Moonflower (album)
Encyclopedia
Moonflower is a 1977 studio and live double album by Santana
. The recording features both studio and live tracks, which are interspersed with one another throughout the album. It is perhaps the group's most popular live album, because Lotus did not receive a U.S. domestic release until the early 1990s. It displays a mix between the fusion of Latin and blues-
rock
styles of the late 1960s
and early 1970s
, and the much more experimental
and spiritual
jazz fusion
sound that characterized the band's mid-1970s work. The live material was recorded during the supporting tour for the Festival album, which displayed a similar mix of styles, and many of the album's songs are featured here – namely, the three song medley which opens Festival.
A cover version of the Zombies
' mid-1960s hit song "She's Not There
" was released as a single and peaked at #27. The song was the first Santana recording to hit the Top 40
of the Billboard charts since "No One to Depend On
" reached #36 in 1972. The album reached #10 on the Billboard
charts and was eventually certified platinum
, neither of which occurred again until the star-studded Supernatural in 1999.
Santana (band)
Santana is a rock band based around guitarist Carlos Santana and founded in the late 1960s. It first came to public attention after their performing the song "Soul Sacrifice" at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, when their Latin rock provided a contrast to other acts on the bill...
. The recording features both studio and live tracks, which are interspersed with one another throughout the album. It is perhaps the group's most popular live album, because Lotus did not receive a U.S. domestic release until the early 1990s. It displays a mix between the fusion of Latin and blues-
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
styles of the late 1960s
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
and early 1970s
1970s
File:1970s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: US President Richard Nixon doing the V for Victory sign after his resignation from office after the Watergate scandal in 1974; Refugees aboard a US naval boat after the Fall of Saigon, leading to the end of the Vietnam War in 1975; The 1973 oil...
, and the much more experimental
Experimental music
Experimental music refers, in the English-language literature, to a compositional tradition which arose in the mid-20th century, applied particularly in North America to music composed in such a way that its outcome is unforeseeable. Its most famous and influential exponent was John Cage...
and spiritual
Religious music
Religious music is music performed or composed for religious use or through religious influence.A lot of music has been composed to complement religion, and many composers have derived inspiration from their own religion. Many forms of traditional music have been adapted to fit religions'...
jazz fusion
Jazz fusion
Jazz fusion is a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing funk and R&B rhythms and the amplification and electronic effects of rock, complex time signatures derived from non-Western music and extended, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations,...
sound that characterized the band's mid-1970s work. The live material was recorded during the supporting tour for the Festival album, which displayed a similar mix of styles, and many of the album's songs are featured here – namely, the three song medley which opens Festival.
A cover version of the Zombies
The Zombies
The Zombies are an English rock band, formed in 1961 in St Albans and led by Rod Argent, on piano and keyboards, and vocalist Colin Blunstone. The group scored a UK and US hit in 1964 with "She's Not There"...
' mid-1960s hit song "She's Not There
She's Not There
"She's Not There" is the debut single by the British pop band The Zombies. It reached number twelve in the UK Singles Chart in August 1964, and became a top-ten hit in the United States...
" was released as a single and peaked at #27. The song was the first Santana recording to hit the Top 40
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
of the Billboard charts since "No One to Depend On
No One to Depend On
"No One to Depend On" is a song by Latin Rock Band Santana, from their 1971 album, Santana III. It is the second track on the first disc of the album and was released as its second single....
" reached #36 in 1972. The album reached #10 on the Billboard
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
charts and was eventually certified platinum
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
, neither of which occurred again until the star-studded Supernatural in 1999.
Side one
- "Dawn/Go Within" (Coster, Santana) – 2:44 (studio)
- "CarnavalCarnaval (song)"Carnival" is the first track on the Santana album Festival. It begins with a whistle, and drums immediately follow. The lyrics are a mix of English and Spanish. The song is the first part of a three-track medley, and flows seamlessly into the next track, "Let the Children Play"....
" (Coster) – 2:17 (live) - "Let the Children PlayLet the Children Play"Let the Children Play" is the second track on the Santana album Festival. The song is the second part of a three-song medley, starting with the first track, "Carnaval" and ending with the third track, "Jugando". All the tracks flow seamlessly into each other. The lyrics of this song are a mix of...
" (Santana) – 2:37 (live) - "JugandoJugando"Jugando" is the third track on the Santana album Festival. The song is the third and final part of a three-song medley, the first two tracks being "Carnaval", and "Let the Children Play". All the tracks flow seamlessly into each other. The song is an instrumental, and finishes the medley....
" (Santana) – 2:09 (live) - "I'll Be Waiting" (Santana) – 5:20 (studio) (also issued on single)
- "Zulu" (Santana, Coster) – 3:25 (studio)
Side two
- "Bahia" (Santana, Coster) – 1:37 (studio)
- "Black Magic WomanBlack Magic Woman"Black Magic Woman" is a song written by Peter Green that first appeared as a Fleetwood Mac single in various countries in 1968, subsequently appearing on the 1969 Fleetwood Mac compilation albums English Rose and The Pious Bird of Good Omen . In 1970, it became a classic hit by Santana, as sung...
/Gypsy Queen" (Green, Szabo) – 6:32 (live) - "Dance Sister Dance (Baila Mi Hermana)" (Chancler, Coster, Rubinson) – 7:45 (live)
- "Europa (Earth's Cry Heaven's Smile)" (Santana, Coster) – 6:07 (live)
Side three
- "She's Not ThereShe's Not There"She's Not There" is the debut single by the British pop band The Zombies. It reached number twelve in the UK Singles Chart in August 1964, and became a top-ten hit in the United States...
" (Argent) – 4:09 (studio) (also issued on single) - "Flor d'Luna (Moonflower)" (Coster) – 5:01 (studio)
- "Soul Sacrifice/Head, Hands & Feet" (Santana Band, Lear) – 14:01 (live)
Side four
- "El Morocco" (Coster, Santana) – 5:05 (studio)
- "Transcendence" (Santana) – 5:13 (studio)
- "Savor/Toussaint L'Overture" (Santana Band, Santana) – 12:56 (live)
Bonus tracks on 2003 reissue
- "Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen" (single edit) (Green) – 2:37
- "I'll Be Waiting" (single edit) (Santana) – 3:12 (studio)
- "She's Not There" (single edit) (Argent) – 3:19 (studio)
Musicians
- Carlos SantanaCarlos SantanaCarlos Augusto Alves Santana is a Mexican rock guitarist. Santana became famous in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his band, Santana, which pioneered rock, salsa and jazz fusion...
: Guitar, Vocals, Percussion - Greg Walker: Vocals
- Tom CosterTom CosterTom Coster is an American keyboardist and composer. Detroit-born and San Francisco-raised, Coster played piano and accordion as a youth, continuing his studies through college and a productive five-year stint as a musician in the U.S...
: Keyboards - Pablo Tellez: Bass, Vocals (live tracks)
- David Margen: Bass (studio tracks)
- Graham LearGraham LearGraham Lear is a Canadian drummer. He was born in the United Kingdom on July 24, 1949. In 1952 his family moved to London, Ontario . He began his professional career at the age of 13 with the London Symphony Orchestra. During his teenage years he practiced, played and toured with several bands in...
: Drums - Raul Rekow: Percussion
- José "Chepito" AreasJosé AreasJosé Chepito Areas is a Nicaraguan percussionist. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 as a percussionist for Santana, which he was from 1969-1980. In 1997 he performed on the album Abraxas Pool with other former members of Santana.-References:...
: Percussion (live tracks) - Pete EscovedoPete EscovedoPeter "Pete" Michael Escovedo is a Mexican-American musician percussionist.-Biography:With his two brothers, Pete formed Escovedo Bros Latin Jazz Sextet, before Santana hired Pete and Coke Escovedo for his group.He led the 14-24 piece Latin Big band Azteca.Father to musician Sheila Escovedo, aka...
: Percussion (studio tracks)