OK:
Now I'm pretty excited as FINALLY something from the later portion of Santana's catalogue is getting remastered (why it's only this album I don't know).
No bonus cuts which is typical of Friday Music, but at least the label is doing an album that nobody else has remastered aside from perhaps an expensive Japanese mini-LP-I will get this for sure because I've been waiting for an eterntiy for the late 70's-late 80's Santana catalogue to get remastered. I hope more will follow.

Description
It is no secret that the Santana catalog is one of the most diverse and richest in musicianship, artistry and song choice. Marathon adds to this successful list, which also netted the band several hit singles including You Know That I Love You and the rock radio staple All I Ever Wanted. Friday Music is very pleased to offer the wonderful Santana Marathon once again. This 30th Anniversary Edition comes with wonderful new remastering, the original art elements and all of the great musical moments from this classic album as you remember them.

Tracklist
1. Marathon
2. Lightning In The Sky
3. Aqua Marine
4. You Know
5. That I Love You
6. All I Ever Wanted
7. Stand Up/Runnin'
8. Summer Lady
9. Love
10. Stay (Beside Me)
11. Hard Times

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002M9FY94/?tag=imwan-20

Googa:
Your thoughts on this?

No extra tracks ? WTF ?

A marathon of the same thing all over again with nothing new. I am very disappointed as a huge Santana fan.........

Oh, I agree, but to my knowledge Friday Music rarely, if ever add anything on. I just hope for a sonic upgrade of this excellent latter-day album.
Now what about Borbolleta, Amigos, Festival, Inner Secrets, Zebop!, Shango, Beyond Apperances, Freedom and Spirits...Dancing In The Flesh? And who gives a crap about Supernatural??? Do they think the 14 million people who bought that (many of whom were not actual fans) are going to rush out and buy it again when they probably don't even listen to it anymore anyway? Most of those people don't even regularly buy music and 10 years later they sure as hell aren't going to now!

Great news, hope more will follow. AFAIK, Santana didn't have that many outtakes, which is why the DE's have been bolstered by live material. Those Santana albums are so perfect, they don't need bonus tracks, much in the same way as the Beatles. I like the entire Santana catalog, even the Clive Davis albums, except the Steven Tyler song on the last album. I never thought I'd buy Steven Tyler, but I had no choice.

I'll get this for the remaster.A strange place for Friday Music to take up the catalogue.
I don't have anything put out by this label yet.

You'll love Marathon if you like AOR.

Another option here is to instead buy a copy of the recently-released "Original Album Classics" set issued by Sony/Legacy in the UK. Readily available in the US, through Amazon and Amazon Marketplace, this includes:

Inner Secrets
Marathon
Zebop
Shango, and
Freedom

These are all in mini-LP sleeves, in a slipcase box, and the whole thing is going for about $20-25 US, new and shipped.

I bought one of these. There's zero documentation, but the sound of these is terrific and the price is right.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001P5VT72/?tag=imwan-20

I had posted about that set months ago and nobody got back to me if I recall. The titles are not remastered as far as I know (though I'm not 100% sure) just reissued, but that is a good deal, and I considered it.
This remaster (Marathon) has been pricey for something with no extras-I've generally seen it for 14.99 everywhere, but I ordered it from Tower.com today for the weird price of 12.32.
I hope it sounds good and if so, I hope the label continues the catalogue.

I hope it sounds good too; I always wish these efforts well. However, Friday Music has been reissuing some Renaissance titles, and the comparisons with the 1995 Repertoire issues have not been favorable to Friday Music's issues. Perhaps they'll have better luck with Santana...

The CD's in the 'Original Album Classics' series seem to be the latest issues that Sony/BMG have out; for instance, some of the Weather Report CD's ARE remastered editions. But there's no indication on this Santana set. But the original issues of these Santana albums all sounded great anyway, and so do these!

Anyway, I just mention it as an option for those interested.

I hope it sounds good too; I always wish these efforts well. However, Friday Music has been reissuing some Renaissance titles, and the comparisons with the 1995 Repertoire issues have not been favorable to Friday Music's issues. Perhaps they'll have better luck with Santana...

The CD's in the 'Original Album Classics' series seem to be the latest issues that Sony/BMG have out; for instance, some of the Weather Report CD's ARE remastered editions. But there's no indication on this Santana set. But the original issues of these Santana albums all sounded great anyway, and so do these!

Anyway, I just mention it as an option for those interested.

I have most of the Weather Report remasters, but which ones are in that box? Are they the same as the Columbia/Legacy remasters? I wasn't aware that Friday had been reissuing the Renaissance titles-that's not good. Of course when it came to the Procol Harum remasters and me stating that the new Salvos were better than the Friday remasters I was essentially told my opinion was worthless. Good stuff, good times. Whatever.
I appreciate you listing this and could you let me know how these Santana releases compare to the original Columbia CDs (unless they're the same)? Thanks!

I wish I could give you the comparison between the original Santana CD's, and those in the "OAC" box. But of those 5 albums, the only one I owned previously was 'Zebop' - and that was on LP! (one of the very last LP's I bought, too). However, I did own the original CD's of the early Santana albums ('Santana' up through 'Borboletta'), and I'd say these were comparable: very smooth, and certainly not maximized or compressed. I ripped Zebop to have a look at the waveforms in Audacity, and this just confirmed what my ears were already telling me.- no "louderized" wave forms here. I am really enjoying these...

I haven't confirmed this personally, but I'm told that the Weather Report OAC contains the Legacy editions of 'Mysterious Traveller' and 'Black Market' (which I already have). I just can't bring myself to buy this one when I already have 40% of it (though I'm very tempted!)

Sony has a website that includes some OAC information (http://musicmadesimple.info/), but it appears out of date, doesn't include any recent issues, and what info is there isn't much help.

And I don't think anyones opinion is "worthless" - I hate that crap (excuse me). I expect that stuff over at Hoffman, but hope it didn't happen to you here.

I'll buy it. Not one of Santana's best, but the current CD has been out since the '80s I believe and it's nowhere near up to snuff.

Hi every one, this was sent to me and obviously you peaked my interest. As far as the extra tracks, we can only do what the artists and the label wants us to do or let us do and usually its re-issuing the original album only. Good news is we are working on other Santana releases so keep your fingers crossed that your favorites will be released soon!

Hello FridayMusic,

And thank you for continuing the Santana remasters!

GoogaMooga

I would just add that once you get to "Spirits Dancing in the Flesh" in 1990, there is no need to remaster. They all sound fine from then on. It'll be great to hear a remaster of "Shango", one of my most played albums ever, in fact it probably is my most played album ever, a stone classic!

I had the 45 of "Hold On," but don't remember hearing much else from it on rock radio back in 1982.

Zebop was pretty good as I recall -- is there a remaster for that one in the pipeline??

If you hear me crying Googa, it's over the possibility of any of the latter-day Santana Columbia albums being remastered! I have been waiting years and years for that to happen and posted about it on the old ICE board.
Just to start, I will absolutely get this Marathon remaster when I get enough together for an order for free S&H from either Amazon or Tower.
Now, the guy from Friday Music only said they were working on others, not which ones. I hope they are not albums that have already received the treatment.

To hear these albums remastered:
Borboletta
Amigos
Festival
Inner Secrets
Zebop!
Shango
Beyond Apperances
Freedom
Spirits...Dancing In The Flesh-
would be simply fantastic, and I agree Googa, nothing beyond the Columbia albums after 1990, although Sony/Legacy is doing Supernatural anyway.
The period of Moonflower-Shango is my absolute favorite of Santana as I grew up with those albums, Shango being my favorite.
Shango had several hits, the biggest being "Hold On" which was all over MTV and was a Top 15 hit. "Nowhere To Run" (another Russ Ballard written song) was also a hit, and I love that song! "The Nile" was the 3rd video that MTV used to play-another great tune and "Night Hunting Time" also received FM airplay. I think there were some original members on a song or two (Was "Nueva York" one of them?).
It was the last big seller for many years, and man, would I love to hear these albums again, especially remastered-I don't even care about bonus tracks.
All I can say is...Viva Santana!

Yes, the "Shango" tour in '82 or '83 was my first Santana concert ever! From the moment I heard "Hold on" I was a diehard fan of Santana until I became a Beach Boys convert in '89. I've seen Santana live nine times, and they are still one of my favorite bands ever. Unfortunately, I arrived at the gig just as they were opening with "Hold on", and I could feel a slight headache coming on, so I got a drink of water and missed "Hold on", which they never played live again. That first concert was magical, Tom Coster and Greg Walker were still in the band, as were the "Cubanettes" - Armando Peraza, Orestes Vilató, and Raoul Rekow.

Hello FridayMusic.
Do us all a favour and remaster Santana's "Shango" sometime soon.

I've had enough of all the above telling us how good it is,I want to hear it again after it's been done up and judge for myself !

The Jefferson Starship two-fer looks good.

We only have access to most of the Columbia releases which obviously takes us thru your wish list IP And no that does not include Arista's release of Supernatural.

I hope to be putting more out in 2010 (and love your suggestions), mixed in with Hall & Oates, Alice Cooper, Johnny Winter and others. And Master Hare, Starship coming out this November, another two-fer for your listening pleasure.

Added by Linda -- we now have a thread for the Starship release:

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=56776

I now have this and can confirm the sound is excellent,overall delighted with the music,need it give it more listens !!