The album was produced during a 10-day recording session byRick Rubin at Rubin'sShangri-La recording studio inMalibu, during which they recorded 49 songs.[1] Rubin and Carlos Santana used an eight-piece band (which included Santana's wife,Cindy Blackman Santana, on drums).[2]
The first single from the album, "Breaking Down the Door", was released on April 19, 2019. In January 2019, Santana released the EPIn Search of Mona Lisa, which served as a preamble to the LP. The album debuted at number three on the USBillboard 200.
Africa Speaks is inspired by music from the continent of Africa, and has been called a "unique fusion of rock, Latin and jazz".[3] Many of the album's tracks were recorded in one take. The album features vocals from Spanish singerBuika.
In January 2019, Carlos Santana spoke withRolling Stone about his new music, explaining how he said to Rubin, "'I know you've worked with everybody like Johnny Cash and the Chili Peppers and Metallica,' And he goes, 'Well, what are you interested in doing?' I said, 'Nothing but African music.' So can you believe it? We record 49 songs in 10 days. He was very gracious, because it was like a hurricane to record six, seven songs in a day. Rick said, 'With Clive Davis, you had a bunch of guest stars and singers. Who do you want in here?' I said, 'I only want two women:Laura Mvula andBuika.' And he said, 'OK.' So we called them and they said yes."[4]
Africa Speaks was released on June 7, 2019, byConcord Records andSuretone Records.[10] In the United States, it debuted at number three on theBillboard 200 and at number one onTop Latin Albums with 57,000equivalent album units.[10] It also became the Latin album with most sales in a single week sinceRomeo Santos'Formula, Vol. 2 in March 2014, as well as the best-performing week for a Spanish-language record sinceBillboard began to rank albums based on equivalent units in late 2014.[10] It has also ranked at number one on the Latin Albums Sales chart for 13 consecutive weeks between June 22 and September 14, 2019.[11]Africa Speaks was the best-selling Latin album of the first half of 2019 in the United States, with 63,000 copies sold as of June 20.[12]
Santana was set to headline in August 2019 at bothWoodstock 50[13] and Bethel Woods' half-centennial celebration in Bethel, NY.[14] Prior and before these two events, the band toured from April to November 2019 in support of the new album. The celebration show in Bethel did occur. However, Woodstock 50 was canceled due to permit issues.[15]
^"Czech Albums – Top 100".ČNS IFPI.Note: On the chart page, select24.Týden 2019 on the field besides the words "CZ – ALBUMS – TOP 100" to retrieve the correct chart. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
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