Supernatural cover art

  Studio Album · No. 20

Supernatural

1999 Arista 13 tracks 75 min

Produced by Carlos Santana, Clive Davis, Matt Serletic, K.C. Porter, Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, Jerry Duplessis, Dante Ross

Arista Latin RockPop Rock
54%
Authorship
Collaborator

Santana wrote 7 of 13 documented tracks

Authorship Breakdown 7 / 13 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 13 tracks with documented writers, by whether Santana carries a lyricist or composer credit.

54%
7 trackswritten by Santana 6 tracksoutside writers
Santana's roles on this album

Share of the 13 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist54%
Composer54%
Producer38%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

13
Tracks
27
Lyricists
14
Producers
2
No.1 Singles
Approximately 30 million copies sold worldwide
Worldwide Copies Sold
1999
Released

Awards & Recognition 4

Grammy Award for Album of the Year (2000)
Grammy Award for Best Rock Album (2000)
Grammy Award for Record of the Year, "Smooth" (2000)
Won 9 Grammy Awards at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards, tying the record set by Michael Jackson's Thriller
Data Insight

Supernatural was the comeback that rebuilt Santana around a roster of guest collaborators, with Arista chief Clive Davis pairing Carlos Santana's guitar against a younger generation of pop, rock, and hip-hop voices. The breakout single "Smooth" was written by Itaal Shur and Rob Thomas, who also sang lead, while "Maria Maria" was produced by Wyclef Jean and Jerry Duplessis and built on a Product G&B vocal. Outside writers dominate the credits, from Dave Matthews and Lauryn Hill to Eagle-Eye Cherry and Mana's Fher Olvera, leaving Santana himself co-credited on roughly half the songs. The strategy made the record the defining crossover of his career.

Supernatural is the eighteenth studio album by Santana, released in 1999 on Arista Records and one of the most commercially successful comeback albums in music history. Driven by executive producer Clive Davis, the record paired Carlos Santana's guitar with a roster of contemporary hitmakers, Rob Thomas, Lauryn Hill, Everlast, Wyclef Jean, Dave Matthews, and Eric Clapton among them, producing a cross-generational blockbuster that sold over 30 million copies worldwide. "Smooth," co-written by Rob Thomas and Itaal Shur and featuring Rob Thomas on lead vocals, spent 12 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of the best-selling singles of the decade. "Maria Maria," co-written with Wyclef Jean and Jerry Duplessis, was another #1 hit. Supernatural won nine Grammy Awards including Album of the Year, the most wins for a single album at that time. It remains one of the defining pop-culture moments of the late 1990s.

Track Listing & Credits 13 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
(Da Le) Yaleo
Carlos SantanaShakara MutelaChristian Polloni Carlos SantanaShakara MutelaChristian Polloni Carlos Santana Santana (Performer)
2
Love of My Life
Carlos SantanaDave Matthews Carlos SantanaDave Matthews Stephen HarrisCarlos Santana Santana (Performer)Dave Matthews (Featured Artist)Carter Beauford (Featured Artist)
3
Put Your Lights On #8
Erik Schrody Erik Schrody Dante RossJohn Gamble Santana (Performer)Everlast (Featured Artist)
4
Africa Bamba
Carlos SantanaIsmaila ToureSixu Tidiane ToureKarl Perazzo Carlos SantanaIsmaila ToureSixu Tidiane ToureKarl Perazzo Carlos Santana Santana (Performer)
5
Smooth #1
Itaal ShurRob Thomas Itaal ShurRob Thomas Matt Serletic Santana (Performer)Rob Thomas (Featured Artist)
6
Do You Like the Way
Lauryn Hill Lauryn Hill Lauryn Hill Santana (Performer)Lauryn Hill (Featured Artist)CeeLo Green (Featured Artist)
7
Maria Maria #1
Carlos SantanaKarl PerazzoRaul RekowWyclef JeanJerry Duplessis Carlos SantanaKarl PerazzoRaul RekowWyclef JeanJerry Duplessis Jerry "Wonda" DuplessisWyclef Jean Santana (Performer)The Product G&B (Featured Artist)
8
Migra
Carlos SantanaRachid TahaTony Lindsay Carlos SantanaRachid TahaTony Lindsay K.C. PorterCarlos Santana Santana (Performer)
9
Corazon Espinado
Fher Olvera Fher Olvera Fher OlveraK.C. PorterAlex González Santana (Performer)Mana (Featured Artist)
10
Wishing It Was
Eagle-Eye CherryMichael SimpsonJohn KingMoney MarkK.C. Porter Eagle-Eye CherryMichael SimpsonJohn KingMoney MarkK.C. Porter The Dust BrothersCharles GoodanArt Hodge Santana (Performer)Eagle-Eye Cherry (Featured Artist)
11
El Farol
Carlos SantanaK.C. Porter Carlos SantanaK.C. Porter K.C. Porter Santana (Performer)
12
Primavera
K.C. PorterJ.B. EcklChein Garcia Alonso K.C. PorterJ.B. EcklChein Garcia Alonso K.C. Porter Santana (Performer)
13
The Calling
Carlos SantanaChester D. ThompsonFreddie StoneLarry Graham Carlos SantanaChester D. ThompsonFreddie StoneLarry Graham Carlos Santana Santana (Performer)Eric Clapton (Featured Artist)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 43 contributors

More from Santana

1969 78%
Santana
Columbia
9 tracksProd. David Rubinson
1970 67%
Abraxas
Columbia
9 tracksProd. Fred Catero
1971 78%
Santana III
Columbia
9 tracksProd. Fred Catero
1972 80%
Caravanserai
Columbia
10 tracksProd. Carlos Santana
1973 44%
Welcome
Columbia
9 tracksProd. Carlos Santana
1974 58%
Borboletta
Columbia
12 tracksProd. Carlos Santana
1976 86%
Amigos
Columbia
7 tracksProd. David Rubinson
1977 64%
Festival
Columbia
11 tracksProd. David Rubinson
1977 88%
Moonflower
Columbia
16 tracksProd. Carlos Santana
1978 56%
Inner Secrets
Columbia
9 tracksProd. Brian Potter
1979 91%
Marathon
Columbia
11 tracksProd. Keith Olsen
1980 44%
The Swing of Delight
Columbia Records
9 tracksProd. David Rubinson
1981 58%
Zebop!
Columbia
12 tracksProd. Carlos Santana
1982 55%
Shangó
Columbia
11 tracksProd. Bill Szymczyk
1983 36%
Havana Moon
CBS Records
11 tracksProd. Jerry Wexler
1985 64%
Beyond Appearances
Columbia
11 tracksProd. Val Garay
1987 100%
Blues for Salvador
CBS Records
9 tracksProd. Carlos Santana
1987 90%
Freedom
Columbia
10 tracksProd. Jeffrey Cohen
1990 60%
Spirits Dancing in the Flesh
Columbia
10 tracksProd. Carlos Santana
1992 67%
Milagro
Polydor
12 tracksProd. Carlos Santana
1994 55%
Brothers
Polydor Records
11 tracksProd. Carlos Santana
2002 25%
Shaman
Arista
16 tracksProd. Carlos Santana
2005 38%
All That I Am
Arista
13 tracksProd. Clive Davis
2010 0%
Guitar Heaven
Arista
12 tracksProd. Howard Benson
2012 85%
Shape Shifter
Sony Masterworks
13 tracksProd. Carlos Santana
2014 8%
Corazón
RCA
12 tracksProd. Lester Mendez
2016 100%
Santana IV
Santana IV Records
16 tracksProd. Carlos Santana
2019 0%
Africa Speaks
Concord Records
11 tracksProd. Rick Rubin
2021 67%
Blessings and Miracles
Concord Records
15 tracksProd. Carlos Santana

Frequently Asked Questions Supernatural

Who wrote Smooth by Santana?
"Smooth" was written by Itaal Shur and Rob Thomas. Thomas, the lead singer of Matchbox Twenty, also performed the lead vocal on the track and shared in its Grammy wins.
Why was Santana's Supernatural such a big comeback?
After years away from the charts, Carlos Santana teamed with Arista's Clive Davis on a collaboration-heavy record that paired his guitar with current pop, rock, and hip-hop artists. The result sold around 30 million copies worldwide and returned Santana to the top of the charts.
How many Grammy Awards did Supernatural win?
Supernatural won 9 Grammy Awards at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards in 2000, including Album of the Year and Best Rock Album, tying the single-night record set by Michael Jackson's Thriller.
Who produced Maria Maria on Santana's Supernatural?
"Maria Maria" was produced by Wyclef Jean and Jerry "Wonder" Duplessis, and it features vocals from The Product G&B. The single reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
Which singles from Supernatural reached number one?
Two singles topped the Billboard Hot 100: "Smooth" featuring Rob Thomas and "Maria Maria" featuring The Product G&B. "Smooth" spent 12 weeks at number one and "Maria Maria" spent 10.
Who sang Put Your Lights On with Santana?
"Put Your Lights On" features Everlast, who wrote the song. It won the Grammy for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.
Did Dave Matthews appear on Santana's Supernatural?
Yes. Dave Matthews co-wrote and sang on "Love of My Life," one of several guest collaborations that defined the album.
What genre is Santana's Supernatural?
Supernatural is primarily a Latin rock album that blends in pop rock, hip-hop, and contemporary R&B through its many guest collaborators.
Is Supernatural certified Diamond?
Yes. The album is certified 15x Platinum (Diamond) by the RIAA, reflecting US sales of more than 11 million copies.

Sources