The August of 1969 was also the month in which Santana’s debut album was released. This debut album is paired with their Woodstock CD and re-released. I would like to point out that unlike other artists’ acts on the Woodstock Experience series, Santana’s performance at the legendary festival was widely available on the Santana Legacy Edition. The only difference between the Woodstock Experience and the Legacy Edition is one previously unreleased song, “Evil Ways”.
 
 
The Woodstock disc definitely reveals that Santana introduced new sounds to the audience - Latin rhythms fused with rock, jazz and blues improvisations. While the distinctive sound of Carlos Santana’s guitar scorches, congas and percussion add danceable beats. Of course, the drum solo on “Soul Sacrifice” is legendary, and is often said to be a main contributor to the fame that the Santana band gathered during and after the festival. However, if you want to hear Carlos Santana’s guitar rather than the long drum solo, you may find this track a bit dragging.
 
If I were back in 1969 or this was my first time listening to Santana’s Woodstock performance, I would certainly have rated this set much higher because what the band did at Woodstock was groundbreaking. I wanted to hear something that was not available on their Legacy Edition set to get more of the mood and the atmosphere of the event. In conclusion, Santana fans who want to complete their collection may find this Woodstock Experience very irresistible. However, despite the attractive package of this set, if you already own the Legacy Edition and money is tight, this release is not a must-buy.