Santana (CA, USA) – August 9, 1985 – Soundboard Edition

In recent years, the Santana of the *Beyond Appearances* era has been re-evaluated as a major source of excellent soundboard recordings. Now, a live album capturing a triumphant homecoming show joins that collection. This release features the concert held in San Francisco on August 9, 1985—a scorching stereo soundboard recording captured at their home turf, the Warfield Theatre. While the *Beyond Appearances* era was once considered a “recording frontier” with few quality documents available, a succession of masterpiece soundboards has emerged recently. Where does this release fit into that landscape? Let’s first take a broad look at their activities during that time. 1985: *Beyond Appearances* released (Feb 25); North America #1 (Apr 27–May 10, 11 shows); North America #2 (May 30–Aug 22, 42 shows) ← ★Here★; Albany show (Nov 15). 1986: North America #3 (Jan 18/May 24, 2 shows); Sound Market ’86 appearance (June 1); Australia & Hawaii (June 5–12, 6 shows); North America #4 (July 12–Aug 17, 21 shows) ← *Mountain View 1986*; North America #5 (Sept 19–Nov 1, 14 shows); Bournemouth show (Dec 13). That covers Santana’s schedule for 1985 and 1986. The San Francisco show featured here is part of the “North America #2” leg—a tour segment that is actually a treasure trove of masterpiece soundboards. Renowned recordings such as *Cuyahoga Falls 1985*, *Kansas City 1985*, *Chicago 1985*, and *Miller Music Festival 1985* all originate from this same “North America #2” tour. Let’s take a closer look at the schedule to understand the chronological context. “North America #2” details: May 30 & 31 (2 shows) * June 1: *Cuyahoga Falls 1985* • June 2 & 4 (2 shows) * June 6: *Kansas City 1985* • June 7–11 (4 shows) * June 12: *Chicago 1985* • June 14–July 8 (12 shows) * July 9: *Miller Music Festival 1985* • July 10–August 9 (15 shows) * August 9: San Francisco (Late Show) ← **This Release** • August 10–22 (3 shows). Top-tier sound from the “Wakagene” master… As you can see, this release captures a show from much later in the timeline than the previously released classics—specifically, the final stretch of the “North America #2” leg. It documents a night where the band, having bonded tightly over the course of a grueling tour, delivers a fiery, explosive performance before a hometown crowd. The recording itself is a superb-quality soundboard. While distinct from the “archived collection” series that has garnered attention in recent years, the quality is strikingly similar. It utilizes the “Wakagene” master—currently regarded as the definitive source—offering a raw immediacy that feels as though you are plugged directly into the mixing console. There is absolutely no trace of generational loss from dubbing; the sonic freshness is exceptional. That direct connection creates a vivid, otherworldly sense of presence. The roar of the crowd recedes like distant waves, leaving the raw, unadulterated live performance to rage powerfully inside your head. You can hear everything with remarkable clarity—not just Carlos’s guitar, but also the keyboards played by Thompson and Crew, and even the distinct, crisp notes from the percussion trio of Vilato, Peraza, and Rekow, all without any muddiness. The mix is ​​perfectly balanced, ensuring a satisfying listening experience even on a home stereo. Combining the realism of a live performance with the polish of a studio work, this release truly deserves to be called “official-quality” material unearthed from the archives. This is a complete show—a triumphant homecoming performance that evolved during the US tour—delivered with superb sound quality. In fact, the setlist shifted even within the “North American Tour #2” leg, making this release distinct from other acclaimed recordings in the series. Let’s break it down and compare: *Beyond Appearances* (Brotherhood, Breaking Out, Say It Again, Two Points of View, Right Now); Santana (Savor, Soul Sacrifice); *Abraxas* (Incident at Neshabur, Gypsy Queen); *Santana III* (Batuka, No One To Depend On); Others (Primera Invasion, Open Invitation, She’s Not There, Waited All My Life, Body Surfing, Super Boogie, Hong Kong Blues, Now That You Know [★], Europa [Earth’s Cry, Heaven’s Smile], By The Pool [★]). *Note: Tracks marked with [★] were not heard on other soundboard recordings from the “North American Tour #2” leg.* While there is a cut at the beginning of “Say It Again,” the complete setlist offers a thoroughly rewarding listening experience. The format—anchored by tracks from the then-new album *Beyond Appearances* and interspersed with major hits from their debut—aligns with other classic releases in the series, yet this one incorporates fresh material like “Now That You Know” and “By The Pool.” Ultimately, the real highlight is the passionate, triumphant performance that brings this setlist to life. After all, the Warfield shows from this year were officially recorded, with parts even appearing on the official compilation *VIVA SANTANA!* That intensity and passion are poured directly into your brain via a super-direct soundboard feed. This is a new definitive release that captures—in pristine detail—the blazing live performance of a triumphant homecoming show in San Francisco at the end of a long tour, utilizing the fresh-sounding “Wakagene” master tape. It features a stereo soundboard recording of the San Francisco show from August 9, 1985 (Late Show). Sourced from the “Wakagene” master—widely considered the best available—this release boasts the raw immediacy of a direct-from-the-mixing-console feed and a pristine quality free from dubbing artifacts. With “official-grade” sound that lets the raw performance explode inside your head, this new classic immerses you completely in that triumphant tour-finale atmosphere. Warfield Theatre, San Francisco, CA, USA 9th August 1985 (Late Show) STEREO SBD Disc:1 (77:38) 1. Brotherhood 2. Primera Invasion 3. Open Invitation 4. She’s Not There / Marbles 5. Incident At Neshabur 6. I’ve Waited All My Life 7. Body Surfing 8. Breaking Out 9. Bass Solo 10. Super Boogie 11. Hong Kong Blues 12. Savor > Percussion Solo Disc:2 (59:09) 1. Now That You Know / Gypsy Queen 2. Say It Again 3. Soul Sacrifice 4. Batuka 5. No One To Depend On 6. Two Points Of View 7. Europa (Earth’s Cry, Heaven’s Smile) 8. By The Pool 9. Right Now / Band Introductions STEREO SOUNDBOARD RECORDING