What makes this a truly perfect album is not only the way it was made, but the way it was performed with such visually stunning creativity, stirring melody and timeless musicianship that made this masterpiece such a striking work of art. Filled with hot rhythm, explosive artistry and electrifying rock and roll, the action gets fired up as the first rate performing cooks with high voltage energy as Santana made Zebop a blockbuster hit, as it sounds as fascinating when it did when it first came out in 1981. Also including keyboardist Richard Baker in an effort to keep the true elements of the first Santana line-up (1968-71) alive, the supercharged track set kicks off with a high-pitched cover of Cat Stevens' Changes which is proceeded at rapid pace with E Papa Re, Primera Invasion, Over And Over, the Russ Ballard-composed Top Ten smash hit Winning, the beautifully-crafted Tales Of Kilimanjaro, Brightest Star and Hanibal. Yet there is plenty of great music and heavy components of Latin-flavoured percussion topped by Carlos' biting guitar work as he and the band pulled no punches as they made Zebop another Top 20 album that even became their first Top Ten solid gold album in four years. Though Santana did manage to give Zebop an overall feel of commercial rock, the songs are performed to unique perfection, while Carlos bring his guitar artistry to the forefront, which have contributed to the album's stunning radio-friendly success. Truly hailed as one of Santana's greatest and most important achievements, you will certainly find the timeless album to be a thrilling tour de force landmark classic that will always maintain it's high-rocking vitality.
