Santana--Black Magic Woman (1970)

     Carlos Santana turns 64 today...

     Carlos Santana's break into music occurred in a very 60's styled manner. One Sunday afternoon at the Filmore West, Bill Graham was having to put together an impromptu band, since Paul Butterfield was too drunk to show. He was looking for a guitarist when someone suggested that Carlos could do it. He did the gig and it went well enough that he soon started the Santana Blues Band with fellow street musicians David Brown, and Greg Rolie.

     The song, "Black Magic Woman" was written by Peter Green, then of Fleetwood Mac in 1968 and appeared on their album, "English Rose" (in the US),  and "The Pious Bird of Good Omen" (in the UK). Santana's version was linked with a song by Hungarian guitarist Gabor Szabo called "Gypsy Queen". The radio version of the song cuts out most of Szabo's song, but the album version which clocks in at over 5 minutes not only includes it, but really defines the song as distinctly Santana's.