Santana
Guitar Heaven: The Greatest Guitar Classics of All Time

THE REVIEW

Second to last studio work by Carlos Santana, dated 2010. "Guitar Heaven: The Greatest Guitar Classics of All Time" is a cover album (reinterpretations of songs already composed and published by other artists), here reinterpreted by the Mexican guitarist in a very personal Latin rock style.

It starts in great style with the famous "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zeppelin, featuring Chris Cornell from Soundgarden on vocals; his performance leaves nothing to be desired, especially when compared to the original version by Robert Plant, one of the most powerful rock voices ever, perhaps the best.

Next comes another gem, namely the famous "Sunshine of Your Love" by Cream, another track where Santana's guitar remains impeccable.

A high-level performance also for the subsequent "Can't You Hear Me Knocking," a Rolling Stones cover, where Santana's guitar assumes the presumptive task of replacing Bobby Keys' sax, present in the original version, recorded on the Sticky Fingers album in 1971. 

The album continues with the cover of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," a Beatles song, here in a new soul version (the result of a happy vocal collaboration with India.Arie), the first single released from the album.

Arriving at the album's climax, here comes the inevitable setback, represented by the second single, "Photograph" by Def Leppard (a questionable choice considering the lack of covers from key rock bands like Pink Floyd or Genesis) and "Back in Black" (an AC/DC cover), certainly the worst track on the album, reinterpreted in a rap style by the American Nas.

Fortunately, the album continues, and we are welcomed by another musical gem, namely the cover of "Riders on the Storm" by The Doors, with Ray Manzarek (co-founder and keyboardist of Jim Morrison's group), enriching the song with his unmistakable keyboards.

Subsequently, however, comes another bitter pill, namely the cover (all too easy) of "Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple, with the opening riff that can be considered the most famous in rock, evident even to those who are not music enthusiasts, but precisely for this, all too banal for a guitarist like Santana.

The Deep Purple then give way to Van Halen, specifically to "Dance the Night Away," another very successful remake.

Then comes the last negative note of the album, namely the cover of "Bang a Gong," (another questionable choice for the same reason as "Photograph"), being a glam rock cover, released as a single in 1971 by the underground band T. Rex.

The album closes with two excellent pieces, namely "Little Wing" by Jimi Hendrix (with Joe Cocker as an exceptional singer/guest star) and a blues song by Willie Dixon, dating back to 1961.

In the Deluxe Edition of the album, there are two additional bonus tracks, "Fortunate Son" by Creedence Clearwater Revival, and "Under the Bridge" by Red Hot Chili Peppers, while the Japanese edition includes "La Grange" by ZZ Top as an additional track.

Ultimately, the album only confirms Santana's proven and effective guitar technique, leaving no room for criticism and negative judgments, which instead inevitably fall on the selection of songs to be performed, in some cases very questionable.