Santana Too | Collector's Corner  

 

Here you will find a REFERENCE survey which focusses on labels. Also all known alternate and collectible items from the archives of the Santana Collection are on display as well.

REFERENCE
Columbia Records  Pressings
Original first US pressing on Columbia Records of Santana's debut album have full bright red labels with the '360 Sound Stereo' imprint logo at the bottom accompanied by two boxed Columbia walking eye logos positioned left and right to the spindle. A few variations exist in font style, positioning and song writing credits. Subsequent later 1970s-and-onwards pressings  have a more graduated label style combining a more orange/red label colour with 6 Columbia walking eyes (yellow/orange) clockwise positioned around the label. Pressings from the 80s saw a return to the  late 60s red type label this time with  a new smaller top centered Columbia imprint logo. As far as cover variations different catalog numbers are used over the years in combination with slightly adapted art work on both front and back covers.

CBS Pressings
Most European Santana CBS pressings (original pressings and re-issues) come with three label colour variations: 

  1. Plain orange (full colour) with a boxed CBS walking eye center spindle positioned 
  2. Graduated red & yellow colours ('sunburst') with a new white capital logo ('pac-man') on the top 12 o' clock position 
  3. Bright red colour with re-newed white logo also on the 12 o' clock position

In some remote countries (e.g. Uruguay, Zimbabwe) pressings with a full green or white label exist always bearing the CBS walking eye. Lighter orange versions also appear often with a different font used horizontally and circularly on the labels. With re-newed interest in more high quality vinyl pressings over the last 15 years CBS ,who partnered with both Sony and BMG, revived the 'sunburst' style on their labels along with the boxed CBS walking eye!

CBS/SONY Pressings

In Japan the CBS/SONY label was used to release a flow of Santana lps and 45s. In general there are three types of pressings:

  1. white/orange label  with a boxed CBS walking eye 
  2. red label with 6 orange/yellow CBS/SONY walking eyes clockwise positioned 
  3. graduated blue ('sky clouds')  label in 10th anniversary editions series with yellow boxed CBS walking eye at 12 o' clock position.

CBS/SONY pressings were also made in Hong Kong and Singapore often using the same lay out as Japanese versions. All Japanese versions come with a special either horizontal or vertical OBI. Also a special Japanese insert with liner notes accompanies the release. Where possible a bonus poster or advertising sheet is added as well!

DATE Pressings

Columbia Records used their affiliate label DATE to release Santana vinyl lps and 45s in African countries like South Africa and Mozambique up till 1976. Black labels were used and almost no changes were made to the art work except for Abraxas and Greatest Hits first pressings. Both were censored by alternating certain 'black body parts' and in case of Greatest Hits even creating an adapted flying white dove sleeve! 

 

All known alternate and collectible items from the archives of the Santana Collection focusing on:  

  • re-issues, re-releases
  • cover differences: often an alternate cover or cover art is used, label differences, label style variations
  • special editions, promotional/demonstrational releases
  • test pressings, misspressings