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
Unreal cover

Unreal

Bloodstone
After Dark cover

After Dark

Christian McBride, Scott Wendholt, Steve Wilson, Noah Bless, Carl Allen, Don Braden, Darrell Grant
I Am cover

I Am

Earth, Wind & Fire
Virgin Beauty cover

Virgin Beauty

Ornette Coleman & Prime Time
Good Days cover

Good Days

Chicago Underground Quartet
Fresh cover

Fresh

Sly & the Family Stone
Crusaders 1 cover

Crusaders 1

The Crusaders
The Amazing James Brown cover

The Amazing James Brown

James Brown & The Famous Flames
Still Bill cover

Still Bill

Bill Withers
In the Jungle, Babe cover

In the Jungle, Babe

Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band