Caught On Camera: 22-Year-Old Santana Jams “Persuasion,” And It’s Mindblowing

So Young, Yet So Unbelievably Talented

There’s something magical about listening to a then 22-year old Carlos Santana improvising with the kind of confidence and enthusiasm only seen in seasoned guitarists. In fact, it’s easy to forget how young he actually was when the band was formed and took the world by storm with their 1969 appearance at Woodstock. ‘Persuasion’ does a fantastic job of showcasing a talent and passion lightyears ahead of others in Santana’s Latin rock genre.

This 1970 performance features the band performing ‘Persuasion’ at Boston’s Tanglewood, riding the wave of the enormous success that followed their critically acclaimed performance at Woodstock just one year earlier. Suddenly these young guys weren’t just jamming in small venues – they were one of the biggest bands on the planet.

Fun Fact: Santana began as a predominantly instrumental band, having an amazing time improvising together at shows that doubled as jam sessions.

While vocalist Gregg Rolie’s voice was outstanding and meshed well with Santana’s musical prowess as a guitarist, watching them perform  ‘Persuasion’ is another ball game entirely; there’s an equal exchange of power, with each band member pushing and pulling in equal amounts. No wonder that nearly 50 years later, it’s still as impressive as it was the first time around!

+ Persuasion lyrics +

You got persuasion
I can’t help myself
You got persuasion
I can’t help myself

Something about you baby
Keep me from goin’ to somebody else

Yeah, any way you want now
Now, now baby
You put me in a daze
All the time

Look whatcha got for me baby
Like the Devil in disguise

Something about you baby
You’re one, you’re one of a kind

Oh, this spell you put on me
Has just outdone me, babe
I can’t keep the rain
From comin’ down

Look out now, I can’t get out from under
But I wouldn’t want to even if I can

Something about you baby
Make me feel, make me feel like a man