SANTANA – Guitar Heaven [Deluxe Edition] (2010)

The Greatest Guitar Classics Of All Time

For most of the past four decades, producer/record company executive Clive Davis has helped keep Santana on commercial track whenever he’s wanted to veer. And it was Davis who, more than a decade ago, started putting Santana together with young, hot singers to help keep his name alive.
Albums such as ‘Supernatural’, ‘Shaman’ and ‘All That I Am’ featured vocalists Rob Thomas, Seal, Dido and others in a calculated move to sell CDs, which is fine, given that the music business is, after all, a business.

I have enjoyed these albums, but when read that Carlos was working on a ‘Greatest Guitar Classics Of All Time’ covering classic rock tunes we love, it really piqued my interest.
Then I surfed the net and specialized magazines to see what critics and / or people were saying, and found out really mixed opinions.
Been spinning this CD for a couple of months now, to get my own impression and answer myself these questions:
Is this album a good rendition to these stainless classics?
It deserves to be listened and posted here?
Definitely Yes.
And for various reasons.

First of all, on many of the songs Santana did a good job respecting and keeping them true to their original concepts, adding his own style of course.
But maybe the most important reason is the fact that the inclusion of modern rock contemporary vocalists encourages the new generations to discover these classic, superb songs.

Some tracks didn’t hit the mark, but for the most part, the result is enjoyable.
I never been a big fan of Chris Cornell’s voice, but he was the perfect choice for “Whole Lotta Love”. A very robust vocal delivery and a great guitar tone by Carlos.
I don’t think “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking” it’s a ‘classic’, but Santana personally had picked every tune to cover here. Nice guitar licks and Scott Weiland is OK.
“Sunshine Of Your Love”, the classic Cream song is arranged with more upbeat tempo than the original thanks to the Santana percussion ensemble playing. This updated and latin-rhythm version works great in my opinion.

The first single from the CD is “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” with a vocal by India.Arie and Yo-Yo Ma on cello. This song is an absolute classic, almost sacred, and a high risk too.
Carlos re-worked the song with an acoustic spanish guitar, a subtle orchestration, his classic guitar sound and… a slow-pace R&B style. A sacrilege? Not at all. I think this is the best, innovative cover version here.
India.Arie vocals are warm, and the whole tune is beautifully arranged.
The second single, Def Leppard’s “Photograph” is great. Chris Daughtry is the most talented vocalist of the modern rock arena, and does a very good performance.
Then “Back In Black”… this song is un-coverable by no-one in my book. Wrong pick. To turn it worse, the rap-metal treatment is totally out of place.

Carlos’ work on “Riders On The Storm” may be his best playing on the album, with the song’s atypical structure forcing him to go outside a little. Bonus points for including Ray Manzarek here.
Also his playing on “Smoke On The Water” is all over the track to good effect, and to my ears, is not as identifiable in some spots as is usually the case. He is playing with abandon and having fun at the same time.
That is another feeling that this album leaves me with, that everyone involved was enjoying themselves and having fun with these old classics.

“Dance The Night Away” is another wrong choice here. The version is cool but this song isn’t a classic at all.
“Little Wing” is well done, and I love Joe Cocker, however, this tune is an icon, and I am not completely satisfied with the result.
Santana turn in a great performance on the old Willie Dixon/Jeff Beck nugget “I Ain’t Superstitious”, showing guest vocalist Jonny Lang how the old guys do it. Really good version.
The Deluxe Edition includes a tight, punchy version of Credence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son” (cool and fun) and the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Under The Bridge” cover that works fine, specially for Andy Vargas (almost an Anthony Kiedis clone!) and the wah-wah flourishes by Carlos.

Haters of this album are taking it way too seriously.
I found it to be a fun listen, enjoying the variation on the songs I’ve listened to for +25 years.
Most of them well covered, some not, but it’s fun, perfectly recorded and with a polished production.

1. Whole Lotta Love (featuring Chris Cornell)
2. Can’t You Hear Me Knocking (featuring Scott Weiland)
3. Sunshine Of Your Love (featuring Rob Thomas)
4. While My Guitar Gently Weeps (featuring India.Arie & Yo-Yo Ma)
5. Photograph (featuring Chris Daughtry)
6. Back In Black (feat. Nas & Robyn Troup)
7. Riders On The Storm (featuring C. Bennington & Ray Manzarek)
8. Smoke On The Water (featuring Jacoby Shaddix)
9. Dance The Night Away (featuring Pat Monahan)
10.Bang A Gong (featuring Gavin Rossdale)
11.Little Wing (featuring Joe Cocker)
12.I Ain’t Superstitious (featuring Jonny Lang)

Deluxe Edition bonus :
13.Fortunate Son (featuring Scott Stapp)
14.Under The Bridge (featuring Andy Vargas)

Carlos Santana – Lead guitar
Tommy Anthony – Rhythm guitar
Freddie Ravel – Keyboards
Benny Rietveld – Bass
Dennis Chambers – Drums
Karl Perrazo – Timbales, percussion
Raul Rekow – Congas
Bill Ortiz, Jeff Cressman – Horns
Andy Vargas – Backing vocals

IF YOU LIKE IT, BUY IT!