Drawing on rock, salsa, and jazz, Santana recorded one imaginative, unpredictable gem after another during the 1970s. But Caravanserai is daring even by Santana's high standards. Carlos Santana was obviously very hip to jazz fusion -- something the innovative guitarist provides a generous dose of on the largely instrumental Caravanserai. Whether its approach is jazz-rock or simply rock, this album is consistently inspired and quite adventurous. Full of heartfelt, introspective guitar solos, it lacks the immediacy of Santana or Abraxas. Like the type of jazz that influenced it, this pearl (which marked the beginning of keyboardist/composer Tom Coster's highly beneficial membership in the band) requires a number of listenings in order to be absorbed and fully appreciated. But make no mistake: this is one of Santana's finest accomplishments. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
Michael Shrieve (Drums), Michael Shrieve (Producer), Michael Shrieve (Original Recording Producer), Michael Shrieve (Spoken Word), Neal Schon (Guitar), Hadley Caliman (Saxophone), Tom Coster (Keyboards), Tom Coster (Piano (Electric)), Tom Coster (Vocals), Mel Martin (Saxophone), Armando Peraza (Percussion), Armando Peraza (Bongos), Armando Peraza (Vocals), Lenny White (Percussion), Lenny White (Castanets), Santana (Main Performer), José Chepitó Areas (Percussion), José Chepitó Areas (Bongos), José Chepitó Areas (Conga), José Chepitó Areas (Timbales), Gregg Rolie (Organ), Gregg Rolie (Piano), Gregg Rolie (Keyboards), Gregg Rolie (Vocals), Steven Berkowitz (A&R), Bob Fereira (Saxophone), Wendy Haas (Piano), Wendy Haas (Keyboards), Tom Harrell (Trumpet), Glen Kolotkin (Engineer), Mike Larner (Engineer), James Mingo Lewis (Percussion), James Mingo Lewis (Piano), James Mingo Lewis (Bongos), James Mingo Lewis (Conga), James Mingo Lewis (Vocals), Jules Powell (Trombone), Doug Rauch (Bass), Doug Rauch (Guitar), Doug Rauch (Guitar (Bass)), Rico Reyes (Percussion), Rico Reyes (Vocals), David Rodriguez (Guitar), Douglas Rodrigues (Guitar), Douglas Rodriguez (Guitar), Tom Rutley (Bass), Tom Rutley (Bass (Acoustic)), Hal Miller (Liner Notes), Mike Shrieve (Drums), Mike Shrieve (Producer), Bob Irwin (Producer), Carlos Santana (Guitar), Carlos Santana (Percussion), Carlos Santana (Vocals), Carlos Santana (Producer), Carlos Santana (Original Recording Producer), Carlos Santana (Spoken Word), Howard Fritzson (Art Direction), Vic Anesini (Mastering), Joan Chase (Artwork), Joan Chase (Photography), Lisa Sparagano (Design), Baron Wolman (Photography), Darren Salmieri (Artist Coordination), Paramahansa Yogananda (Author), Stephan Moore (Project Director), Elizabeth Reilly (Photo Research)
Caravanserai is an album by Santana released in October 1972. It marked a major turning point in Carlos Santana's career as it was a sharp departure from his critically acclaimed first three albums. 1971 marked the departure of original bassistDavid Brown who was replaced by Doug Rauch and Tom Rutley and original percussionist Michael Carabello who was replaced by Armando Peraza. KeyboardistGregg Rolie, who was having a falling-out with Santana, was replaced by Tom Coster on a few songs. Caravanserai reached the top 10 of the Billboard 200 chart in 1972.
The sound contrasted greatly with Santana's trademark fusion of salsa, rock, and jazz, and concentrated mostly on jazz-like instrumental passages. All but three songs were instrumentals, and consequently the album yielded no hit singles. The album is the first among a series of Santana albums that were known for their increasing musical complexity, marking a move away from the popular rock format of the early Santana albums towards a more contemplative and experimental jazz sound. While Caravanserai is regarded as an artistic success, the musical changes that began on its release in 1972 marked the start of a slide in Santana's commercial popularity.
It was the last Santana album to feature Gregg Rolie and Neal Schon, who went on to form Journey the following year.
In 1998 SME records in Japan, part of Sony Music, also released the remastered version as an SACD. This disc is stereo only, and furthermore, it is a single layer SACD, which means that ordinary CD players will not play it.
