Kōsei Nenkin Kaikan, Nishi-ku, Osaka, 550-0013 Japan

Monday July 2, 1973 / Tuesday July 3, 1973 / Wednesday July 4, 1973 (6:30 p.m. each day)

About the Shows

The Venue

Santana Dates: July 2/3/4, 1973 - December 7, 1974 - December 12, 1974 - February 25, 1976 - March 1, 1976 - December 7/8/9, 1977 - October 19, 1979

The Orix Theater (オリックス劇場, Orikkusu Gekijō) formerly Kōsei Nenkin Kaikan, is a 2,400-seat concert hall in Nishi-ku, Osaka, Japan. Artists that performed in the main hall include Black Sabbath, Kiss, Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, Whitesnake, Robin Trower, Rainbow, Queen, Santana, The Jackson 5, James Brown, UFO, Iron Maiden, Red Velvet and NCT 127. It officially opened on 14 April 1968 and was the largest concert hall in Osaka at the time. The complex included a smaller hall, lodging facilities and two restaurants. The building was sold in October 2009 to Orix Real Estate, who currently run it under the name the Orix Theater.

Nishi (西区, Nishi-ku) is one of 24 wards of Osaka, Japan. It is in the west of central Osaka ("Nishi" means "west"), and is generally flat. 80% of the area was destroyed by bombing in World War II, and was not regenerated until the mid-1960s. Today, this trendy area is known for cool fashion, furniture, and home goods boutiques around Horie Park.

The recordings of Tuesday July 3 and Wednesday July 4 are released as "Lotus" in May 1974. However, the 3LP inner sleeves show a photo that is NOT from this venue, but from Nippon Budōkan, Tokyo, Japan July 6, 1973.

Memorabilia

Music

The Band: Santana #14

Carlos Santana (guitar/percussion/vocals), Douglas Rauch (bass/guitar), Michael Shrieve (drums), Jose “Chepito” Areas (percussion), Armando Peraza (percussion/vocals), Tom Coster (keyboard/vocals), Richard Kermode (keyboard), Leon Thomas (vocals)

Monday July 2, 1973

Set List Not Available

Tuesday July 3, 1973

Incomplete Set List: Mantra - Kyoto - Castillos De Arena, Part 2 (Sand Castle)

Wednesday July 4, 1973

Incomplete Set List: Meditation/Going Home/A-1 Funk/Every Step Of The Way - Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen - Oye Como Va - Yours Is The Light - Batucada - Xibaba (She-Ba-Ba) - Stone Flower - Waiting - Castillos De Arena, Part 1 (Sand Castle) - Free Angela - Samba De Sausalito - Se A Cabo - Samba Pa Ti - Mr Udo - Toussaint L'Overture - Incident At Neshabur

Tuesday July 3/Wednesday July 4, 1973 Selected Formats:

"Lotus" in 1974 on Best Rock Collection 3LP (gf/quad) (CBS/Sony Japan SOPZ 7-8-9)

"Lotus" in May 1974 on Limited Edition SX-74 Sound 3LP (gf/quad) (CBS/Sony Japan SOPZ 7-8-9)

"Lotus" in 1975 on 3LP (gf) (CBS Europe 66325)

"Concierto En Japon En Vivo" in 1975 on 3LP (CBS Venezuela CS-10.232-CS-10.233-CS-10.234)

"Santana Live In Japan" in 1975 on Live In Japan Series LP (CBS/Sony Japan SOPO 83) *

"Santana Live In Japan" in 1977 on LP (CBS/Sony Japan 25AP 824) *

"Lotus" in 1977 on 3LP (gf/repress) (CBS Europe 66325)

"Lotus" in 1977 on Rock Best 100 3LP (gf/quad/repress) (CBS/Sony Japan 63AP 821~3)

"Lotus" in 1977 on 3000 Edicion Limitada 3LP (gf/numbered) (CBS Spain 66325)

"Lotus" in Feb 2009 on 3LP (remastered/180gram) (Speakers Corner Records Europe 66325)

"Lotus" in 2013 on DeLuxe Edition 3LP (gf/180gram) (Friday Music USA FRM-66325)

"Lotus" on Nov 22, 2017 on Limited Edition GAIN 2™ Ultra Analog LP 180g Series 3LP (gf/remastered/180gram) (Sony Records Int'l Japan SIJP 46~8)

"Lotus" on Nov 22, 2024 on 1500 50th Anniversary Edition 3LP (gf/180gram/translucent yellow vinyl) (Music On Vinyl Netherlands MOVLP2792)

"Lotus" on Dec 20, 2024 on 5000 3LP (gf/numbered/180gram) (Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab USA MFSL3-540)

"Lotus" on Feb 26, 1991 on 2CD (Columbia USA C2K 46764)

"Lotus" on March 29, 1991 on 2CD (box set) (CBS/Sony Japan CSCS 5434~5)

"Lotus" in 1991 on 2CD (Columbia Europe 467943 2)

"Lotus" on June 7, 2006 on SX-74 Sound 3CD (dgpck/remastered) (Sony Records Int'l Japan MHCP 1002~4)

"Lotus" in 2016 on Limited Edition 2SACD (numberered) (Audio Fidelity USA AFZ2 247)

"Lotus. Complete Edition" on April 19, 2017 on Limited Edition 3SACD (quad/remastered/papersleeve mini LP) (Sony Records Int'l Japan SICP 10116~8)

Note: * features the following tracks from July 4, 1973 only: Meditation/Going Home/A-1 Funk/Every Step Of The Way - Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen - Oye Como Va - Samba De Sausalito - Samba Pa Ti - Toussaint L'Overture. The inner sleeves photo is not from Kōsei Nenkin Kaikan, Osaka, Japan July 2/3/4, 1973, but from Nippon Budōkan, Tokyo, Japan July 6, 1973.

From San Francisco,

Please Welcome... SANTANA!

Bill Graham

© 1999 Santanamigos