Studio Album · No. 14
Beyond Appearances Songwriting Credits by Santana
Produced by Val Garay · Engineered by Val Garay, Richard Bosworth, Jim Gaines
Holds writing credit on 7 of 11 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 7 / 11 documented
Scored across the 11 tracks with documented writers, by whether Santana carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 11 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
Beyond Appearances pushed the band hardest toward mid-1980s commercial pop, with producer Val Garay leaning on synthesizers and drum machines that largely displaced the percussion-driven Latin rock the group built its name on. Authorship splits between the touring band and outside hands: Alphonso Johnson and Alex Ligertwood drove rockers like 'Breaking Out' and 'Spirit,' while Carlos Santana contributed the instrumental 'Touchdown Raiders' alone and co-wrote 'Brotherhood' with David Sancious and Chester Thompson. The lone hit single, 'Say It Again,' came entirely from outside writers Val Garay, Steve Goldstein, and Anthony La Peau, underscoring how far the project reached past the band for radio-ready material. The album stalled at number 50 on the Billboard 200, the group's weakest commercial showing to that point.
Beyond Appearances is the thirteenth studio album by Santana, released in 1985 on Columbia Records. The album embraced the slick production values and synthesizer textures of mid-80s rock, reflecting the era's musical landscape even as Carlos Santana's signature guitar tone cut through the polished surface. "Say It Again" was released as a single, and the album benefited from the contributions of Chester Thompson and Alex Ligertwood, who had by this point been central to the band's sound for several years. Beyond Appearances is a product of its era, it sounds firmly of the mid-1980s, but Carlos Santana's expressive playing ensured it never felt like a generic rock album. The record marked the final run of the Ligertwood-era lineup before the band's next significant transition.
Track Listing & Credits 11 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Breaking Out
|
Alphonso JohnsonAlex Ligertwood | Alphonso JohnsonAlex Ligertwood | Val Garay | Carlos Santana |
| 2 |
Written in Sand
|
Mitchell FroomJerry Stahl | Mitchell FroomJerry Stahl | Val Garay | Carlos Santana |
| 3 |
Brotherhood
|
David SanciousCarlos SantanaChester D. Thompson | David SanciousCarlos SantanaChester D. Thompson | Val Garay | Carlos Santana |
| 4 |
Spirit
|
Alphonso JohnsonAlex LigertwoodRaul Rekow | Alphonso JohnsonAlex LigertwoodRaul Rekow | Val Garay | Carlos Santana |
| 5 |
Right Now
|
Alex LigertwoodCarlos Santana | Alex LigertwoodCarlos Santana | Val Garay | Carlos Santana |
| 6 |
Who Loves You
|
Carlos SantanaChester D. ThompsonOrestes Vilato | Carlos SantanaChester D. ThompsonOrestes Vilato | Val Garay | Carlos Santana |
| 7 |
I'm the One Who Loves You
|
Curtis Mayfield | Curtis Mayfield | Val Garay | Carlos Santana |
| 8 |
Say It Again
#46
|
Val GaraySteve GoldsteinAnthony La Peau | Val GaraySteve GoldsteinAnthony La Peau | Val Garay | Carlos Santana |
| 9 |
Two Points of View
|
Alex LigertwoodCarlos Santana | Alex LigertwoodCarlos Santana | Val Garay | Carlos Santana |
| 10 |
How Long
|
Robbie Patton | Robbie Patton | Val Garay | Carlos Santana |
| 11 |
Touchdown Raiders
|
Carlos Santana | Carlos Santana | Val Garay | Carlos Santana |