Reading a good Rolling Stone article about the genesis of the Santana/Rob Thomas song, "Smooth," earlier this month sparked my memory of another Santana hit; unlike "Smooth," however, it's one that radio stations seldom play today.
I never disliked "Hold On" when it was a hit in 1982, but at that time, it blended in with a lot of pop hits and album rock tracks. Hearing it now after many years, however, I underestimated how smoothly produced it is. The lead vocals, backing vocals, guitar, and rhythm section gel perfectly. The verses build up effectively to the chorus, giving the song a Christopher Cross, "Ride Like The Wind" feel.
Here's hoping more listeners discover or rediscover this semi-forgotten gem.
