Head Hunters cover

Head Hunters

Released

After three brilliant but commercially unpalatable albums with his prog-art-funk-fusion septet, Mwandishi, Herbie Hancock needed a hit. His new band, the Headhunters, was exactly what the people wanted, apparently; two of this album’s four tracks, “Chameleon” and “Watermelon Man,” have been sampled on about 1000 hip-hop tracks each. And the lesser-known flip side, “Sly” and “Vein Melter,” is every bit as potent. Airtight funk grooves that allow Hancock and reeds master Bennie Maupin to stretch out just enough to satisfy adventurous ears.

Phil Freeman

Recommended by

Suggestions
War & Peace cover

War & Peace

Edwin Starr
Supa Dupa Fly cover

Supa Dupa Fly

Missy Elliott
Shaft cover

Shaft

Isaac Hayes
Higher! cover

Higher!

Sly & the Family Stone
Balkanology cover

Balkanology

Ivo Papasov & His Orchestra
The Black Peril cover

The Black Peril

Soweto Kinch
Superfly cover

Superfly

Curtis Mayfield