The special Santana sound is back again with their second album featuring hard driving music with multi-rhythms. There are many musical changes on the album, but the appeal of body moving rhythms is still prevalent. The tightness of the group remains a Santana trademark on such cuts as "Singing Winds, Crying Beasts," "Se a Cabo," and "Oye Como Va," written by Tito Puente. Here is another big LP for the Latin rhythm king.

- Billboard, 1970.

Bonus Reviews!

Further reading on Super Seventies RockSite!: Album Review: Santana III Seventies' Greatest Album Covers: Abraxas

On the debut most of the originals were credited to the "Santana Band"; this time individual members claim individual compositions. Can this mean somebody thought about these melodies (and lyrics!) before they sprung from the collective unconscious? In any case, they've improved. And in any case, the best ones are by Peter Green, Gabor Szabo, and Tito Puente, none of whome is known to be a member of the Santana Band. C+

- Robert Christgau, Christgau's Record Guide, 1981.

Excellent continuation of the first album, with songwriting credits to four of the six band members, plus a terrific version of Tito Puentes's "Oye Como Va." The hit was a cover of the Fleetwood Mac song "Black Magic Woman." * * * * *

- William Ruhlmann, The All-Music Guide to Rock, 1995.

This is where it all began -- the quintessential Latin-rock milestone laid the groundwork with moody, mystical arrangements ("Singing Winds," "Crying Beasts"), soaring guitar solos ("Samba Pa Ti"), funky beats ("Oye Como Va"), superb production and the best big percussion section in the business. Carlos created a rhythm and zone few artists have since equaled -- it's pulse-pounding get-on-your-feet-and-move music, and it makes a devil out of you. * * * * *

- Zagat Survey Music Guide - 1,000 Top Albums of All Time, 2003.

"Black Magic Woman," the Top Five hit from Abraxas, is definitive Santana: Afro-Latin grooves and piercing lyrical psychedelic blues guitar. It was a cover of a Fleetwood Mac song written by one of Carlos Santana's guitar heroes, Peter Green. The album's other hit was also a cover: Tito Puente's "Oye Como Va."

Abraxas was chosen as the 205th greatest album of all time by the editors of Rolling Stone magazine in Dec. 2003.

- Rolling Stone, 12/11/03.

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