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Rating: I approach this review almost with a sense of challenge. Those who have read my other reviews know that I generally go "hunting" for rather objective musical structures, regardless of the label or recognition that an album brings along. It's 1979. It is generally believed that Carlos Santana ended his artistic mission that year, first as one of the revelations of the Woodstock era, culminating in his extraordinary third album, then as an adept of the most refined mysticism, beginning with the turn of "Caravanserai."
This of '79 is considered the third turning point: "unfortunately" the commercial one. But is it really so? The album of that year, which concretizes this turn, is "Marathon," a record where in any case several new elements are evident: Alex Ligertwood debuts as the vocalist and the sound becomes decidedly more rock, harder... but also unexpectedly melodic. And here lies a bit of the redemption of this album. At the risk of attracting much criticism, I can affirm that this is a more intriguing work than it seems at first glance. Undoubtedly, good Carlos did not maintain these levels later, even in his commercial phase; this is out of the question. But this album contains traces of that absolutism, of that objectification, which I have always considered fundamental in music. And it's interesting to delve a bit deeper into this concept.
In theory, there is no such thing as good or bad music: there are pieces where the objective component of emotion is more or less prominent. "Marathon" is objectively a good album and this transcends the "commercial" label that has been attached to it; otherwise, taking this reasoning to the extreme, we could say that all the masterpieces of music that have sold perhaps millions of copies are of a commercial nature... What strikes about "Marathon" is its compactness, not only musical but also between the atmospheres of the tracks and the emotional "concept" of the album that refers to a Greek-mythological and primordial way. This is the album's greatest virtue. Let's take a look at the tracks: The title track opens the album in an epic and resounding manner, with the images of Greek athletes running in flames as they appear on the splendid cover: It's the ancient world, the origin of civilization. After the rock parenthesis of "Lightning In The Sky" where Ligertwood expresses all his potential, there is the first jewel of the album: "Aqua Marine" narrates in its atmospheres the journeys of Ulysses, of the Argonauts, but perhaps also those tropical beaches on which Christopher Columbus landed from the caravels. The stone of scandal is titled "You Know That I Love You," the track that reached the Top 40... Well, epic and dramatic love song, it must be accepted for what it is. But the album undoubtedly benefits from the "Stand Up/Runnin" duo, in some ways the best track of the album. Tight rhythm, insistent bass, solo in the interlude, and then everything flows into "Runnin" where the guitar weaves a truly absolute solo. Now the album can calmly descend into its final phase. After the decent "Summer Lady," we reach the third gem of the work: "Stay (Beside Me)" is the light of a summer sun after a storm over a pristine Greek sea. "Hard Times" closes the album in a tough yet subtly epic manner. In short, something much more than a "transition" album.
It is a work to be considered, in my opinion, in an isolated manner, without thinking that it necessarily inaugurated Carlos Santana's commercial era.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Lightning in the Sky (03:52)
Lightning in the sky
Thunder on the ground
Man and beast alike
Seeking shelter from the storm
All around there is fear in the air
All around there is fear in the air
Burning drops of rain
Flood my thirsty soul
Cold chills to the bone
Glowing eyes filled with pain
All around there’s a cry no one hears
All around there’s a cry no one hears
Always on the run
Never taking time to see
Beauty all around
Nature’s dance is just for me
All around, Nature’s dance
Just for me
All around, Nature’s dance
Just for me
Rainbows glowing high
Evening shadows fall
Don’t you wait for me
I won’t be back for your call
I am free from your spell, I am free
I am free from your spell, I am free
I am free from your spell, I am free
Free, free, free...
Free from your spell, I am free
05 All I Ever Wanted (04:03)
Well I told you 'bout your attitude
And it didn't do me any good
'Cause you took your love away
Left me here alone with all this lonely heartache.
There are places I remember
Where the ladies still are tender
Against you they can't compare
Baby we've just got to get it back together.
All I ever wanted was to be with you
All I ever wanted was to be with you.
I just got to get it through to you
That my loving heart is ever true
Please dont come back to where you belong
Girl you got to know I'll never do you wrong.
All I ever wanted was to be with you
All I ever wanted was to be with you.
Yeah you.
Oh oh.
All I ever wanted was to be with you
All I ever wanted was to be with you.
Well I told you 'bout your attitude
And it didn't do me any good
'Cause you took your love away.
All I ever wanted was to be with you
All I ever wanted was to be with you
All I ever wanted was to be with you
All I ever wanted was to be with you
You!
10 Stay (Beside Me) (03:50)
Stay
Beside me
Don’t go away
Cause if you leave me I will lose my inspiration
I don’t wanna be another victim of frustration
Stay
Please guide me
I need your love
That I may see
Below, above, and all around is all confusion
You’re the only one that breaks the spell of all illusion
Take me
I belong to only you
Your love
Coming down like a gentle rain
To soothe my pain
Gently
Oh, won’t you stay
Below, above, and all around is all confusion
You’re the only one that breaks the spell of all illusion
Take me
I belong to only you
Your love
Coming down like a gentle rain
To soothe my pain
Gently
Oh, won’t you stay
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