Santana’s Black Magic Woman

Carly Simon's Nobody Does it Better
Carly Simon’s Nobody Does it Better
May 6, 2018
ABBA's Dancing Queen
ABBA’s Dancing Queen
May 10, 2018

Santana’s Black Magic Woman

Santana's Black Magic Woman and Gypsy Queen

Latin Rock

The song was written by Fleetwood Mac guitarist and founder Peter Green. They recorded it  in 1968. Santana covered it, with Gregg Rolie on the vocal, in 1970. Satana’as version is a mediley with Gábor Szabó’s 1966 instrumental piece “Gypsy Queen,” producing a mixture of jazz, blues, Hungarian folk music, and Afro-Cuban Latin rhythms. The single, backed with “Hope You’re Feeling Better,” went to #4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in January of 1971. It was also released on Santana’s 1970album Abraxas. That album topped the charts and went to quadruple platinum by 1986. The album cover artwork for Abraxas is from “Annunciation” by Marti Klarwein, painted in 1961.

Gregg Rolie is a singer and keyboardist. He has been a lead singer for Santana, Journey, and Abraxas Pool. He also has been part of the rock band The Storm. He continues to tour and perform with his Gregg Rolie Band.

Personnel on the track, besides Rolie and Santana, whose wonderful guitar work is featured,  were David Brown (bass), Michael Shrieve (drums), Michael Carabello (congas, perussion), and José “Chepito” Areas (timbales, congas, percussion).

Here are the lyrics to “Black Magic Woman” by Santana:

Got a black magic woman
Got a black magic woman

I’ve got a black magic woman
Got me so blind I can’t see
That she’s a black magic woman
She’s tryin’ to make a devil out of me

Turn your back on me, baby
Turn your back on me, baby

Yes, don’t turn your back on me baby
Stop messin’ ’round with your tricks
Don’t turn your back on me baby
You just might pick up my magic sticks

Got your spell on me baby
Got your spell on me baby

Yes, you got your spell on me baby
Turning my heart into stone
I need you so bad, magic woman
I can’t leave you alone

For another song by Santana, which is on Bogart Boogie Oogie’s sister site Pass the Paisley: “Evil Ways.”

For More 70s Tunes

The System has daily featured music from all sorts of genres of 1970s music. You’re welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections in The System. Thank you for stopping by. Hope you enjoyed “Black Magic Woman” by Santana.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *