Focus 261

A 21-track distillation of the three-disc Jethro Tull box set 20 Years of Jethro Tull, this collection has a few rarities, yet its focus is on the songs every casual fan knows – album rock hits and rarities, all assembled on one hits compilation. The more selective listener – and there are those among the casual listener (such is the character of art rock fans) – may find that this focuses too much on the accessible material, but anybody that learned to love the Tull through AM radio will find this a very good compilation overall, even if it's heavy on macho attitudes.

Before the arrival of Carlos Santana's eponymous band, the San Francisco rock scene drew the inspiration for its jam-oriented music mainly from blues, rock, and Eastern modalities. Santana added Latin music to the mix, forever changing the course of rock & roll history. On their groundbreaking debut album, the group mix Latin percussion with driving rock grooves. Santana's unique guitar style, alternately biting and liquid, vies with the multiple percussionists for the sonic focus. Unlike later efforts, Santana's first album features an abundance of loose, collective compositions based on a couple of simple riffs ("Jingo," "Soul Sacrifice"). This approach allows for Santana and his bandmates to flex their improvisational muscles to fine effect. The high-energy level on Santana is infectious – the laid-back feel of other '60s San Francisco groups was clearly not for Carlos and co.