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).
