Santana's album "Black Magic Woman" is a classic in the world of rock and Latin music. Released in 1970, the album featured the iconic song "Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen" which has become one of Santana's signature tunes. The song, originally written and recorded by the British blues rock band Fleetwood Mac, was given a fresh new sound by Santana's unique fusion of Latin rhythms and electric guitar solos. The album itself showcased Santana's distinctive blend of rock, blues, and Latin influences, making it a groundbreaking release at the time. Carlos Santana's virtuoso guitar playing and soulful vocals, combined with the band's tight rhythm section and memorable melodies, created a powerful and memorable listening experience. "Black Magic Woman" also featured other standout tracks such as "Oye Como Va" and "Samba Pa Ti," which further demonstrated Santana's ability to seamlessly blend different musical genres.
The 1:49 instrumental at the end is called "Gypsy Queen," and was written by the Hungarian jazz guitarist Gabor Szabo. It was omitted from Santana's 1974 Greatest Hits album, even though radio stations usually play "Black Magic Woman" and "Gypsy Queen" as one song. >>
Green gave most of his money away when he left the band, and would have found himself destitute later in the 70s if he didn t get checks from his old hits. Their first three albums all fulfilled the promise of their Woodstock performance and made them one of the biggest bands in America, but in 1972 they started to fracture and went through a number of lineup changes.
"Black Magic Woman" also featured other standout tracks such as "Oye Como Va" and "Samba Pa Ti," which further demonstrated Santana's ability to seamlessly blend different musical genres. These songs became instant classics and remain fan favorites to this day. The album's success was a testament to the universal appeal of Santana's music.
Santsna album black bwgic woman
"Black Magic Woman" was a hit for Santana, but few people know that it's actually a cover of a 1968 Fleetwood Mac song that hit #37 in the UK. Peter Green, who was a founding member of Fleetwood Mac, wrote the lyrics.
Many also don't know that Santana started out as a blues band, just like Fleetwood Mac. "I used to go to see the original Fleetwood Mac, and they used to kill me, just knock me out," Carlos Santana said in the book The Guitar Greats. "To me, they were the best blues band."
Santana put their own spin on the song, incorporating Latin textures, but they kept the basic sound from the original intact.
The 1:49 instrumental at the end is called "Gypsy Queen," and was written by the Hungarian jazz guitarist Gabor Szabo. It was omitted from Santana's 1974 Greatest Hits album, even though radio stations usually play "Black Magic Woman" and "Gypsy Queen" as one song. >>
Suggestion credit:Jim - Oxnard, CA, for above 2
The original version is based on a blues song Peter Green wrote for Fleetwood Mac's first UK album called "I Loved Another Woman." Mick Fleetwood called the original version, "Three minutes of sustain/reverb guitar with two exquisite solos from Peter."
The royalties generated by Santana's cover of this song helped sustain the song's writer, Peter Green, after he left Fleetwood Mac. Green gave most of his money away when he left the band, and would have found himself destitute later in the '70s if he didn't get checks from his old hits.
After this was released, Peter Green befriended some people who were into black magic. In an interview with Cameron Crowe of Rolling Stone magazine, Christine McVie said these were the people who turned him on to acid, which led to Green leaving Fleetwood Mac.
Santana keybord player Gregg Rolie sang lead on this. He joined Journey in 1973.For this song's solo, Santana played across the Latin rhythm on his Gibson Les Paul Special through the amp and rode the volume knob throughout the track to add sustain and distortion as required.
"Black Magic Woman" was the first single from Santana's second album, Abraxas, released in September 1970. In August 1969, they delivered one of the most memorable performances at Woodstock and released their debut album just two weeks later. Thrust into stardom, they toured constantly and didn't have much time to write new songs, so they included two covers on Abraxas; their version of Tito Puente's "Oye Como Va" was the second single from the album, and also a hit.
Their first three albums all fulfilled the promise of their Woodstock performance and made them one of the biggest bands in America, but in 1972 they started to fracture and went through a number of lineup changes. The band reinvented themselves many times over the years, with guitarist and namesake Carlos Santana the constant. In 1999, at a career nadir, they released one of the best-selling and most-acclaimed albums of that era: Supernatural.
- More songs from Santana
- More songs with colors in the title
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- More songs from 1970
- Lyrics to Black Magic Woman
- Santana Artistfacts
Comments: 25
- Stefan from Eden, Ny And of course Peter Green wrote another famous song with a color in the title, which. like Black Magic Woman. became even more famous when another band covered it. Judas Priest put their own spin on Peter Green's Green Manalishi (with the two-pronged crown).
- Glenda Barton from El Verano, Ca Yes Carlos Santana, I believe, played in that famous version of "Sauvecito" with his relative who formed the band Malo. I used to live upstairs from Malo in the Mission and hear them practice all the time.
- Howard from St. Louis Park, Mn I have heard Santana's version many times and to me it's a prime example of Carlos Santana's outstanding guitar work. Today, it is a memory of Peter Green, who wrote the song when he was an original member of Fleetwood Mac.
- Jennifur Sun from Ramona Stratis, I've been know to feel that way about a cool looking car and I don't consider myself materialistic.
- Barry from Sauquoit, Ny On January 10th 1971, "Black Magic Woman" by Santana peaked at #4 (for 2 weeks) on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; it had entered the chart on November 8th, 1970 and spent 13 weeks on the Top 100 (and 7 of those 13 weeks were on Top 10).
Was track two of side one on the group's 2nd studio album, "Abraxas", and on October 8th, 1971 the album reached #1 (for 1 week) on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart.
One other track from the album also made the Top 100, "Oye Como Va"; it peaked at #13 and stayed on the Top 100 for 10 weeks.
Carlos Santana will celebrate his 67th birthday this coming July 20th. - Eric from Nyc, Ny @- wyatt, anywhere, United States
Santana sued Budweiser because they copied his arrangement of Black Magic Women. Two people can record a song and have it come out very different. I was watching a show years back were a band played country songs in a blues style and blues songs in a country style. It was very enlightening.
A modern example of this is Hayseed Dixie's covers of heavy metal songs in a bluegrass arrangement.
It's unfortunate that Peter seldom gets credit for writing "such a ledgendary song." I hope he gets the royalties, at least.
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(I've Had) The Time of My LifeBill Medley & Jennifer Warnes
"(I've Had) The Time of My Life" was a huge hit from the movie Dirty Dancing. It was used in the climactic dance scene at the end, which was actually the first scene shot for the movie.
God Bless AmericaKate Smith
Irving Berlin said "God Bless America" was "not a patriotic song, but rather an expression of gratitude."
RelaxFrankie Goes to Hollywood
The Frankie Goes To Hollywood hit "Relax" is, as the band says, about "shagging." It was banned by the BBC, which sent it to #1 in the UK as listeners flocked to record stores to buy it.
AnacondaNicki Minaj
"Anaconda" was originally recorded by Missy Elliott in 2012, but the rapper decided to shelf the track so it was re-recorded by Minaj two years later.
Gives You HellThe All-American Rejects
The first US Top 10 hit with the word "hell" in the title was "Gives You Hell" by The All-American Rejects in 2008.
Station to StationDavid Bowie
David Bowie's "Station to Station" is over 10 minutes long. Bowie was doing a lot of drugs at the time and later said, "I have only flashes of making it."
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Santana put their own spin on the song, incorporating Latin textures, but they kept the basic sound from the original intact.
With its infectious grooves, passionate performances, and catchy melodies, "Black Magic Woman" appealed to a wide audience and helped catapult Santana to international fame. It also paved the way for future albums and collaborations, solidifying Santana's status as one of the most influential guitarists and bands of all time. Overall, "Black Magic Woman" is a timeless album that continues to captivate listeners with its blend of rock, blues, and Latin influences. Its impact on the music world cannot be overstated, and it remains a testament to Santana's artistic vision and musical genius. Whether you're a longtime fan or discovering Santana for the first time, "Black Magic Woman" is an essential listen that should not be missed..
Reviews for "From the Shadows to the Spotlight: Santsna's Black Magic Woman and the Rise of African American Women in Music"
1. John - 2/5 - While I appreciate Santana's talent and musicality, I found the "Black Magic Woman" album to be a disappointment. The songs lacked the energy and excitement that I usually associate with Santana's music. The album felt monotonous and lacked variety in terms of musical styles. Overall, I didn't find anything memorable or standout about this particular release.
2. Sarah - 3/5 - "Black Magic Woman" didn't live up to my expectations. I found the album to be a bit repetitive and predictable. The songs seemed to blend together, and there was a lack of distinctive melodies or hooks. While the instrumentation and Santana's guitar skills were impressive as always, I felt like the album lacked depth and originality. It didn't leave a lasting impression on me.
3. Robert - 2/5 - I was hoping for more from "Black Magic Woman." While Santana is undoubtedly a talented musician, I found this album to be uninspiring. The songs lacked creativity and failed to engage me emotionally. The production also felt flat, and the overall sound was underwhelming. It's a shame because I had high expectations for this release, but it fell short in delivering a memorable musical experience.
4. Emily - 2/5 - As a fan of Santana's earlier work, I was disappointed with "Black Magic Woman." The album lacked the energy and innovation that made his music stand out in the past. The songs felt repetitive and formulaic, and I didn't find any standout tracks that captivated me. It seemed like Santana was playing it safe and sticking to a tried-and-tested formula instead of pushing his boundaries and exploring new musical territories. Overall, the album felt underwhelming and didn't leave a lasting impression.