Released 1972 Genre Rock Label Columbia | Recorded 1971 Length 5:31 | |
Writer(s) Mike Carabello, Coke Escovedo, Gregg Rolie | ||
"No One to Depend On" is a song by Latin rock band Santana, from their 1971 album, Santana III. It is the second track on the first side of the LP album and was released as its second single. It was written by Mike Carabello, Coke Escovedo, and Gregg Rolie.
The song is very instrumentally based, with numerous bass and guitar riffs and a long instrumental introduction. The vocals start after 56 seconds. At the start of the song, a man can be heard saying something in Spanish. It is commonly believed to be the Spanish phrase, "Salpica Micaela," said by José "Chepito" Areas himself to the other musicians about the style (rhythm or "feel") to play the song. The song is famous for its "call and response" passage between the guitar and the bass.
The single reached no. 36 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Santana's 6th most successful song. In Canada it reached no. 17 in the RPM Magazine charts.
A live version of the song features on the 2009 videogame, Guitar Hero 5, in which Carlos Santana himself is a guest character.
The main melody of the song is taken from Willie Bobo's "Spanish Grease" (1965).