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
The Best cover

The Best

Billy Preston
Spirit Groove cover

Spirit Groove

David Murray, Kahil El'Zabar
Love and Touch cover

Love and Touch

Tyrone Davis
After Dark cover

After Dark

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

Disrespectful

Tim Lefebvre, JZ Replacement
The Path cover

The Path

Chien Chien Lu
Free Jazz cover

Free Jazz

Ornette Coleman Double Quartet