[Review] Santana: Lotus (1974)
A gorgeously packaged triple-album experience initially available only as an import.
Kronomyth 6.0: Wonderful tunes on three records in four channels.
Lotus is more than a loving memento; it’s a tribute to Santana. Beautifully packaged, generously spread across three courses, perfectly preserved in quadraphonic stereo, it may be the best live album ever made. It was so good, in fact, that it was deemed too good for the general American public, who apparently had neither the patience nor the deep pockets for Lotus. Those who shelled out for an import copy were treated to an audio/visual experience like no other.
The “New Santana Band” presented here was arguably at the peak of their powers, fresh from Caravanserai and Welcome, the latter not yet released. Lotus reveals the expanding universe of Santana, which now included songs by Chick Corea (Castillos de Arena), Airto Moreira (Xibaba), and Bayete (Free Angela). Lotus is heavy on experimentation, with spaced-out sounds that come courtesy of the two keyboard players (Tom Coster, Richard Kermode) and Carlos Santana’s new toy, the Echoplex. In more than a few spots, I had to remind myself I was listening to Santana and not Emerson, Lake and Palmer.
You may not think you have the stamina for three albums of live Santana, but you’ll wind up wanting more when it’s all over. The mix of familiar friends, new adventures, and instrumental workouts keeps Lotus fresh. Heck, I’m pretty sure I could have listened to three hours of just Michael Shrieve playing the drums. My only disappointment with Lotus is the perfunctory performance of Doug Rauch. Either he was really high or really low on this evening, but he didn’t even show up with his B game.
Triple live albums are a rare breed and, truth be told, most bands would have come crashing down from that rarefied air after two albums. Santana, however, soars from the first note to the last. Lotus is an homage to one of the greatest rock & roll bands of any generation. If you end up buying the double CD release, be aware that the CD version swaps out Savor for Mr. Udo. It’s also not nearly as much fun to open up and spread across your floor while you’re listening to it.
Original 3LP version
A1. Meditation
A2. Going Home (arr. by Alice Coltrane & The New Santana Band)
A3. A-1 Funk (The New Santana Band)
A4. Every Step of the Way (Michael Shrieve)
B1. Black Magic Woman (Peter Green)
B2. Gypsy Queen (Gabor Szabo)
B3. Oye Como Va (Tito Puente)
B4. Yours Is the Light (Richard Kermode)
B5. Batukada (The New Santana Band)
B6. Xibaba (She-Ba-Ba) (Airto)
C1. Stone Flower (Introduction) (Antonio Carlos Jobim)
C2. Waiting (The Old Santana Band)
C3. Castillos de Arena (Sand Castles), Part 1 (Chick Corea/Joachim Young/The New Santana Band)
C4. Free Angela (Bayete)
C5. Samba de Sausalito (Jose ”Chepito” Areas)
D1. Mantra (Carlos Santana/Michael Shrieve/Tom Coster)
D2. Kyoto (Drum Solo)
D3. Castillos de Arena (Sand Castles), Part 2 (Chick Corea/Joachim Young/The New Santana Band)
D4. Se A Cabo (Jose “Chepito” Areas)
E1. Samba Pa Ti (Carlos Santana)
E2. Savor (The Old Santana Band)
E3. Toussaint l’Overture (The Old Santana Band)
F1. Incident at Neshabur (Carlos Santana/Albert Gianquinto)
The Players
Jose “Chepito” Areas (timbales, congas, vocal), Tom Coster (Hammond organ, electric piano, Yamaha organ, vocal), Richard Kermode (electric piano, Hammond organ), Armando Peraza (congas, bongos), Doug Rauch (bass), Carlos Santana (guitar, Echoplex, percussion, vocal), Michael Shrieve (drums), Leon Thomas (maracas, sound effects, percussion, vocal).
The Plastic
Released on 3LP in May 1974 in Japan (CBS Sony, SOPZ 7/9) and in November 1975 in the UK (CBS) with trifold cover, posters, and picture sleeves. Also released on quadraphonic 3LP in Japan.
- Re-released on 3LP in 1975 in the Netherlands (CBS, CBS 66325) with trifold cover.
- Re-released on quadraphonic 3LP in Japan (CBS Sony, 63AP 821/3) with trifold cover, posters, and picture sleeves.
- Re-issued on 3CS (UFO, UFO 4333/5).
- Re-issued on 2CDand 2CS in February 1991 in the US (Columbia, C2K/C2T 46764) and on March 29, 1991 in Japan (CBS Sony, CSCS 5434/5) with different track listing and replaces “Savor” with “Mr. Udo.”
- Re-issued on double super audio compact disc in Austria (Audio Fidelity, AFZ2 247).
- Re-issued on remastered 3LP in 2024 in the US (Mobile Fidelity).
One of my all-time favorites. Thank you so much for getting around to review it. If you looked up “eargasm” in the dictionary, you’d find a picture of this album. It must have been a treat to see this eight-piece band in action. Just for clarification, by the way, “Savor” and “Mr. Udo” were NOT swapped out. “Mr. Udo” was incorrectly identified as “Savor” on the original LP’s (similar to Live Cream Volume II with “Hideaway” and “Steppin’ Out”). I have the 3-disc SACD version with the complete concert and that one has both “Savor” and “Mr. Udo”. I can’t wait to budget time to listen to that one again, but the original triple album will always be the original for me.
Thank you, Miles! I was trying to figure out why a label would replace one song in a live concert if time weren’t a factor. You’re a lifesavor. 🙂