Guitar Heaven: The Greatest Guitar Classics of All Time

An amazing rock classic covers album from Santana

In 1967 Carlos Santana (guitar, naturally) and Tom Fraser (vocals and rhythm-guitar) had their first audition in the first line-up of Santana and were told that they would not be a success with their Latino fusion, and Carlos was advised not to quit his job – he washed dishes in a drive-in. Let us imagine for a second, that the musicians agreed with that opinion and found other things to do. Who would have given the world such hits as Oneness, Maria Maria, Smooth, in the end, where would the splendid 1999’s album Supernatural and many other things have come from? Luckily, his passion for music allowed Carlos Santana to insist, and his band whose line-up has changed quite often has become one of the most successful and favorite in the world. There are a lot interesting recordings in Santana’s discography, some of which stand out as collaborations with famous performers. Such is the band’s 18th studio record Guitar Heaven: The Greatest Guitar Classics Of All Time, an amazing rock classic covers album essential in any home collection of rock music.

Trade-mark guitars on Guitar Heaven: The Greatest Guitar Classics Of All Time

In order to realize all the significance of the album Guitar Heaven: The Greatest Guitar Classics Of All Time it is enough to look at the track list for a legendary figure is performing every composition which is in itself a time-tested classic. Yet, this is definitely a Santana album – each track starts and finishes with the trade-mark guitar parts creating inimitable arrangements. The record opens with Whole Lotta Love, the bright, bold Led Zeppelin song performed by Chris Cornell, and the musicians have managed to fully preserve the hit’s energy and juiciness. Scott Weiland (of Stone Temple Pilots) provides vocals on Can't You Hear Me Knocking, the number which was in its own time sung by all The Rolling Stones’ fans, whereas Rob Thomas with whom Santana has worked more than once, sings the Cream hit Sunshine Of Your Love, and one simply cannot find any drawbacks here. One of the most interesting covers is While My Guitar Gently Weeps - India.Arie’s wonderful vocals combine perfectly with Yo-Yo Ma’s fiddle, and Santana’s guitar gently underlines the tandem’s strong points in a very careful way. Another unexpected appearance is that of rapper Nas on Back In Black, AC/DC’s famous song, and this move does the rapper and Santana’s drummer, backing vocalists and guitarists credit. Chester Bennington (Linkin Park) and Rat Manzarek (The Doors) join the band on the latter’s group hit Riders On The Storm, and the honor to perform Deep Purple’s legendary composition Deep Purple Smoke On The Water is lent to Jacoby Shaddix of Papa Roach, and he has carried out the task with dignity though in his own manner. Another legendary singer Joe Cocker has refined Jimmy Hendrix’ song Little Wing with his presence and the phenomenal album’s closer is Red Hot Chili Peppers’ hit Under The Bridge.

Arrangements, original as all of Santana’s music

Classics in any art exist to bring up the best qualities in those who touch it, and obviously it is the works of art that fulfill the spiritual connection between generations. No doubt, the musicians of Santana have created more than one hit themselves, and they have already become or will become classics, but performing of covers has always been an inseparable part of any musician’s creative work, and it has been Carlos’ idea for a long time to create an album like Guitar Heaven. The hits on this album do not only illustrate the epoch of their creation but they have gained a new life. New arrangements, original as all of Santana’s music, vocalists who have already earned the best reputation and who have given each track a unique sounding, the choice of the songs itself – it all makes Guitar Heaven: The Greatest Guitar Classics Of All Time one of the year’s best albums. It is quite probable that it is not yet the last recording of the kind – Carlos is a friend of practically the entire Rock-n-Roll Hall Of Fame, and he has far from exhausted the store of suchlike hits. On the whole it is worth while hoping that the musicians will have this inspiration for a long time to go, because such releases are always pleasing and they help us remember how much excellent music the last century has yielded.