drum solo ever performed by a young Raul Rekow !! beyond breathtaking, and Carlos sweeping, almost, weeping guitar, sends shivvers into areas you didn't know you had !
Listen to the fantasic crescendo voice on just the opening of Transcendance(by Greg Walker) this song lifts you byond that Moonflower! Wonderful Album,simply take you to moon & back!

Best Album by Santana?
At one time or another I had all of Santana's albums being a fan of his guitar style. Of all the albums I owned - I had all of them up to but not including Blues for Salvador - this ranked as my favourite and still is. I have listened to this album more times than I can remember and have never got tired of it. The guitar playing is in my opinion, the best playing Santana ever did. It's a shame he has lost is touch and that his playing on his recent albums just sounds cliched. Get this album, you won't regret it.