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Santana’s version, recorded in 1970, is a medley with Gábor Szabó’s 1966 “Gypsy Queen”, a mix of jazz, Hungarian folk and Latin rhythms. The song became one of Santana’s staples and their biggest hit. Abraxas reached #1 on the charts and hit quadruple platinum in 1970, partially thanks to “Black Magic Woman.” The Santana version is also used as a cover in the music/rhythm video games such as Guitar Hero III and Guitar Hero: On Tour.
While the song follows the same general structure of Peter Green’s version, also set in common time, in D Dorian and using the same chord progression, melody and lyrics, it is considerably different. A curious blend of blues, rock, jazz, 3/2 afro-Cuban son clave, and “Latin” polyrhythms, Santana’s arrangement added conga, timbales and other percussion, in addition to organ and piano, to make complex polyrhythms that give the song a “voodoo” feel distinct from the original.
The introduction of the song, which was adapted from Szabo’s “Gypsy Queen”, consists of simple hammer-ons, pull-offs and slides, before moving into the introduction solo of “Black Magic Woman.” After the introduction solo, which follows the same chord progression as the verse, the song moves into an eight-bar piano solo on D minor, and proceeds to two verses sung by keyboardist Gregg Rolie. Two verses of guitar solo follow the two sung verses, which is then succeeded by another verse, before moving into a modified version of the “Gypsy Queen” section from the beginning of the song, to end the piece.
While the song follows the same general structure of Peter Green’s version, also set in common time, in D Dorian and using the same chord progression, melody and lyrics, it is considerably different. A curious blend of blues, rock, jazz, 3/2 afro-Cuban son clave, and “Latin” polyrhythms, Santana’s arrangement added conga, timbales and other percussion, in addition to organ and piano, to make complex polyrhythms that give the song a “voodoo” feel distinct from the original.
The introduction of the song, which was adapted from Szabo’s “Gypsy Queen”, consists of simple hammer-ons, pull-offs and slides, before moving into the introduction solo of “Black Magic Woman.” After the introduction solo, which follows the same chord progression as the verse, the song moves into an eight-bar piano solo on D minor, and proceeds to two verses sung by keyboardist Gregg Rolie. Two verses of guitar solo follow the two sung verses, which is then succeeded by another verse, before moving into a modified version of the “Gypsy Queen” section from the beginning of the song, to end the piece.
Video
Added by myeverlovingtwat
by Santana
Learned both bass and guitar parts tonight. Taught my brother the bass part. My fingers hurt after this one. I should practice more.
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Learned both bass and guitar parts tonight. Taught my brother the bass part. My fingers hurt after this one. I should practice more.
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The Best of Santana
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Shouts
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DaiYang1 wrote:
Carlos's Soul Sacrifice solo on the Woodstock soundtrack is such a great live yearn to burn, he nailed it!!!! Guitarrista puro para las edades.
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honkie6367 wrote:
Knock your socks off tune,love it.
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scase wrote:
Puts you in a very relaxed mood!
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martyrocks wrote:
grab a beach blanket and enjoy
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FUNKWAGON1950 wrote:
AT THAT TIME SANTANA WAS REAllY BUSTING LOOSE.SUCH SEXY SONGS,MADE LOVE MAKING AN EASY ART FOR THE LISTENER AND PLENTY OF MONEY FOR HIM
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roquegypsy wrote:
santana... his phrasing,tone and arrangement earned him his own branch in the tree that is rock.no one sounds like this.
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LuckyInTheSky wrote:
fuck man... just perfect
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mirrorball95 wrote:
My favourite version of this song. Santana is a great guitarist. Sad to see hes doing loads of commercial pop albums these days. I love his tone.
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pjbird wrote:
So so so Sexy
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Marjo47 wrote:
One of the older songs by him but still very good!
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DickChlenz wrote:
This song I might call sexy
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budak6 wrote:
Love thisss..
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drejr1977 wrote:
Oh, and another thing: Gregg Rolie's vocals on this track are outstanding. Why didn't he get more vocal takes in Journey? That fucking pussy-ass bitch Steve Perry (who does have a great voice, though) got them to multi-platinum success, but Gregg probably should have had a few more vocal takes than he was allowed.
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drejr1977 wrote:
Great track, makes Santana's modern guitar tone sound like angry bees in a tin can by comparison.
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Bentwick09 wrote:
legendary song, love it.....
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SlavaGirl wrote:
One of my Favs!
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budak6 wrote:
ÇOK GÜZEL...
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TranquilNight wrote:
WOWZA!! O.O!!
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sionborg wrote:
Amazing Song !!!!
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Lissof_leuf wrote:
As alway,,,, still sends chills down my back, and floods my mind with pleasent memories.
Santana
Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen
full track
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