We stood before it and began to freeze inside from the exertion. We questioned the painting, berated it, made love to it, prayed to it: We called it mother, called it whore and slut, called it our beloved, called it Abraxas...."
The album cover features the 1961 painting Annunciation by German-French painter Mati Klarwein. According to the artist, it was one of the first paintings he did after relocating to New York City. Carlos Santana reportedly noticed it in a magazine and asked that it be on the cover of the band’s upcoming album. The cover is now considered a classic of rock album covers.
If you ever stare at that white dove that’s situated at the apex part of the shapely black woman’s anatomy, you will be drawn into "Abraxas"; I have the album before me, and I can tell you this album cover is a revelation; I’m not quite sure of what, it’s different every time I stare at the album cover. If you have the LP, pull it out, stare at the white dove and let your eyes wander from there.
Now on to the music; since this album has consistently appeared in catalogs since it came out in 1970, that’s a testament to it’s staying power and popularity. From beginning to end, this is music that does not fit in anyone’s pigeon hole; "rock" they say, but I don’t like rock. Since it’s got to go somewhere, just leave it at rock.
We begin with "Singing winds, Crying Beasts"; from the opening notes, you know this album is going to be something spectacular.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hn50ipwWarg