Beyond Appearances is Carlos Santana's thirteenth studio album, released in 1985. It marks a return to a more rock and pop-oriented sound, following previous experiments with jazz fusion. The album was recorded in several California studios, including The Automatt in San Francisco.
The album featured collaborations with musicians such as Chester Thompson on keyboards and Alphonso Johnson on bass. Although it did not achieve the commercial success of earlier works, it includes the single 'Say It Again', which received some airplay on rock radio. Production was handled by multiple producers, reflecting a search for a more accessible sound.
Critical reception was mixed, with some praising the album's energy but others noting a lack of cohesion. On the Billboard charts, the album reached number 50 on the Billboard 200. It is considered a transitional work in Santana's career, prior to his collaboration with more commercial producers in the following decade.