I got the vinyl Lotus album when I was about 15 (a long time ago!). I paid a hell of a lot for the Japanese import. I never regretted it. This is still one of my favorite albums. There are a lot of extended jazz-like tunes. If you don't like this type of music then don't by this album. However, if you want to hear Carlos at his feedback-frenzied, screaming guitar best, get this CD - it is absolutely amazing.

Freddie

I love this album, and yes, I have the vinyl version too (one of my rare duplicates). I won't repeat what the others have said, except to say that this is some of Santana's best music, done at his peak. Unfortunately, the recording quality isn't the best, and the trnasfer to CD is pretty bad. Parts are fuzzy that aren't fuzzy on the LP. I'm not impressed.

Here we have an awesome 2 disc set of some of the most psychedllic-groovin, hip-happenin moovin', conga shaking, guitar wailing, sonic funk producing, controlled substance inducing music I've heard in a while. This set was taken from a tour of Japan in 74 and I guess was impossible to get before it came in 91'. This ain't your standard Santana stuff. The songs are long and involved with an acid/jazz meets Hendrix feel to them. There are very few vocals and the songs are hard listens at first until you get used to them. Fans of radio Santana won't recognize much here as this is more of aband performance than any one individual. Most of it is pretty out there and I loved it but you have to be in the mood. It's not a "lets put this on for 5 minutes" type of CD.

Bottom Line: Jazzy relentless onslaughts of trippy overdrive guitar and furious percusssion. You know if you are the type of person who eats this stuff up! Fans of "Smooth" need not apply.