These 14 tracks lean heavily on the earliest phase of Santana. Nine of them, in fact, were recorded prior to 1972, and just one postdates 1978. As 1969-71 was Santana's most vital period, however, that's no cause for complaint, and indeed the later cuts really pale in comparison. For someone who wants a little more than a greatest hits collection but wants to stop after two volumes, this is good enough, with first-rate items like "Persuasion," "Se Acabo," and "Guajira." Nothing here is rare, and note that the versions of "Black Magic Woman" and "Europa" are live ones. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide
Michael Shrieve (Percussion), Michael Shrieve (Drums), Michael Shrieve (Vibraphone), Linda Tillery (Vocals (Background)), Neal Schon (Guitar), Tom Coster (Organ), Tom Coster (Strings), Tom Coster (Keyboards), Tom Coster (Marimba), Tom Coster (Organ (Hammond)), Tom Coster (Piano (Electric)), Tom Coster (Vocals (Background)), Tom Coster (Vibraphone), Tom Coster (Fender Rhodes), Tom Coster (Mini Moog), Tom Coster (Analogue Synthesizer), Tom Coster (Arp Odyssey), Tom Coster (Arp Omni), Tom Coster (Arp String Ensemble), Pete Escovedo (Percussion), Pete Escovedo (Timbales), Armando Peraza (Percussion), Armando Peraza (Bongos), Armando Peraza (Conga), Santana (Main Performer), Santana (Original Album Producer), Greg Walker (Vocals), Greg Walker (Vocals (Background)), José Chepitó Areas (Percussion), José Chepitó Areas (Conga), José Chepitó Areas (Drums), José Chepitó Areas (Flugelhorn), José Chepitó Areas (Timbales), José Chepitó Areas (Vocals), José Chepitó Areas (Bell Tree), Gregg Rolie (Organ), Gregg Rolie (Piano), Gregg Rolie (Keyboards), Gregg Rolie (Vocals), Coke Escovedo (Percussion), Coke Escovedo (Vocals (Background)), David Brown (Bass), David Brown (Guitar (Bass)), Mike Carabello (Percussion), Mike Carabello (Conga), Mike Carabello (Tambourine), Mike Carabello (Vocals), Fred Catero (Producer), Fred Catero (Original Album Producer), Walfredo Reyes (Percussion), Walfredo Reyes (Drums), Walfredo Reyes (Timbales), Jim Gaines (Producer), Jim Gaines (Original Album Producer), Alberto Gianquinto (Piano), Dennis Lambert (Vocals), Dennis Lambert (Vocals (Background)), Dennis Lambert (Clavinet), Dennis Lambert (Producer), Dennis Lambert (Original Album Producer), Graham Lear (Percussion), Graham Lear (Drums), Alex Ligertwood (Guitar), Alex Ligertwood (Vocals), David Margen (Bass), Mario Ochoa (Piano), Brian Potter (Producer), Brian Potter (Original Album Producer), Vernon Reid (Producer), Vernon Reid (Original Album Producer), Benny Rietveld (Bass), Raul Rekow (Percussion), Raul Rekow (Bongos), Raul Rekow (Conga), Raul Rekow (Vocals (Background)), Raul Rekow (Surdo), Raul Rekow (Cowbell), Rico Reyes (Vocals), David Rubinson (Original Album Producer), Chris Solberg (Organ), Chris Solberg (Guitar), Chris Solberg (Guitar (Rhythm)), Pablo Tellez (Bass), Pablo Tellez (Guitar (Bass)), Chester Thompson (Keyboards), Chester Thompson (Vocals), Chester Thompson (Producer), Chester Thompson (Original Album Producer), Mike Boddiker (Synthesizer Programming), David Fricke (Liner Notes), Jim Marshall (Photography), Bob Irwin (Producer), Bob Irwin (Project Producer), Carlos Santana (Guitar), Carlos Santana (Percussion), Carlos Santana (Conga), Carlos Santana (Guitar (Rhythm)), Carlos Santana (Tambourine), Carlos Santana (Timbales), Carlos Santana (Vocals), Carlos Santana (Vocals (Background)), Carlos Santana (Producer), Carlos Santana (Original Album Producer), Vic Anesini (Mastering), Chris Rhyne (Synthesizer), Chris Rhyne (Keyboards), Lisa Sparagano (Art Direction), Lisa Sparagano (Design), Ray Etzler (Original Album Producer), Brent Dangerfield (Producer), Brent Dangerfield (Original Album Producer), Bill Graham (Original Album Producer), Kerstin Bach (Cover Design), Tom Burleigh (Project Coordinator), Mark Feldman (Project Director), Mike Cimicata (Packaging Manager), Steve Paley (Photography)
