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Tuesday, March 10, 2020

Santana - Santana IV (2016) | Review, Fun Facts & Trivia

Santana - Santana IV (2016) album front coverSantana - Santana IV (2016) album back cover
Santana - Santana IV (2016)

Santana – Santana IV (2016) | Album Guide, Tracklist, Fun Facts & Trivia

🎧 Overview of Santana IV

Santana released Santana IV in April 2016, explicitly designed as a reunion of the classic 1970–1971 lineup era sound.

Led by Carlos Santana, the album brings back key members from the band’s early “golden era,” aiming to recreate the chemistry and improvisational spirit of albums like Santana (1969), Abraxas (1970), and Santana III (1971)—but with modern recording technology.

📀 Tracklist

Standard edition:

  1. Yambu
  2. Shake It
  3. Anywhere You Want to Go
  4. Fillmore East
  5. Love Makes the World Go Round
  6. Freedom in Your Mind
  7. Choo Choo
  8. All Aboard
  9. Sueños
  10. Caminando
  11. Blues Magic
  12. Echizo

🎤 Album Credits & Lineup

Classic-era reunion lineup:

  • Carlos Santana – guitar
  • Gregg Rolie – vocals, keyboards
  • Neal Schon – guitar
  • Michael Carabello – percussion
  • Michael Shrieve – drums
  • Benny Rietveld – bass
  • Karl Perazzo – percussion
  • Cindy Blackman Santana – drums (select tracks)

Production:

  • Producer: Carlos Santana
  • Label: RCA Records

🧠 Musical Direction & Themes

  • Return to early-70s Latin rock and psychedelic jam style
  • Extended instrumental passages and improvisation
  • Dual-guitar interplay (Santana + Neal Schon)
  • Strong percussion-driven groove foundations
  • Spiritual and nostalgic themes tied to the band’s origins

The album is essentially a modern revival of the classic Santana sound, updated for contemporary production standards.

🌟 Fun Facts & Trivia

  • Santana IV reunites the core lineup from the early Fillmore/Woodstock era.
  • Neal Schon’s participation links Santana directly back to the origins of Journey.
  • Many songs were built from jam sessions rather than pre-written structures.
  • It is considered a “lost sequel” to Santana III.
  • The album was recorded with an emphasis on live studio performance.

🤯 Did You Know?

  • Santana IV is often viewed as the closest modern equivalent to the band’s early-70s peak sound.
  • It was the first time in decades that multiple original members recorded together again.
  • The project was driven by nostalgia but executed with modern production clarity.
  • It helped reintroduce classic Santana-style jam rock to a new audience.