McLaughlin paints wonderful figures behind the Santana front and then he takes over with an ax attack which is awsome, and indescribable. Into the mix are two, possibly 3 drummers, it is difficult to tell but the liner notes mention Jan Hammer, Billy Cobham and Mike Shrieve and Larry Young's organ flittering around between the rhythm and the music.

The result can best be described as an assault on the senses. After 26 years I still find it exciting, uplifting and beautiful.

Two other songs in the same vein and a quiet guitar duets by the boys are fine also. The duet, Namia and the first song on the album, A Love Supreme are of course by John Coltrane. It is probably fair to say he is the inspiration behind these performances.

My love of this record is undoubtably highly ideosyncratic and I doubt 1 in 100 will get it at all. While the record is classified as fusion it is something else perhaps, something unique, and as I said, unmatched ever since it was made 26 years ago.

I have always wonderd what John McLaughlin thinks of this work now. If anyone has a clue drop me a line.

14 of 14 found the following review helpful:


Nirvana  May 23, 2002 By Jinkyu
Members of Carlos Santana's Band and John McLaughlin's Mahavishnu Group express spiritual themes through their jazz-rock talents in Love, Devotion and Surrender, with great success. This effort reflected Carlos' having come under the influence of Sri Chinmoy, John's spiritual guru. "Naima" and "Meditation" are lighter, pretty acoustic tracks that contrast with the intensity of the other three. Both guitarists jam vigorously around the four-syllable chant of John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme" and the eight-syllable chants in "The Life Divine." In "Let Us Go Into The House of the Lord," they deliver blistering gospel soloing, but just as much a highlight is the fast-paced conga drumming of Armando Peraza, certainly mesmerizing, and isn't the "hypnotic" characterization usually reserved for nonpercussion instruments? The organ of Mahavishnu Group member Larry Young glows very nicely as a component of the spiritual texture, but he also solos well on the aforementioned track. Love, Devotion and Surrender is in line with what you expect from Santana's earlier-period music: great potent guitar work by Carlos, pretty music, and superb musicianship from all involved.

16 of 17 found the following review helpful:


A blessed union of souls  Sep 01, 2000 By Marcel Morejon
The first time I heard this CD I was blown away, my teacher at the time, Daryll Dobson(another great guitar player,)played it for me and I had to have it. Carlos Santana had begun a journey that was both spiritual and musical. For those who are really familiar with Carlo's music you first heard hints at a new musical direction with the tune called, Incident at Neshabur, (from Abraxas, not on this album like many people state.) The following albums; Santana 3, Live with Buddy Miles, and Caravanserai showed more and more the direction Carlos was to take. With each of these albums you can clearly hear his playing improve and expand, which no doubt came from playing constantly with the young firey Neal Schon,(note their playing on Live with Buddy Miles and Caravanserai) and of course Carlos had begun listening intensly to Coltrane and Mahavishnu. By the time Santana joined up with Mahavishnu for this album in 73,Carlos was ready to take the next step.

Listening to this record you hear both Mclaughlin and Santana reaching and pushing, at times almost crying out, I.E. their playing on The Love Devine, (listen to the way Mclaughlin caps of his solo.) Although Mclaughlin was a much more technically advanced player, Carlo's beautiful tone and creative combination of bends and holds make him just as great. Although L.D.S. is not the most "listener freindly" album it does contain two beautiful ballads in Naima and Meditation. After this album Santana toured with Mahavishnu for many years and recorded again on the Santana album Welcome,(the tune is called Flame Sky and it too is amazing.) The following albums through the seventees although never recieved as much attention and were even somtimes critized, contained what I beleive to be Carlo's best and most complex playing,(for the other reviewer who commented that Zappa quipped about Carlo's earlier solos, believe me Zappa could only dream of playing as good as Carlos, especially after his Mahavishnu days.) As for Mclaughlin, his future Mahavishnu albums were great, it's too bad they didn't put out some more with the original line up.

Love Devotion Surrender was a beautiful union of amazing players all at their peak. Carlos and Mclaughlin complemented each other beautifully, Mclaughlin had more technique and power, and Santana had more passion and soul, together their playing was unique and has left this music fan longing for more.

8 of 9 found the following review helpful:


Guitar Bliss  Sep 03, 2003 By james towner
Buy it!
If you are a guitar student or an expert ...see the two finest guitar players of the 1970's and maybe all time reach "Nirvana"
This is the guitar album to own!
Listen to the tone of Carlos and Johnny Mac it is unbelievable!
I strongly suggest purchase of this cd as well as Mahavishnu's " Inner Mounting Flame " own these two cd's and you will attend the finest guitar university known to man!

8 of 9 found the following review helpful:


Two soul brothers under the spell of Sri Chinmoy!  May 02, 2000 By C. J. "CJ "cruizerman""
Best enjoyed by those who are fully au fait with John McLaughlan and Santana, this music reflects the journey of search and discovery that Carlos (more so than John) was undertaking at the time. Musically Carlos finds himself on McLaughlan's turf here, but fortunately not fully out of his depth. It is interesting to note the difference in styles between the two, yet at times they are almost indistinguishable.

Radically different for Santana fans, but more familiar sounds for McLaughlan followers, this is not an easy album to digest for the average listener, as this is "devotional" music by two soul brothers experiencing life and spirituality to the fullest. No matter what one may think of Guru Sri Chinmoi and others like him, Carlos' and John's intentions were sincere. This is an important album because it is a snap shot of Carlos' evolutionary path from his fiery debut album, through his spiritual and musical development to this day.

Critics of Carlos Santana often complain that he's drifted from his roots, the music that made him famous (Santana, Abraxas, Santana III & Caravanserai), forgetting that he's no ordinary musician, possessing extraordinary emotions that crave for beyond the material. As such Santana is compelled to explore, change, experiment and indulge. Indeed this album has been at times described as an indulgent jam session, but such a statement one suspects can only be made by someone lacking in understanding of what Santana and McLaughan are (or were) all about.

Comprising of five tracks, this album is a little short-lived. The last track "Meditation" can only be described as beautiful, and should have been stretched further especially in an album of this nature. The second track is a sensitive rendition of John Coltrane's "Naima", softly played on acoustic guitar serves as a good lead-in to "The Life Divine" which is a rather intense piece.

Published in June 1973, this album quickly went gold and includes Billy Cobham, Armando Peraza, Don Alias, Larry Young, and Doug Rauch, but you will not see these names on the CD sleeve.

Excepting for the track titles, the CD sleeve is devoid of any useful information or credits.

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