CARLOS SANTANA: BLUES FOR SALVADOR

Performer: Carlos Santana – guitar; Tony Williams – drums; Alphonso Johnson – bass guitar; Buddy Miles – vocals; Orestes Vilato – flute & percussion
Composer: Carlos Santana
Number of discs: 1
Barcode: 0196588951411
Label: Original Master Recordings
Format: LP
Genre: Pop/Rock
Year: 2024

The highly anticipated reissue of Carlos Santana’s Blues for Salvador.

Remastering: from original analog tapes

Pressing: 180-gram vinyl at Fidelity Record Pressings

Limited edition: 3,000 numbered copies worldwide

Between the 1970s and 1980s, few artists were as prolific as Carlos Santana. At the time of recording Blues for Salvador, the fourth album inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the solo category, the Mexican-American guitarist maintained a dizzying pace, releasing more than one album per year since his band’s 1969 debut. Given this, it’s no surprise that this 1987 album was Santana’s last until 1990: he had earned a well-deserved break. With its predominantly instrumental tracks, Blues for Salvador marked the start of his three-year sabbatical with a major work that earned him his first Grammy Award.

Remastered from the original analog tapes, pressed at Fidelity Record Pressings, and released in just 3,000 numbered copies worldwide, this sumptuous 180-gram vinyl edition lets listeners experience this seminal 1987 album with audiophile-level sound quality. Its ultra-quiet surfaces and deep black vinyl allow Santana’s music to emerge with incredible detail, explosive dynamics, and tonal clarity previously unimaginable.

And what of Santana’s unmistakable guitar tone, his searing solos, and dazzling virtuosity? This Mobile Fidelity reissue delivers them with unprecedented definition and transparency, revealing his absolute control, boundless energy, and musical soul. Supporting Santana’s masterful performance are the outstanding contributions of drummer Tony Williams (formerly of Weather Report), bassist Alphonso Johnson, vocalist Buddy Miles (core member of Band of Gypsys), and iconic sideman Orestes Vilato on flute and percussion. Their performances are rendered with stunning focus, separation, and clarity.

Ending a creative hiatus that lasted much of the decade, Blues for Salvador stands out for the natural joy and freedom with which Santana plays. The album also marks a clear return to his love of jazz, paying homage to the heroes of his youth. The New Age-tinged “Bella,” dedicated to his daughter, nods to Wes Montgomery, Otis Rush, T. Bone Walker, and other six-string pioneers. The slithering pulse of “‘Trane,” with Williams seemingly unleashing chaos on drums, is a tribute to John Coltrane. Charles Mingus receives his homage in the brief “Mingus,” accompanied by keyboards.

Drawing from a variety of sources, Blues for Salvador includes unreleased tracks, alternative versions of previously released material, and a monstrous live version of “Now That You Know,” featuring Santana in a whirlwind of soulful bass lines and organ runs. His guitar seems to produce notes at almost superhuman speed over a tightly controlled rhythm section, creating a funky, fluid take on “Deeper, Dig Deeper” (from Freedom), while blending Brazilian elements, ’80s pop, and cabaret-like flair in “Hannibal” (from ZeBop).

Ultimately, Blues for Salvador showcases Santana’s pure passion for music without any pretense, which is a major part of its enduring charm. Although the album’s eclectic track sources may have kept it off the charts, it remains a key—and often overlooked—title in Santana’s vast discography: a collection of tracks that are alternately lively, playful, and reflective, culminating in the title track, which features some of Santana’s most inspired performances from the middle of his career.

Carlos Santana – guitar
Tony Williams – drums
Alphonso Johnson – bass guitar
Buddy Miles – vocals
Orestes Vilato – flute & percussion

Side A

Bailando
Aquatic Park
Bella
I’m Gone
Trane
Deeper, Dig Deeper

Side B

Mingus
Now That You Know
Hannibal
Blues For Salvador