Guitar Heaven: The Greatest Guitar Classics of All Time (Deluxe Version)

iTunes Review

Carlos Santana is one of his generation’s most distinctive guitarists, so if he feels like whipping through a collection of familiar tunes with a variety of guest vocalists like it’s 1999, who’s to argue? Scott Weiland may not be the most commanding singer for the Rolling Stones’ “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking,” but Santana rips a fine solo for the final minutes. Cream’s “Sunshine of Your Love” is plenty liquid, with notes flying over the tight, funky backbeat. Nas is an interesting choice for a hip-hop-based version of AC/DC’s “Back In Black” that lets Santana exploit a few interesting loopholes in the hard-rock armor of the original. Deep Purple’s “Smoke On the Water,” perhaps the most emulated guitar riff in rock history, doesn’t match the heaviness of the original, but lets Santana slide across the stage with more elastic solos. The Deluxe Edition includes a tight, punchy version of Credence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son” and the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Under the Bridge.” Interviews with Santana and record industry mogul Clive Davis bring the album into focus.