Santana / NY, USA – October 31, 1984 – Complete Soundboard Edition

In 1984, Santana was maintaining a vigorous live schedule while simultaneously honing the material for the pivotal album *Beyond Appearances*. Now, a soundboard recording has arrived that delivers a live performance from the eve of the album’s completion directly to your ears. This release captures the concert held in New York on October 31, 1984—a stereo soundboard recording made at the legendary venue “The Ritz.” While soundboard recordings from the *Beyond Appearances* era are often associated with 1985 shows (such as *Kansas City 1985*, *Miller Music Festival 1985*, and *Chicago 1985*), this release represents the distinct 1984 phase. To put this into context, let’s look at an overview of their activities during that period: 1984—March 28: *Beyond Appearances* production begins; May 19: San Francisco show; May 28–July 8: Europe (27 shows); October 6–31: North America #1a (8 shows) ← ★Here★; November 1: *Beyond Appearances* completed; November 2–December 1: North America #1b (15 shows). 1985—February 25: *Beyond Appearances* released; April 27–May 10: North America #2 (11 shows); May 30–August 22: North America #3 (42 shows) ← *Chicago 1985*, etc.; November 15: Albany show. This was Santana in 1984 and 1985—a period defined by a guitar-centric sound that showcased scorching fretwork. While the 1985 dates were part of the tour supporting the released *Beyond Appearances* album, the Ritz show featured here took place during the final stages of production—literally the day before the album was finished. Two shows were performed that day—fittingly, on Halloween itself—though it remains unconfirmed whether this specific recording captures the early show or the late show. While a soundboard recording of this performance has long been known to exist, this release stands as the definitive version, digitally transferred directly from the best available master source. It also serves as a tribute to Alex Ligertwood, who passed away in May 2026. The sound itself is raw and distinctive; it possesses an incredibly direct, “unfiltered” quality—rough and real, much like a direct-from-the-mixing-console feed—yet the tone and mix balance are reminiscent of an FM radio broadcast or a live television transmission. Most striking of all is the mix, which clearly places the guitar front and center. Every single note Carlos plays stands out with uncanny clarity, vividly capturing everything from the precise range of his string bends to the subtle nuances of his picking technique. Among the many Santana soundboard recordings in existence, this is truly a “guitar album” that showcases Carlos’s virtuosity in rich detail. The album captures a club gig spanning approximately 118 minutes—a setlist that serves as a testament to Alex Ligertwood’s legacy. It features tracks from the *Beyond Appearances* album (which was nearing completion at the time) and presents a setlist distinct from the main “North American Leg #3” tour. Let us break down the differences here. Beyond Appearances – Spirit / Breaking Out / Written In Sand (★★) / Touchdown Raiders / Right Now; Santana – Savor / Soul Sacrifice (Aranjuez); Abraxas – Samba Pa Ti (★★) / Incident at Neshabur / Black Magic Woman-Gypsy Queen; Santana III – Batuka / No One To Depend On; Moonflower – She’s Not There / I’ll Be Waiting (★★); Others – Primera Invasion / Open Invitation / By The Pool (★) / Body Surfing / Marbles / Waited All My Life / Super Boogie / Hong Kong Blues / Europa (Earth’s Cry, Heaven’s Smile). *Note: Tracks marked “★” were not heard in the “North America #3” soundboard collection. Tracks marked “★★” were notably absent even from the acclaimed pro-shot *Mountain View 1986* video. The setlist includes five songs from *Beyond Appearances*; these are tracks that were being honed on stage alongside the studio recording process, allowing you to experience them in a fresh state, just as they were nearing completion. “Written In Sand,” in particular, is a standout track that appeared in neither the 1985 soundboard collection nor the *Mountain View 1986* pro-shot. Another highlight is the interplay between the dual vocals of Ligertwood and Walker, who complement each other beautifully. While the mix focuses on the guitar—as previously mentioned—this is only relative to other soundboard recordings; the vocal performances of the two singers are equally prominent and distinct, delivering every nuance of their breath and passion directly to the listener. Carlos’s guitar blazes brilliantly, intertwining with the dual vocals of Alex Ligertwood and Greg Walker. This is an ultra-direct soundboard recording that captures the live performance of this rare era with stunning fidelity. A stereo soundboard recording of the concert at The Ritz on October 31, 1984. This definitive release was digitally mastered directly from the best available source, made public in tribute to Alex Ligertwood. Featuring a unique mix that highlights the guitar, it is a superb album that captures even the nuances of Carlos’s picking technique with vivid clarity; listeners can enjoy the full concert performed the day before the completion of the *Beyond Appearances* album. The Ritz, New York, NY, USA – October 31, 1984. 1. Spirit (5:24) 2. Primera Invasion (2:15) 3. Open Invitation (5:50) 4. By The Pool/Samba Pa Ti (6:33) 5. Breaking Out (4:35) 6. Written In Sand (3:53) 7. Body Surfing (6:17) 8. She’s Not There > Marbles (5:25) 9. Incident At Neshabur (5:35) 10. Waited All My Life (4:04) 11. I’ll Be Waiting (4:49) 12. Savor…percussion solos (6:00) 13. Super Boogie (5:51) 14. Hong Kong Blues (3:36) 15. Touchdown Raiders (3:18) 16. Soul Sacrifice > Aranjuez (13:45) 17. Batuka (3:15) 18. No One To Depend On (4:23) 19. Black Magic Woman > Gypsy Queen (6:25) 20. Europa (7:50) 21. Right Now…Band Intro (8:38) STEREO SOUNDBOARD RECORDING. Carlos Santana – Guitar/Vocals/Percussion; Greg Walker – Vocals; Alphonso Johnson – Bass; Alex Ligertwood – Guitar/Vocals; Armando Peraza – Bongos/Congas/Percussion; Raul Rekow – Congas/Percussion; Orestes Vilato – Timbales/Percussion; Chester Thompson – Keyboards; Graham Lear – Drums.