Photo: Heinrich Klaffs/Wikimedia Commons
Music

The Best Santana Albums of All Time 

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Updated June 14, 2019 4.2k votes 1.2k voters 48.5k views

List Rules This list includes studio albums only, so if you add an album make sure it's a proper studio release.

Santana are rock legends who are considered one of the best bands in history and feature Carlos Santana, one of the best guitar players of all time. Formed in San Francisco, California in 1966 by Santana, the group broke in 1969 when they played Woodstock with a legendary performance of "Soul Sacrifice" off their self-titled debut, Santana (1969). 

Since they’re such an influential guitar rock band, let’s rank the best Santana albums, with the help of your votes. This Santana discography is ranked from best to worst, so the top Santana albums can be found at the top of the list. To make it easy for you, we haven't included Santana singles, EPs, or compilations, so everything you see here should only be studio albums.

If you think the greatest Santana album isn't high enough on the list, then be sure to vote for it so it receives the credit it deserves. Make sure you don't just vote for critically acclaimed albums; if you have a favorite Santana album, then vote it up, even if it's not necessarily the most popular.

This list includes everything from Santana’s sophomore release Abraxas to the most recent album Santana IV, which debuted in 2016.

list ordered by
1
Abraxas is listed (or ranked) 1 on the list The Best Santana Albums of All Time
By Santana (1970); Tracks: Se Acabó, El Nicoya & Samba pa ti

Length (mins): 00:37:26

Label: Columbia

Genres (Music): Psychedelic rock, Blues-rock, Jazz fusion, Rock en Español, Chicano rock

"Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen"

"Oye Como Va"

"Incident at Neshabur"

More Abraxas ❯

#83 of 3,542 The Greatest Albums of All-Time #42 of 621 The Greatest Guitar Rock Albums of All Time #44 of 345 The Best Sophomore Albums of All Time

2
Legacy Edition is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list The Best Santana Albums of All Time
By Santana and Carlos Santana (1969); Tracks: Soul Sacrifice, Persuasion & Jingo

Length (mins): 00:37:04

Label: Columbia

Genres (Music): Psychedelic rock, Blues-rock, Jam band, Pop rock, Jazz fusion, + more

"Evil Ways"

"Jingo"

"Soul Sacrifice"
3
Caravanserai is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list The Best Santana Albums of All Time
By Santana (1972); Tracks: Future Primitive, Song of the Wind & Look Up (To See What's Coming Down)

Length (mins): 00:51:24

Label: Columbia

Genres (Music): Jam band, Jazz fusion, Rock en Español, Chicano rock

"Stone Flower"

"Waves Within"

"All the Love in the Universe"
4
Santana III: Legacy Edit... is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list The Best Santana Albums of All Time
By Santana (1971); Tracks: Jungle Strut, Guajira & Para los rumberos

Length (mins): 00:41:20

Label: Columbia

Genres (Music): Psychedelic rock, Jazz fusion, Rock en Español, Chicano rock

"No One to Depend On"

"Batuka"

"Jungle Strut"
5
Moonflower is listed (or ranked) 5 on the list The Best Santana Albums of All Time

"Let the Children Play"

"Jugando"

"Europa (Earth's Cry Heaven's Smile)"
6
Supernatural is listed (or ranked) 6 on the list The Best Santana Albums of All Time
By Santana (1999); Tracks: El Farol, The Calling & (Da Le) Yaleo

Genres (Music): Alternative rock, Rhythm and blues, Pop music, Adult contemporary music, Blues-rock, + more

"Smooth"

"Maria Maria"

"Put Your Lights On"
7
Borboletta is listed (or ranked) 7 on the list The Best Santana Albums of All Time
By Santana (1974); Tracks: Canto de los flores, Life Is Anew & Give and Take

Length (mins): 00:49:55

Label: Columbia

Genres (Music): Soul music, Jazz fusion, Funk

"Life Is Anew"

"Give and Take"

"One with the Sun"
8
Welcome is listed (or ranked) 8 on the list The Best Santana Albums of All Time
By Santana (1973); Tracks: Love Devotion & Surrender, Light of Life & Welcome

Length (mins): 00:50:29

Label: Columbia

Genres (Music): Jazz fusion

"Going Home"

"Love, Devotion & Surrender"

"Yours Is the Light"
9
Amigos is listed (or ranked) 9 on the list The Best Santana Albums of All Time
By Santana (1976); Tracks: Let It Shine, Tell Me Are You Tired & Take Me With You

Length (mins): 00:41:19

Label: Columbia

Genres (Music): Progressive rock, Rock music, Blues-rock, Jazz fusion, Funk, + more

"Europa"

"Let Me"

"Tell Me Are You Tired"
10
Santana IV is listed (or ranked) 10 on the list The Best Santana Albums of All Time
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"Love Makes the World Go Round"

"Choo Choo"

"Shake It"
11
Inner Secrets is listed (or ranked) 11 on the list The Best Santana Albums of All Time
By Santana (1978); Tracks: Life Is a Lady/Holiday, Open Invitation & Well All Right

Label: Columbia

Genres (Music): Rock music

"Stormy"

"Well All Right"

"Move On"
12
Festivál is listed (or ranked) 12 on the list The Best Santana Albums of All Time
By Santana (1977); Tracks: Verão Vermelho, Try a Little Harder & Reach Up

Length (mins): 00:45:43

Label: Columbia

"Verão Vermelho"

"Carnaval"

"Reach Up"
13
Zebop! is listed (or ranked) 13 on the list The Best Santana Albums of All Time
By Santana (1981); Tracks: Tales of Kilimanjaro, Searchin' & Changes

Length (mins): 00:47:26

Label: Columbia

"Winning"

"The Sensitive Kind"

"Changes"
14
Marathon is listed (or ranked) 14 on the list The Best Santana Albums of All Time
By Santana (1979); Tracks: Aqua Marine, Marathon & Stand Up

Length (mins): 00:40:41

Label: Columbia

"You Know That I Love You"

"Stand Up"

"Lightning in the Sky"
15
Shangó is listed (or ranked) 15 on the list The Best Santana Albums of All Time
By Santana (1982); Tracks: Night Hunting Time, Let Me Inside & Body Surfing

Label: Columbia

Genres (Music): Rock music

"Hold On"

"What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)"

"The Nile"
16
Blues for Salvador is listed (or ranked) 16 on the list The Best Santana Albums of All Time
By Carlos Santana (1987); Tracks: Hannibal, Bella & 'trane

Length (mins): 00:45:11

Label: Columbia

Genres (Music): Blues-rock, Hard rock, Instrumental rock
17
Shaman is listed (or ranked) 17 on the list The Best Santana Albums of All Time
By Santana and Carlos Santana (2002); Tracks: One of These Days, Amoré (Sexo) & America

Length (mins): 01:16:35

Genres (Music): Rock music, Rock and roll, Pop rock, World music, Rock en Español

"The Game of Love"

"Feels Like Fire"

"Why Don't You & I"
18
Milagro is listed (or ranked) 18 on the list The Best Santana Albums of All Time
By Santana (1992); Tracks: A Dios, Agua que va caer & Free All the People (South Africa)

Length (mins): 01:11:16

Genres (Music): Hard rock, Rock en Español

"Introduction"

"Right On"

"Grajonca"
19
Oneness: Silver Dreams -... is listed (or ranked) 19 on the list The Best Santana Albums of All Time
By Carlos Santana (1979); Tracks: Silver Dreams Golden Smiles, I Am Free & Free as the Morning Sun

Label: Columbia
20
Havana Moon is listed (or ranked) 20 on the list The Best Santana Albums of All Time
By Carlos Santana (1983); Tracks: Havana Moon, Daughter of the Night & Ecuador

Label: Columbia
21
Shape Shifter is listed (or ranked) 21 on the list The Best Santana Albums of All Time

"Eres La Luz"

"Mr. Szabo"

"Nomad"
22
Freedom is listed (or ranked) 22 on the list The Best Santana Albums of All Time
By Santana (1987); Tracks: Deeper, Dig Deeper & Before We Go

"Veracruz"

"Love Is You"

"Praise"
23
Spirits Dancing in the F... is listed (or ranked) 23 on the list The Best Santana Albums of All Time
By Santana and Carlos Santana (1990); Tracks: Goodness and Mercy, Full Moon & Let There Be Light / Spririts Dancing in the Flesh

Length (mins): 00:48:21

Label: Columbia

Genres (Music): Rock music, Hard rock

"Who's That Lady"

"Jin-go-lo-ba"

"Choose"
24
The Swing of Delight is listed (or ranked) 24 on the list The Best Santana Albums of All Time
By Carlos Santana (1980); Tracks: Gardenia, La Llave & Song for My Brother

Label: Columbia
25
Illuminations is listed (or ranked) 25 on the list The Best Santana Albums of All Time
By Santana and Carlos Santana (1974); Tracks: Angel of Sunlight, Illuminations & Bliss: The Eternal Row

Label: Columbia