Needle Time

  Santana - Abraxas [SOPN-129 JPN QUAD SQ 1975 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] Originally released on CBS/Columbia Records in 1970. I found this 1975 quadrophonic pressing of Santana's classic  Abraxas album at one of my usual Japanese pressing sources for a reasonably low price so thought I would experiment to see how a rip would sound in two channels with my current set-up. Personally, I find the idea of quadrophonic vinyl a bit gimmicky, I don't and never will own the necessary decoder equipment but am very intrigued with the results of this rip. Firstly it is almost impossible to compare this version to any previous release, the differences are too numerous to detail here but to summarise expect nothing in the same place if you know the original or any of the better quality remasters, this is essentially a different mix. I compared this rip to Dr. Robert's rip of the Mofi One Step, a recent rip of Kevin Gray's 50th Anniversary cut and my own UK 1970 pressing and then ran ou...

  Santana - Santana III [MOFI 1-039 USA 2013 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] Originally released on Columbia Records in 1971. Santana's classic second album Abraxas must have been a very difficult album to follow, but I think Santana III hits the mark. More psychedelic, more funky (& horny) and a little bit more latin than it's predecessor, this record often gets overlooked on the spiritual journey towards  Caravanserai. This Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab pressing was released as part of their Silver Label Series about ten years ago and easily tears a strip off my crackly old original UK pressing. I don't think that MoFi have fessed up about their sourcing for this release, however the analogue sources for the Silver Label Series seem to be from second generation safety reels. A1 Batuka A2 No One To Depend On A3 Taboo A4 Toussaint L'Overture B1 Everybody's Everything B2 Guajira B3 Jungle Strut B4 Everything's Coming Our Way B5 Para Los Rumberos

  Santana - Lotus (Live In Japan) [SIJP 46~8 JPN 2017 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] I guess my timing is somewhat appropriate with this post. This triple album reproduction set was ripped a few weeks back, before all this week's furor about the news that high-end label Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab has knowingly had a digital step in it's mastering chain since possibly as far back as 2008.   Originally released as a quadraphonic album in Japan back in 1974 and then standard stereo in Europe a few years later, Lotus was recorded live onstage at Kosei Nenkin Hall, Osaka, Japan on the 3rd & 4th July 1973. It is a triple album set and this rather splendidly packaged version features a 22 panel fold-out sleeve, packed with posters, release notes, flyers, postcards and other ephemera. This release is not on Mobile Fidelity - Sony Japan gave MoFi access to the master tapes, and as they are an honest bunch, the Japanese label declare that the album was mastered from high-definitio...

  Santana - Santana [MFSL 1-303 USA 2007 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] As a young lad, I spent quite a bit of time in California just south of San Francisco -  a long way from my home in rainy Manchester, England. The Bay Area has become a special place for me since, especially the history surrounding San Francisco, it's culture, it's sports teams and subsequently it's music. Once back in blighty, I caught Michael Wadleigh's Woodstock doc on late night TV and there was one particular segment which stood out for me... Afro-Cuban Mexican-American rock, Santana's live performance of their  Soul Sacrifice just blew me away. I've always love percussive music (musicians hitting things) but this was something else. The combination of Michael Shrieve's unique drumming style, and the congas & timbale duel from José Chepitó Areas & Mike Carrabello had me hooked.  I own every album, some in multiple versions, up until and including their 1976 album, Festival . ...

Santana - One Chain (Don't Make No Prison) (Special Disco Version) [23-10957 USA 1978 24-Bit FLAC] A little self indulgence.... time to dust off the loon pants. I have always held an appreciation for some of the early works of these Bay Area latino-rocksters. Between 1976 and 1978 they went disco and covered One Chain (originally a Four Tops track) for the ropey Inner Secrets album. It was then remixed as a 12" Disco Single by Columbia in the US. Here it is! Play loud, get the mirror ball out and get dancing around that living room. This record features some of the finest wah-wah guitar you will ever likely hear as well as the fine, soul voice of Greg Walker. A1 One Chain (Don't Make No Prison) B1 Life Is A Lady / Holiday