Description
In 1969, Santana was steadily building a reputation in the San Francisco local scene. This soundboard album brings to life the early days of their live performances, a time when their record debut and the legendary Woodstock were still a long way off. This album contains a recording of their San Francisco concert on February 16, 1969. It’s a soundboard recording from the legendary Fillmore West, the venue that gave birth to countless legends. If you’ve taken the time to read this article, you may be familiar with the superb audience recording with a similar title, “FILLMORE WEST 1969,” but this is something different. It’s not just a different recording; it’s a recording from a completely different concert (two days after that famous album). First, let’s clarify their position by looking at their activities at the time. January 10th + 11th, 1969: US #1 (2 shows) February 11th – April 18th: US #2 (26 shows) ←★HERE★《May: Production of ‘SANTANA’》 May 3rd – August 11th: US #3 (38 shows) August 16th: Appearance at Woodstock《August 22nd: Release of ‘SANTANA’》 August 21st – December 31st: US #4 (64 shows) The sheer power of a three-dimensional, raw, authentic soundboard recording—this is Santana in 1969. As you can see, this Fillmore West performance predates even the recording of their debut album (May), and is from the very early days of “US #2,” before their Woodstock appearance (August) was even a thing. It was a night just two days after the release of the audience classic ‘Uxbridge 2649’. This is a raw record of the band just before they secured a record deal. This recording, capturing the dawn of that show, is a remarkably vibrant soundboard recording. While the recording itself has been known for some time, this is a newly released master. Although the specific generation is not specified, the freshness, which is unbelievable for something unearthed more than half a century ago, undoubtedly indicates that it is from a very young generation. While it is still within the realm of vintage soundboard recordings, each instrument and each note stands out three-dimensionally and clearly. It is an astonishingly raw sound that transcends time. In fact, it is on a different level from its sister release. While that one also boasted a directness that was unexpected for an audience recording, its sound image felt like the entire ensemble was coming at you as a “wall of sound” from the front. In contrast, this release has a vivid three-dimensionality, as if you were “standing in the middle of the band, surrounded by music on all sides.” Listening to this release, you can’t help but think, “Ah, so this is what a real soundboard recording sounds like.” Experience Santana in 1969 with this unparalleled soundboard recording. This three-dimensional soundboard captures a stage performance that coats their debut album with the unique energy of a live show. While the classic audience recording was about 44 minutes long, this recording is significantly longer at about 77 minutes, and the number of great songs included is also vastly superior. This time, let’s organize it while comparing it with the official release “LIVE AT THE FILLMORE 1968,” which captures their earliest period. Songs from their debut album “Santana”: Soul Sacrifice (★) / Savor (*) / Waiting (*) / Evil Ways (*) / You Just Don’t Care (★*) / Treat / Persuasion (★) / Jingo Others: Chunk a Fun (★) / Conquistadore Rides Again (★) *Note: “★” indicates a song not found on the classic audience recording “FILLMORE WEST 1969,” and “*” indicates a song not found on the official release “LIVE AT THE FILLMORE 1968.” …And that’s how it is. The core of this album is their debut album, “SANTANA,” which was recorded before the official album was released, and all the songs except “Shades of Time” are performed. It also includes plenty of repertoire that wasn’t even heard on the earliest official Santana release, “LIVE AT THE FILLMORE 1968.” This official album was recorded at the same Fillmore West just about two months before this one (December 1968). So this album is a record from a period almost directly connected to that official album, but when you put the two side by side, you can see that the band was steadily moving forward even in this short time. While it centers around songs that were also on the official album, such as “Soul Sacrifice,” “Treat,” and “Jingo,” this album adds songs that were not on the official album, such as “Savor,” “Waiting,” “Evil Ways,” and “You Just Don’t Care,” which would later become a hit, all of which are directly related to their debut album. It truly captures the transitional period when the framework of the masterpiece “SANTANA” was solidifying. Moreover, it’s not just the setlist that’s changed. The band members have also changed. Marcus Malone was in charge of congas on the official “LIVE AT THE FILLMORE 1968,” but Michael Carabello had already joined the band by this album. This album vividly captures even the generational shift in percussion that occurred in just a few months. This album encapsulates the initial impulse of the band on the eve of their debut with a fresh, newly mastered soundboard recording. It is a live album that is nothing short of a cultural heritage, and a new masterpiece that can also be enjoyed as a sequel to the official “LIVE AT THE FILLMORE 1968.” Soundboard recording of the “Fillmore West performance on February 16, 1969.” This is a live album of a different concert that took place two days after the highly acclaimed audience masterpiece “FILLMORE WEST 1969,” and uses a newly released master from the younger generation. The freshness is outstanding, and each note stands out three-dimensionally, making you feel as if you are surrounded by sound in the middle of the band. Although some tracks have been cut, this is a cultural heritage album that can also be enjoyed as a sequel to the official release, ‘LIVE AT THE FILLMORE 1968’. Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA, USA 16th February 1969 01. Soul Sacrifice (cuts in) 02. Savor / Waiting (end of set) 03. Waiting (new set) 04. Evil Ways 05. You Just Don’t Care 06. Treat -tape cut- 07. Chunk a Funk 08. Persuasion 09. Jingo 10. Blues Jam 11. Conquistadore Rides Again SOUNDBOARD RECORDING Carlos Santana: guitar, percussion Gregg Rolie: keyboards, vocals David Brown: bass guitar Bob ‘Doc’ Livingston: drums Michael Carabello: congas, percussion
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