{"product_id":"pre-order-santana-lotus-mfsl-lp","title":"Santana - Lotus - MFSL LP","description":"\u003cheader\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNumbered, Limited Edition 180g 3LP from Mobile Fidelity!\u003cbr\u003eOne of the Most Exhilarating Live Albums Ever Released!\u003cbr\u003eStrictly Limited to 5,000 Numbered Copies!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNo. of Discs: 3\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/header\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1\/2\" \/ 15 IPS \/ Four-Track Analog Master to Two-Track DSD 256 to Analog Console to Lathe\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe bizarre legacy of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eLotus\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003etranscends its status as both the definitive onstage document of Santana's career and one of the most spectacular live albums ever released. Originally issued in 1974, the triple LP contains exhilarating performances recorded at two shows in early July 1973 at the 2,400-seat Osaka Kosei Nenkin Kaikan concert hall. It bears witness to the eight-piece collective playing with a chemistry, inventiveness, cohesiveness, and soulfulness no other Santana lineup would ever surpass.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eLotus\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ealso remained the only completely live Santana album for almost two decades — and took nearly as long to see domestic release.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSourced from the original master tapes, pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing, strictly limited to 5,000 numbered copies, and housed in deluxe trifold packaging faithful to that of the original pressing,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eLotus\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ebenefits from reference audiophile treatment on Mobile Fidelity's 180g 3LP set. Featuring rich tones, smooth dynamics, excellent separation, deep soundstages, and involving presence, this reissue pays tribute to both the virtuosic lineup and the indispensable fusion of Latin- and Afro-Cuban-influenced jazz, rock, psychedelia, R\u0026amp;B, and blues. The complexity of the spiritual passages, demands of the crescendos, delicacy of the calm transitions, electricity of the solos: everything is rendered with superb balance free of harshness, compression, and fatiguing peaks that would otherwise distract from the presentations at hand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou also get a generous taste of the ambience of the venue, and a definite sense of the interplay and improvisation that transpired as much by feel as by architectural necessity. The weight of the bass, extension of the highs, punch of the mids, texture and reverberation of the percussion: Mobile Fidelity's organic version of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eLotus\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003estakes an immediate claim to demonstration-disc status of how a live recording should sound. And look. Paying homage to the original, this reissue includes four double-sided flat photo inserts and two 24 x 36-inch double-sided fold-out posters. (Note: It does not have an obi strip or red Japanese insert.)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExclusively released in Japan before it slowly made it across the seas to the United States as a pricey import,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eLotus\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ebecame a hot topic among in-the-know connoisseurs. Hip record stores struggled to keep the record in the bins. Italy, New Zealand, and Europe got their own versions of the in-demand set before the end of 1975. American listeners weren't so lucky. To satisfy their fix, they had to turn to the imports.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe same year Stateside fans began paying a premium to hear the two hours of magic on\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eLotus\u003c\/em\u003e, CBS released Santana's\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eGreatest Hits\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e— an introductory compilation that went on to sell more than seven million copies. Another 17 years passed before\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eLotus\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ehit American shelves as a domestic set in the form of two-CD and two-cassette editions. It didn't become available on domestic vinyl until 2013 on a version that has long been out of print.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn addition to the magnificent instrumental prowess and daring of the arrangements, the historical importance of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eLotus\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ehas only grown as time — and Santana — evolved. Five members of the Caravanserai Tour octet — percussionists\/drummers Michael Shrieve and Jose \"Chepito\" Areas, vocalist Leon Thomas, keyboardist Richard Kermode, bassist Doug Rauch — departed by the end of 1974. As such, along with the late 1973 studio effort\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eWelcome\u003c\/em\u003e,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eLotus\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003estands as the high-water mark of Santana's early and mid-70s fusion period before the lineup changed and the group transitioned into more experimental territory.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFeaturing seven previously unreleased tracks as well as remarkable renditions of material from Santana's first four albums and the Carlos Santana-John McLaughlin collaboration\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eLove Devotion Surrender\u003c\/em\u003e,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eLotus\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003esimultaneously suggests and inspires, dreams and delivers. Though the extended drum solo (\"Kyoto\") may not conform to everyone's idea of essential listening, every moment here sees Carlos Santana and company finding new gears — and playing as if their lives depend on it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou can feel the passion it on takes of \"Every Step of the Way,\" \"Mantra,\" Se a Cabo,\" \"Toussaint L'Overture,\" and the scorching \"Incident at Neshabur.\" Renditions of Santna's more \"mainstream\" fare — \"Black Magic Woman,\" \"Oyo Como Va,\" \"Gypsy Queen\" — touch on similarly elevated planes. Taking the meaning of title of the ambitious album to heart, Santana revolves around themes of rebirth and launches into a mystical universe in which peacefulness, sensitivity, beauty, and boundless creativity orbit a fiery sun. Black magic, indeed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003csection id=\"features\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFeatures\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNumbered, Limited Edition - 5,000 Copies\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e180g Vinyl\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e3LP\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e33rpm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMastered from the 1\/2\" \/ 15 IPS \/ Four-Track Analog Master to Two-Track DSD 256 to Analog Console to Lathe\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePressed at Fidelity Record Pressing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDeluxe Trifold Packaging Faithful to That of the Original Pressing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e4x Double-Sided Flat Photo Inserts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2x 24\"x36\" Double-Sided Fold-Out Posters\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003csection id=\"selections\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSelections\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMeditation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGoing Home\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA-1 Funk\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEvery Step of the Way\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBlack Magic Woman\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGypsy Queen\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOye Como Va\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYours Is the Light\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBatukada\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eXibaba (She-Ba-Ba)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStone Flower (Introduction)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWaiting\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCastillos de Arena, Part I (Sand Castle)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFree Angela\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSamba de Sausalito\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMatra\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKyoto\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCastillos de Arena, Part II (Sand Castle)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSe a Cabo\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSamba Pa Ti\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMr. Udo\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eToussaint L'Overture\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIncident at Neshabur\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e","brand":"Music Direct","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":59547642134609,"sku":"196588855412","price":36.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1034\/5778\/3889\/files\/mfsl3-540__53776.jpg?v=1779335742","url":"https:\/\/c09u90-kd.myshopify.com\/products\/pre-order-santana-lotus-mfsl-lp","provider":"My Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}