This 2 cd compilation was the first Santana disk I purchased. I do not understand why it is not a better seller. The set traces the evolution of the band from 1967 to 1986. You can trace the band's progression from blues to jazz to more pop influenced. The set contains many unreleased, rare and live tracks (always a plus with Santana). In addition, it also contains the album versions of some of their hits. The musicianship on this set is excellent. Neal Schon, Gregg Rollie, Armando Peraza, John McLaughlin, Michael Shrieve, and Chester Thompson are just of a few of the musicians who appear on this set. When the percussion section is locked in and the organ and guitar are wailing the musicians who appear here create some awe inspiring music. The music here can be both danceable and spiritual depending upon the song itself. Highlights on this set are too many to mention. Among the rarities and unissued cuts I enjoy are live versions of "Jungle Strut", "Incident At Neshabur", "Super Boogie/Hong Kong Blues", and an unissued version of "Persuasion" from the original Woodstock. Beautiful and stunning live versions of "Song Of The Wind" and "Europa (Earth's Cry, Heaven's Smile) are also included. The earliest track is a smokin' unissued studio track called "Ballin'" from 1967. Carlos Santana shows with this set that not only is he a great guitarist and band leader but he is also adept at selecting cover material. Songs such as "Evil Ways" and "Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen" (included on both disks in studio and live versions) have become his own and trademarks of the band even though he did not compose them.

It may be useful to compare this 2 cd set with the 3 cd "Dance Of The Rainbow Serpent" box set. If prefer this set to that one mainly for the rarities. While "Dance Of The Rainbow Serpent" contains such essential cuts as "Samba Pa Ti" and "Toussaint L'Overature" and later period cuts such as "All I Ever Wanted" and "Blues For Salvador" which are not included on the "Viva Santana" set. However, the "Viva Santana" set contains such essential cuts as "Jungle Strut" "Jingo", "Incident At Neshabur", and "Persuasion" not included on the "Dance Of The Rainbow Serpent" set. In a perfect world the "Viva Santana" set would be remastered with an extra disk added containing the aforementioned cuts as well as the great live cover of Miles Davis' "In A Silent Way" included on "Dance Of The Rainbow Serpent" and such omissions from both sets like "No One To Depend On", "Hope You're Feeling Better", "Hold On" "Winning", and "Well All Right" among others. Do not let these omissions deter you from purchasing this set. It costs less and it is compiled more effectively than the "Dance Of The Rainbow Serpent" 3 cd set. Beware! The music of Santana is highly addicting. I also highly recommend at a minimum the first three studio cds (now newly remastered with bonus live tracks) and the "Live At The Fillmore 68" 2 cd set.

This is probably the best available Santana compilation. It features many classics (live and studio) as well as many great unrealeased Santana live and studio tracks.

Viva is a fitting title, since this contians more of Santana's Latin influenced numbers. About 25% of it is previously released studio tracks, 25% previously released live tracks, 25% unreleased studio jamming and 25% unreleased live tracks. A number of the previously released live tracks don't come from Santana albums, but come from festival compilation albums, such as Woodstock, Cal Jam and Last Days of the Fillmore.

All of the unreleased material is excellent. Some of it ranks up there with the very best of Santana. Most of these are instrumentals with heavy Latin rhythms.

The new material would rate 5 stars. I only give this CD set 4 stars because of the inclusion of so much previously released material. And if they were going to include Soul Sacrifice from Woodstock, how come they couldn't include the fantastic Peace Cheer introduction?

If you are someone who already owns alot of Santana, this will be a good addition, but you have to put up with a lot of tracks you already have. If you don't have alot of Santana CD's and you prefer the Latin material and instrumental material over the more popish hits, this is the CD to get.

I'm truly suprised to find so few reviews of this collection. It's a strange brew of hits (some studio, some live) and unreleased cuts; yet somehow it all gels very well and, in my opinion, provides the best overview of Santana's (the band) work. It's finds it way to my stereo far more frequently than Santana, Abraxus or Santana 3. And that surprises even me.

This 2-disc set, originally released in 1989, remains the best compilation of Santana, including the best selection of standards, rare/unissued, and live tracks. Far superior to the uneven "Dance of the Rainbow Serpent" in its range and choice of material. This is the best place to start for listeners new to Santana; rare tracks such as "Let the Music Speak for Itself" make it indispensable to anyone who is a Santana fan.