Beyond black magic

Santana were at a turning point in their career by the early 1970s. The band had already found success with their first three albums: Santana (their self-titled debut), Abraxas and Santana III which blended Latin rhythms with rock and some blues. But success brought changes. The original lineup was starting to splinter. Gregg Rolie and Michael Shrieve were seeking their own musical directions, and Carlos Santana was itching to go deeper into jazz fusion. Moreover, his growing interest in spirituality and Eastern philosophy was seeping into his music. 

What came out of all that was Caravanserai, released in 1972. Anyone expecting another Black Magic Woman or Oye Como Va was in for a surprise. When I saw the album on the shelves, I was completely unaware of the direction the music had taken. Yes, I bought the record without even hearing it. It was more because of the Santana name than anything else. But when I placed it on the turntable, the music completely engulfed me. 

This record was all about atmosphere. It was mostly instrumental, with vocals drifting in and out. It was a journey through the cosmos. The opening track, Eternal Caravan of Reincarnation, was all swirling percussion, dreamy guitar lines and almost ambient keys. From there, the whole thing flowed like one long, meditative suite. Tracks like Waves Within and Song of the Wind were delicate, while All the Love of the Universe let the band flex a bit without ever breaking the mood.

However, the lineup had changed. I couldn't locate Rolie's and Shrieve's name in the liner notes. Instead, replaced by players like Tom Coster, Doug Rauch, Armando Peraza and James Mingo Lewis. And with that, the music became more fluid and more improvisational. But Santana’s guitar still took centre stage although less flashy. More focused on serving the music than showing off.

Caravanserai didn’t top the charts like the earlier albums but in hindsight, it was one of Santana’s boldest and most rewarding records. It marked the start of a new phase – one where artistic expression came first, no matter what the label or radio stations wanted. It was a slow-burner. The more I listened to the album, the more it revealed layers of rhythm and melody. To me, Caravanserai is a spiritual gem. It was a beautiful record, one of Santana’s finest.

Side A: Eternal caravan of reincarnation, Waves within, Look up (to see what's coming down), Just in time to see the sun, Song of the wind, All the love of the universe 
Side B: Future primitive, Stone flower, La fuente del ritmo, Every step of the way