Freedom is Carlos Santana's fourteenth studio album, released in 1987. The album was recorded at Record Plant studios in Sausalito, California, and at The Plant studios in Menlo Park. It represents an attempt by Santana to regain commercial success with a more polished, pop rock-oriented sound.
The album includes collaborations with musicians such as keyboardist Chester Thompson and drummer Graham Lear. The song 'Veracruz' is an instrumental track that pays homage to Santana's Mexican roots. The lead single, 'Once It's Gotcha', did not achieve significant chart impact, although the album reached number 95 on the Billboard 200.
Critical reception was lukewarm, highlighting Santana's technical skill but criticizing the lack of artistic direction. Freedom is often considered one of the lesser works in his 1980s catalog, though it retains moments of instrumental brilliance. It is Santana's last album with Columbia Records before his hiatus and subsequent comeback with Arista.