Songs with Earlier Histories Than the Hit Version

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Black Magic Woman

Written by Peter Green and first recorded by Fleetwood Mac (UK #37 1968).
Other hit version by Santana (US #4/CAN #4/AUS #15/GER #14 1970).

From the wiki: “‘Black Magic Woman’ was written by Peter Green of Fleetwod Mac and appeared as a Fleetwood Mac single in various countries in 1968, peaking at #37 on the UK Singles chart; subsequently appearing on the 1969 Fleetwood Mac compilation albums English Rose (US) and The Pious Bird of Good Omen (UK).

“The song became a fairly popular Blues-Rock hit for Fleetwood Mac, being featured by the group in live set-lists even after Green had left the band, the lead often sung by Danny Kirwan. And, during concerts in the early 1970s, ‘Black Magic Woman’ would form the basis for long mid-concert Blues jams by Fleetwood Mac. The song would often be introduced by a band member reminding the audience that it was a Fleetwood Mac song before it became such a big hit for Santana.

“Santana’s version, recorded in 1970, is a medley, on the album Abraxas, with the instrumental ‘Gypsy Queen’, written by Gábor Szabó (‘Breezin’‘), a mix of jazz, Hungarian folk and Latin rhythms. The song became one of Santana’s staples and one of their biggest hits, with an edited single version reaching #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1971.”

Santana, “Black Magic Woman” single version (1970):

Santana, “Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen” album version (1970):

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