Featuring the little-known duo Product G&B (and a sample from "Are You Ready" by The Ghetto Boys), this track is cool, urban, and understated. The guitar melody is simple but devastatingly effective. It, too, reached #1 on the Hot 100, giving Santana a rare double-#1 album year.
| Track | Collaborator(s) | Secret Sauce | |-------|----------------|---------------| | (Da Le) Yaleo | (Santana solo) | Afro-Cuban chant + scorching, unhurried solo – the album’s heartbeat | | Love of My Life | Dave Matthews, Carter Beauford | Dave’s mumbled poetry over Santana’s crying sustain; recorded live in studio | | Put Your Lights On | Everlast | Dark, hypnotic, blues-rap with a menacing minor-key solo – a left-field gem | | Africa Bamba | (Instrumental) | Hidden homage to percussionist Sheila E. – like Abraxas reborn | | Smooth | Rob Thomas (Matchbox Twenty) | The atomic bomb. Written for George Michael; rejected. Thomas’s “muñequita” lyric was improvised. Solo? One take. | | Do You Like the Way | Lauryn Hill, CeeLo Green | Spoken-word verses + Hill’s gospel bridge; CeeLo was an unknown then | | Maria Maria | The Product G&B | Based on a street musician’s melody in Paris. The “corazón” whisper is Carlos’s wife. | | Migra | (Instrumental) | Title means “migration” – a tense, prowling bass line that feels like border drama | | Corazón Espinado | Maná (Fher Olvera) | Spanish-rock fury; Maná’s biggest US crossover helped too | | The Calling | Eric Clapton | Two guitar gods trading licks – but Clapton said “don’t edit; keep my mistakes.” | | Apollo | (Instrumental) | Named after the Apollo Theater. Features a sly nod to “Black Magic Woman.” | | Primavera | (Instrumental with KC Porter) | Springtime in guitar form – uses a 7/8 groove that feels like dancing | | El Farol | (Solo guitar) | A lonely, flamenco-tinged instrumental – Carlos’s tribute to a Buenos Aires bar |
The Santana Supernatural album is more than a collection of 13 tracks. It is a cultural artifact that proves talent, when paired with the right strategy and collaborators, is ageless.
Carlos Santana was 52 when that album dropped—an age when most rock musicians are writing memoirs or playing county fairs. Instead, he defined the sound of the summer of '99 and walked away with more Grammys than he could hold.
Supernatural remains the ultimate "comeback" story in music history. It is the sound of a master guitarist plugging into the cosmos, finding a second wind, and reminding the world that true soul has no expiration date.
Rating: ★★★★★ (Essential Listening)
If you liked this, explore: Abraxas (1970) – Santana’s original masterpiece; Shaman (2002) – the direct sequel; The Essential Santana – for a broader career overview.
Released on June 15, 1999, Supernatural stands as one of the most remarkable commercial comebacks in music history. After nearly two decades without a Top 10 album, Carlos Santana collaborated with Arista Records chief Clive Davis to create a project that blended his signature Latin rock with contemporary pop, resulting in a global phenomenon that sold over 30 million copies. A Record-Breaking Award Sweep
The album's dominance was solidified at the 2000 Grammy Awards, where it earned nine Grammys santana supernatural album
in total. Carlos Santana personally won eight awards in a single night, tying the long-standing record set by Michael Jackson’s . Key wins included: Album of the Year Record of the Year (for "Smooth") Best Rock Album Song of the Year (for "Smooth"). Chart-Topping Hits and Collaborations The success of Supernatural
was driven by a series of radio-friendly singles featuring a diverse lineup of guest artists:
Santana's Supernatural (1999) is widely regarded as one of the most successful "comeback" albums in music history, famously blending Carlos Santana’s signature Latin-rock guitar with contemporary pop, R&B, and hip-hop influences. While it is a commercial juggernaut—winning nine Grammy Awards and selling over 30 million copies—critical reviews are often a mix of praise for its high-energy highlights and skepticism toward its "star-studded" formula. Critical Consensus Supernatural by Santana - Classic Rock Review
The 1999 release of Supernatural by Carlos Santana represents one of the most significant commercial comebacks in music history, revitalizing the career of the guitar virtuoso after nearly two decades without a major hit. Produced under the guidance of Clive Davis, the album successfully fused Santana's signature Latin rock with contemporary pop and R&B, introducing his sound to a whole new generation. The Strategy of Collaboration
The album's massive success was driven by its collaborative nature. By pairing Santana with a diverse roster of popular contemporary artists, Arista Records ensured the album had broad radio appeal across multiple genres.
"Smooth" (feat. Rob Thomas): Spent 12 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Maria Maria" (feat. The Product G&B): A global hit that topped the charts for 10 weeks.
Diverse Guest List: Included Eric Clapton, Lauryn Hill, CeeLo Green, Everlast, and the Dave Matthews Band. Commercial and Critical Impact Featuring the little-known duo Product G&B (and a
Supernatural was not just a commercial juggernaut but also a critical darling, dominating the award season.
Chart Performance: Reached #1 in 11 countries and spent 12 non-consecutive weeks at the top of the Billboard 200.
Sales: Certified 15x platinum in the US, with over 30 million copies sold worldwide.
Grammy Sweep: At the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards, the album won 9 awards (including Album of the Year), setting a record for the most wins in a single night by a solo artist. Artistic Resonance
The album's title and artwork reflected Santana's long-standing spiritual philosophy. The cover features vibrant, hand-drawn illustrations and spiritual symbols, mirroring the "mystical" and festive atmosphere of the music. Despite the radio-friendly production, Santana's "virtuoso guitar skills" and unique melodic sense remained the central force, proving that his 1960s-era "Latin groove" could still command the modern zeitgeist.
Santana's album Supernatural , released in June 1999, is a massive 15x platinum Latin rock project known for its numerous high-profile collaborations and 9 Grammy Awards. Core Tracklist & Collaborators
The standard album consists of 13 main tracks, often including a hidden 14th track called " Day of Celebration Song Title Featured Artist(s) (Da Le) Yaleo Love of My Life Dave Matthews & Carter Beauford Put Your Lights On Africa Bamba Rob Thomas Do You Like the Way Lauryn Hill & CeeLo Green Maria Maria The Product G&B Corazón Espinado Wishing It Was Eagle-Eye Cherry — (Instrumental) The Calling Eric Clapton Key Album Content Highlights Genre Fusion
: Blends Santana's signature Latin rock with contemporary pop, R&B, hip-hop, and blues. Hit Singles : Features two #1 Billboard Hot 100 hits: " " (12 weeks at #1) and " Maria Maria " (10 weeks at #1). Production : Conceived by Arista president Clive Davis The Santana Supernatural album is more than a
and Santana to revitalize the artist's career with radio-friendly material. Legacy Edition : A 10th-anniversary Legacy Edition
includes a second disc with rare material, outtakes, and remixes like the "Spanish Dance Remix" of " Corazón Espinado Википедия Further Exploration Read a deep dive into the album's impact on Classic Rock Review Explore the full technical credits and musician lineup on Review the complete lyrics and track history on for specific songs on this album? Supernatural (альбом Santana) - Википедия
Santana's 1999 album Supernatural is widely regarded as one of the greatest "comeback" stories in music history. Orchestrated by Clive Davis, the album paired the legendary Carlos Santana with a diverse lineup of younger stars, resulting in a global phenomenon that won nine Grammy Awards and sold over 30 million copies. The Highlights
Legendary Collaborations: The album is defined by its guest stars. The standout is undoubtedly "Smooth" featuring Rob Thomas, a "surprisingly spicy" track that spent 12 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Diverse Soundscapes: From the "flamenco-tinged hip-hop" of "Maria Maria" (featuring Wyclef Jean) to the "romantic little gem" "Love of My Life" with Dave Matthews, the album blends Latin rock, pop, R&B, and blues.
Signature Guitar Work: Despite the many guests, Santana's "unmistakable, ice-pick axe-work" remains the soul of the record. Instrumentals like "El Farol" show his ability to make a guitar "cry expressively". Critical Consensus Santana's Supernatural Album Review
In 1999, something impossible happened at the crossroads of rock, Latin music, and pop radio. A veteran guitarist, nearly three decades past his legendary Woodstock performance, released an album that didn't just succeed—it conquered the planet.
Santana’s Supernatural didn't just revive a career; it rewrote the rules of the comeback. It was the sound of a master craftsman finally finding the right collaborators to frame his singular, singing guitar tone.