Carlos Santana has a history of unlikely collaborations. Remember “Smooth”, that 1999 collaboration with Matchbox 20’s Rob Thomas that sent Supernatural 15x platinum? Well, Contact Music reports that for his next album, he’s recruited someone even less obvious: Nas, who will help him cover AC/DC’s “Back In Black.”
Details are scarce, but the classic rock covers disc also features Chris Cornell singing Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love” and Joe Cocker tackling Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing”. With monster riff songs like these, Santana needn’t worry about being upstaged by the singers.
In an interview in the new Rolling Stone, Santana didn’t mince words on his motives. “I paid special attention to the groove so the females would get completely aroused,” he said. That’s right, ladies; partially or even mostly aroused doesn’t sit with Santana.
Also aboard is Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek, who will lend his organ swirls to “Riders on the Storm.” Santana describes their version as “really far out and psychedelic,” which sounds about like the original. Too bad they didn’t choose “Craigslist”, Manzarek’s recent foray into self-parody with “Weird Al” Yankovic.
No title or release date has been announced. While we wait for more details, enjoy this clip of Santana and Eric Clapton tearing through “Little Wing” in 1974. These two certainly know their way around a fretboard.
