Abraxas is the second studio album by the band Santana, released on September 23, 1970. The title comes from a Gnostic word representing a deity, and the album cover features the painting 'Annunciation' by Mati Klarwein. The album reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart and stayed there for six weeks.
The album blends rock, blues, jazz, and Latin rhythms, featuring covers of songs like 'Black Magic Woman' by Peter Green (Fleetwood Mac) and 'Oye Como Va' by Tito Puente. The instrumental 'Samba Pa Ti' was composed by Carlos Santana and became a classic. Production was handled by Carlos Santana and Clive Davis, with recordings at Pacific Recording Studios.
Abraxas was certified quadruple platinum by the RIAA in 1986 and is considered one of the most influential albums of the 1970s. Its genre fusion and instrumental virtuosity solidified Santana's signature sound, marking a milestone in Latin and rock music.