As a Santana Fan in the early 70's, this LP was what I classified as Trance Road Music. As having the 8-track, you just put it in and let it play. A bit of Rock/Jazz that just blows you away. For that era, this was a must have in your collection...and it still works today!!!!...a Classic Gem.
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Passion. Beauty. Emotion. Fire. It's all here. If "Song of the Wind" doesn't move you to tears you have no heart. Only a true Santana fan can appreciate this masterful album. Glad to read some great reviews here.
Santana album to have, if you want to experience the peak of his artistic creativity. An integrated masterpiece, it's too bad he didn't continue to explore the themes he introduced here.
Caravanserai is a must have jazz rock fusion album, this album highlight the fiery Latin jazz guitar riffs that that preceded his commercial success. I recommend the whole album but if you must choose My favorite tracks are 2, 3, 4, 5,and 7.
Ever since it originally was released, this has been my favorite Santana album. "Stone Flower" really sets a mood. No hit singles, but every track is perfectly executed. Listen to this one from begining to end and hear a masterpiece.
I owned this when the LP was released in '72, and it opened so many musical worlds, all the way from Mahavishnu Orchestra to Yes to Weather Report, Miles Davis, Billy Cobham, John McLaughlin and on and on. Song of the Wind is still one of the most sublime guitar solos ever recorded, imho. Carlos was the equal of Jimi in raw skill, but with such a different, unique sound. Thanks, Emusic.
With this album, Carlos and band embarked on an epic journey into new territory, paralleling and filtered through the Eastern spiritual path that now called to both the guitarist and his drummer Michael Shrieve. The Afro-Latin percussion, organ and crying guitars of the bands early Latin rock successes remain, but are joined by ethereal washes of sound and the clear influence of funk/fusion, Jobim, Coltrane and Miles. Looking back on the Santana canon, one might conclude that "Caravanserai" is its artistic apex. Strange to think that this overwhelmingly moving album of power and beauty was created during the death throes of the original Santana band as key bandmembers were in the middle of being replaced or leaving while new members crossed paths with them in the studio.
This is about as close as Santana ever comes to Progressive Rock, or even New Age for an album as a whole. (Aquamarine on Marathon is probably his most New Age-like song.) Its a really cool album, and while you can pick from "song of the Wind" and "Stone Flower" for songs, I recommend downloading the whole thing and close your eyes, and listen to the whole thing at once.
