The collection is part of a series of Essential sets released by Columbia Records.

Uniquely among Santana compilations, "Soul Sacrifice" is included in the studio version from their first album, not the live performance from Woodstock.

This is because Columbia and Santana's current label Arista Records were not under common ownership at the time.

In 2013, Sony issued another "Essential Santana" 2-CD set which truncates the original's repertoire and does include music from the Arista era, as well as the live Woodstock version of "Soul Sacrifice".

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.