Santana
Live at the Fillmore '68

Over the past thirty years, Carlos Santana has crafted several truly amazing albums, but for the most part his studio output has put a glossy spin on his talents and failed to capture the fire of his live performances. Worse still, some of the concert recordings that have been released have also failed to capture his magic.

That’s what makes Live at the Fillmore so special. The two-disc set compiles the best portions of a four-show run at the legendary San Francisco venue and captures Santana and his band just a few months prior to the release of their debut album. It’s full of the spiritual bliss and driving rhythms that faithful fans have come to expect from Santana’s concerts. Just listen as the group turns Babatunde Olatunji’s Jingo into a pulsing and hypnotic dance-beat that revolves around the swirling keyboards of Gregg Rolie and the percussive onslaught of Marcus Malone and Doc Livingston. Likewise, Treat floats through a dream-like trance of Rolie’s jazzy piano flights, and Conquistadore Rides Again glides along the playful bass pattern served up by David Brown.

Throughout the nine tracks on Live at the Fillmore, the group churns out rhythms that melt into a symbiotic whole. The grooves coalesce into a wriggling mass of spiritual energy, upon which Santana works his divine powers. His guitar sings, dances, laughs, and cries as he builds a bridge between heaven and earth. As Years Go Passing By is filled with a reflective sadness, and a 30-minute workout of Freeway, which also contains a brief foray into Willy and the Hand Jive, smokes with unyielding exuberance.

There’s no doubt that the music on Live at the Fillmore speaks for itself. It’s an enchanting set that is a true testament to Santana’s talents. The only question remaining is why it took so long for this set to find its way out of the archives.  

1 Star:   Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!