Black Magic Woman [compilation]

Black Magic Woman, the Santana title in Collectables Records' budget-priced Priceless Collection series, is, like other albums in the series, a reissue of an earlier budget album under a different title. In this case, that identical predecessor is Between Good and Evil. In fact, Collectables hasn't even bothered to change discs; open up the jewel box, and the CD itself still says Between Good and Evil. The compilation is intended for the casual fan of Santana. It includes the group's two biggest hit singles (up until 1999, anyway), "Evil Ways" and "Black Magic Woman," plus three other tracks from the massively popular first two Santana albums, "Soul Sacrifice" (the song the band performed in the Woodstock movie), "Persuasion," and "Samba Pa Ti." The other five tracks are taken from slightly later LPs: "Song of the Wind" from 1972's Caravanserai, "Practice What You Preach" from 1974's Borboletta, "Europa (Earth's Cry Heaven's Smile)" from 1976's Amigos, "Jugando" from 1977's Festival, and "I'll Be Waiting" from 1977's Moonflower. It's a highlights sampler rather than a hits or even a best-of collection, useful for the music fan who just wants a smattering of Santana, as long as it doesn't cost much. — William Ruhlmann.