Favorite "Highway" Songs #1 - "Race with the Devil Down Spanish Highway"

@teamfreak16 (43421)
Denver, Colorado
January 17, 2018 2:46am CST
We have raced, revved, floored it, whichever you prefer, in my @JohnRoberts suggested countdown of my favorite songs with "highway" in the title. We have arrived at #1: "Race with the Devil Down Spanish Highway." An attendee of the Berklee School of Music, American guitarist Al Di Meola was recruited, at the age of 19, as a member of Stanley Clarke and Lenny White's legendary fusion band, Return to Forever. The young guitarist recorded three albums with that band before embarking upon a solo career. A 1980 album recorded by Di Meola, John McLaughlin, and Paco de Lucia, Friday Night in San Francisco, is widely considered one of the finest live acoustic guitar records ever made. "Race with the Devil on Spanish Highway" is the fourth track from Di Meola's second album, 1977's Elegant Gypsy. A fusion of Latin jazz percussion and guitar rock, the song highlights Di Meola's considerable guitar talents. (He is not without his detractors: the man is so fast that he was often criticized for "playing too many notes.") I, however, am not one of those critics. Al Di Meola is, hands down, one of my Top 5 favorite guitarists. This song is a good indication of why. I've linked to a live performance. Al even plays a bit of percussion! Enjoy! (Devil racin' info verified by Wikipedia)
Al di Meola - Race with Devil on Spanish Highway
8 people like this
5 responses
@crossbones27 (48417)
• Mojave, California
22 Jan 18
Awesome, cool guitar and also love the Spanish names I always like Paco my favorite is Pepe , my name is Pepe. So cheerful.
1 person likes this
• Mojave, California
22 Jan 18
@teamfreak16 CIATE GRINGO,Mean like that except worse. Oh they love to pick fun, but if they can tell you are hateful against them,. good luck that night my friend.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
22 Jan 18
Seems like a pretty cheerful language in general. Until they start cursing. Then you can definitely tell the difference.
1 person likes this
• Preston, England
21 Jan 18
great guitar play - Hendrix quality
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
21 Jan 18
He's brilliant. Saw him do an acoustic show in Denver back in the 80's. He was so good.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (62120)
• United States
17 Jan 18
And MAN that opening bass riff! "Playing too many notes" is code for "damn, why can't I play like that." Great series!!!
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
17 Jan 18
Thank you. Yeah, that does smack of jealousy.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
17 Jan 18
You got me with your #1. Never heard it before.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
17 Jan 18
I think I remember you saying you didn't care much for fusion.
1 person likes this
• United States
20 Jan 18
I'm not sure if I ever heard this one. At times, it would sound very familiar and at other times I didn't know it. Nice guitar playing.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
21 Jan 18
Oh, he's a phenomenal guitarist. I saw him do an acoustic show in Denver back in the 80's. Brilliant!
1 person likes this