(Nearly) Complete Woodstock Performance Is Worth the Upgrade
Steve Vrana | Aurora, NE | 01/19/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"While this marks the second remastering and repackaging of Santana's debut, this two-disc set is worth the price of admission. Originally released in August of 1969,the same month as their stunning performance at Woodstock, Santana released one of the strongest albums of their thirty-year-plus career. But while their debut was a wonderful collection of terrific songs--"Evil Ways, "Jingo," "Persuasion"--they were an even better live band.
The 1998 reissue featured three of their songs from Woodstock, including the 11:49 gem "Soul Sacrifice." This 2004 Legacy edition includes their entire Woodstock set (with the exception of "Evil Ways"), adding four more songs: "Waiting," "You Just Don't Care, "Jingo" and "Persuasion."
Additional material on the bonus disc are studio sessions of songs like "Soul Sacrifice" and ""Persuasion" that were recorded before drummer Michael Shrieve and percussionist Joe Areas were brought into the band, revealing compelling but alternate performances of these songs.
Even if you already own the 1998 remaster, this is the definitive release. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED"
Santana at its Best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
J. R Sategna | Martinez, California United States | 11/03/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you like the early first 3 albums by Santana, this is definitely the 2 CD set to get--the 1st album is remastered very clearly, the jam sessions are very clear, it shows you what the early band was like without Mike Shrieve as drummer just before it recorded the 1st album. You really can tell the difference--Mike Shrieve was and still is a supurb drummer and made Santana rock out. The booklet included with this is great with alot of comments from Greg Rolie, the original keyboardist and singer. The whole Woodstock concert is here--remastered perfectly and very clear with an added unknown song at the end of the set. The practice sessions before the actual album recording were great-extended songs --sounds great!!! I highly recommend this 2 CD set for any Santana fan or collector--it is definitely worth it. Rock on with sixties rock--SF style!!!!!!!!"
Great sound quality - the legacy edition from sony music
Tal Avraham | eilat , israel | 01/09/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I JUST SAW IT AND JUMP ON IT i did'nt know first that it has great sound quality . disk one has the original lp included :
waiting , evil ways , shades of time , savor, jingo , persuasion, treat and you just don't care- but those songs you can find enywhere ( best of , greatest ....) in this case they put more 3 tracks mixed on it at sony music NY.
disk 2 - original album sessions 6 tracks plus live at the woodstock music & arts festival , august 1969 ( most of the tracks previously unreleased tracks - great , great sound - how can it be????? i"m not asking just happy to get this album for those early days . lately i bought the first three albums of deep purple , like getting the bonus tracks but they don't sound like this - this legacy edition has great sound qaulity!!! so if you remembered the great early days of " santana" this is for you. MOST OF THE TRACKS IN DISK 2 ORIGINAL RECORDED 1969 & RELEASED 2004 SONY BMG MUSIC ETERTAINMENT. DELUXE 20 PG. BOOKLET W/RARE PHOTOS & NEW NOTES. DIGITALLY REMASTERED FROM THE ORIGINAL TAPES . I LIKE TO HAVE IT IN MY COLLECTION ."
Buy THIS Version of "Santana 1"
Saxman | SW Suburbs Chgo IL USA | 07/17/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"There are now two expanded editions of "Santana" (sometimes referred to as "Santana 1"). This is the version fans of the "Woodstock Era" band should buy. The other vesion is "The Woodstock Experience," released a couple of weeks ago at the time of this review.
This version has superior remixing/remastering of the first album, outtakes from the first album, the "almost complete" Woodstock set ("Evil Ways" is missing) and the sessions for the band's unreleased first attempt at their debut album.
The bonus tracks of the first crack at their debut album are minus the world-class percussion section of the amazing Mike Shrieve (drums), Mike Carabello (congas) and the incomparable Jose "Chepito" Areas (timbales, trumpet solo on "Fried Neckbones" from Woodstock). It's interesting to hear the band with Marcus Malone (congas) and Doc Livingston (drums) on these six tracks and how much the music and arrangements grew in just a few short months.
I found the remastering (if it is such) of "The Woodstock" experience to be much harsher and too high end. Most of the onstage banter is removed from the Woodstock set and the overall mix of the debut album sounds like the original CD release in the late 1980s, it's so harsh, ill defined and compressed, as is the Woodstock set.
"Santana 1" is a classic album, one of my all-time favorites from the Santana BAND, when it was such, not a backup unit for Carlos and his guitar solos. Everyone shines on this album in beautiful, remastered sound. Carlos had something special with this band and he was never to recapture the kind of musical ESP he enjoyed with supreme keyboardist/lead vocalist Gregg Rolie. Check out the eye-popping chemistry they display on "Studio Jam" at the end of disc one, where you get to hear Gregg's all-too-often overlooked bluesy/jazzy acoustic piano chops interacting with Carlos' Wes Montgomery-inspired jazzy guitar lines! Classic!
Grab this one today before Sony Legacy decides to stop making it available to boost sales of "The Woodstock Experience." Purchase the mp3 of "Evil Ways" from "The Woodstock Experience" and add it to this gem and you have THE definitive version of "Santana 1.""
Finally, the whole Woodstock performance
Mario Bonilla | 12/31/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you already have the remastered version of this album, don't think twice about buying this CD!! The bonus tracks are good, especially the Studio Jam on Disc one. But disc two is really what makes this CD special. All the songs performed at Woodstock are sooooo cool. Anyway, buy this CD. It is highly recommended."