Santana Ultra Disc II 24K Gold by Mobile Fidelity

Double ditto for "Caravanseri". Blew me away in '72 when it came out and the remastered $12.00 CD is excellent. You can probably get one used on Amazon for cheap.

I like to play this for visiting friends who make fun of Carlos' Pop persona of the last couple of decades. His band's first six albums are classics and absolutely superb, and "Caravanseri" has one of the finest guitar solos of all times. Still gives me chills 35 years later.

6.99 from yourmusic.com

I just received the Ultra Disc II 24K Gold from MoFi of the first album, and was totally blown away by the sound.

Beyond awesome!!!

It made almost every other regular CD seem but a pale shadow.

I only regret that I came to the party far too late, since almost all of their classic rock and jazz CDs are no longer in print. Sigh....

Also the cover is one of the best album covers of all time. Took me years before i noticed the lady in the lion. I have the 24 bit sony sbm Cd and it sounds really good. I played it the other day and it's not compressed like alot of the recordings are lately,I cranked it up and it also has 3 live bonus tracks on it.
I have this on 18o 0r 200 gram vinyl culled from the master tapes. Columbia put these out in limited quanitys along with some other recordings around 5 years ago. I haven't played it though and i remember i bought it along with Cheap Thrills by Big Brother and the Holding company in the same format.

I too was hesitant. I had previously purchased an SACD version of Abraxas and was very disappointed. I can't speak to the Evil Ways album, but the MF Gold version of the Abraxas CD (purchased from Acoustic Sounds) is fantastic. The sound is amazing. From the very first ringing chimes on Crying Beasts you will be amazed. I don't usually recommend, but I Highly recommend this one.