Carlos Santana - Havana Moon (1983)

"Havana Moon" is a 1983 album by Carlos Santana released as a solo project. It features covers of Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry songs and performances by Booker T & the MGs, Willie Nelson, and The Fabulous Thunderbirds, and also Carlos' father Jose singing "Vereda Tropical", a song Carlos had first heard when his father was serenading his mother following an argument.
The third Carlos Santana solo album marks a surprising turn toward 1950s rock & roll and Tex-Mex, with covers such as Bo Diddley's "Who Do You Love" and Chuck Berry's title song. Produced by veteran R&B producers Jerry Wexler and Barry Beckett, the album features an eclectic mix of sidemen, including Booker T. Jones of Booker T & the MG's, Willie Nelson, and the Fabulous Thunderbirds. Havana Moon is a light effort, but it's one of Santana's most enjoyable albums, which may explain why it was also the best-selling Santana album outside the group releases in ten years. The first two tracks are more of a throwback to the almost 50's noirish style of rock and roll blues. There's even a faint undertone of Cajun as well. Was Santana trying to cover different eras or genres? I'm glad the Fabulous Thunderbirds as well as Jimmie Vaughan were included to pull off this feat with finesse.Yet, they seem out of place at times. Tracks like Ecuador, Tale of Kilimanjaro, and the last tracks are defintiely the sounds of Carlos Santana (trademark sound) ! They All Went to Mexico (vocals by Willie Nelson) has a Texas Tornadoes feel to it-very sharp, very nice ! The mood of the album is very experimental and raw at times.

Track List:
01. "Watch Your Step" (Phelps, Phelps) – 4:01
02. "Lightnin'" (Jones, Santana) – 3:51
03. "Who Do You Love?" (McDaniel) – 2:55
04. "Mudbone" (Santana) – 5:51
05. "One with You" (Jones) – 5:14
06. "Ecuador" (Santana) – 1:10
07. "Tales of Kilimanjaro" (Pasqua, Peraza, Rekow, Santana) – 4:50
08. "Havana Moon" (Berry) – 4:09
09. "Daughter of the Night" (Huss, Rickfors) – 4:18
10. "They All Went to Mexico" (Brown) – 4:47
11. "Vereda Tropical" (Curiel) – 4:57

Released: April 1983
Label: CBS
Genre: Latin Rock, Blues-Rock
Length: 46:08
Produced By: Jerry Wexler, Barry Beckett
Engineered By: Jim Gaines
Mastered By: George Horn

Personnel:
Carlos Santana — guitar, percussion, backing vocals
Willie Nelson, Greg Walker, Roberto Moreno, Candelario Lopez — vocals
Alex Ligertwood — percussion, vocals
Cherline Hall — backing vocals
Jose Santana — violin, vocals
Armando Peraza — percussion, bongos, vocals
Graham Lear — percussion, drums
Raul Rekow — percussion, conga, backing vocals
David Hood, Keith Ferguson, Luis Gonsalez — bass
David Margen — bass, percussion
Fran Christina — drums
Flaco Jimenez — accordion
Booker T. Jones — keyboards, backing vocals
Richard Baker, Barry Beckett — keyboards
Alan Pasqua — keyboards, vocals
Jose Salcedo — trombone, trumpet
Chris Solberg — keyboards, guitar, vocals
Tramaine Hawkins, Stephen Kupka, Marc Russo, Lanette Stevens — horn
Jimmie Vaughan — guitar
Orestes Vilató — flute, percussion, timbales, backing vocals
Kim Wilson — harmonica, backing vocals
Greg Adams — strings, horn
Gabriel Arias, Francisco Coronado, Raymundo Coronado — violin
Oscar Chavez — trombone, trumpet
Mic Gillette — trumpet, horn
Emilio Castillo — horn, backing vocals