Under-Rated Albums Rescued from The Vault: SANTANA's Caravanserai

SANTANA Caravanserai (1972)

This is an album that, while known, is still far from being appreciated to the degree I think it should be. Carlos Santana and his band broke into the rock, album, and radio fray with their self-titled debut in 1969, followed it the next year with another high-spirited African-Latin infused radio friendly album, Abraxas, and then somehow floundered a bit with 1971's III. The band was showing signs of the influence of the jazz-rock fusion that was hitting the West Coast via Monterey Jazz Festival appearances by the likes of experimental jazz musicians like Dave Brubeck, Dizzy Gillespie, Don Ellis, Ornette Coleman, and Miles Davis from 1966 through 69. Gone is bass player and engineer Don Brown, enter young bass phenom Doug Rauch to go with Davadip Carlos and drum kit stalwart Michael Shrieve to go with an expanded ensemble of multiple keyboard players (4), multiple percussion players (5), and two guitar players (this would be Neil Schon's second and final album with Santana) and you have plethora of new ideas and influences--and collaboration was Carlos' new middle name! Heck, with the next album, Welcome, they're already officially calling themselves The New Santana Band--an album which also proves exceptional for its songwriting credits being spread around among six band members as well as two John Coltrane numbers and one from jazz fusion pioneer, flutist Herbie Mann. 

     What makes Caravanserai stand out so much for me is the easy, engaging melodies and grooves rising out of and above the busy, sometimes chaotic mix of sound. Keys, guitar solos, and chord progressions help invite the listener into each song as well as worm their way into one's brain. Where it falls short is in the vocals--both conceptually and execution but more in sound rendering. 

     It is so exciting to discover albums from 35-40 years ago that I'd never heard before and find myself totally blown away by the 'new' music I hear. Again, thank you Max and ProgArchivists: my world of music has never been so blown open. Caravanserai is an album whose first listen flooded me with such nostalgia; I had never before realized how much Carlos' guitar playing and his Latin rhythms and amazing organists influenced my core musical likes and values until I listened to this album. Hearing Song 2, "Waves Within" (3:54) (10/10), I was (and am each time I listen to it) overcome with a flood of emotion taking me back to the Eden that was my formative pre- and early-teen years. While I understand the derogatory comments bestowed upon the atmospheric "interludes" ("Eternal Caravan of Reincarnation" and "Future Primitive"), I love them and find them essential to the spiritual journey the newly spiritual Davadip is hoping to take us on.

     Through the years I have enjoyed many of the singers and lyrics of Santana songs, however, I quite agree that on this album their presence are, overall, IMHO, out of place with and even detract from the spirit of the rest of the music. And while many of Carlos's extended solos are backed by simple two-chord repetitions, the band is always jamming their hearts out--they're in the same cosmic groove that allows Carlos to soar--and soar he does: The man is a true master of 'stumbling' upon incredibly catchy, melodic riffs while negotiating the fret board at seeming break-neck speed. Amazing talent. Truly a god channeling the divine!

I agree with Sean Trane: the album finale, "Every Step of the Way" (9:02) escorts the listener to a divine orgasm. Turn this one up to 11! It deserves a 6/5!

Outstanding work from Michael Shrieve, Neal Schon, Mingo Lewis, Greg Rolie, and newcomer Doug Rauch (on bass)--not to mention the Devadip!

5 star songs: 2. "Waves Within" (3:54), 3. "Look Up (To See What's Coming)" (2:57), 5. "Song of the Wind" (6:08), 7. "Future Primitive" (4:13), 9. "La Fuente del Ritmo" (4:34), and 10. "Every Step of the Way."

4 star songs:  the true jazz introduction of 1. "Eternal Caravan of Reincarnation" (4:31) (8.5/10); and the three songs with vocals, 4. "Just in Time to See the Sun" (2:13) (8.5/10); 6. "All the Love of the Universe" (7:39) (8.5/10), and; 8. "Stone Flower" (6:13) (8.5/10).

95.0 on the Fishscales = A/five stars; an undeniable masterpiece of progressive rock music in the jazz-rock fusion subgenre.