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
Gwotet cover

Gwotet

David Murray, The Gwo-Ka Masters, Pharoah Sanders
Hell cover

Hell

James Brown
Romantic Warrior cover

Romantic Warrior

Return to Forever
Stolen Moments cover

Stolen Moments

Lee Ritenour
I Wish My Brother George Was Here cover

I Wish My Brother George Was Here

Del the Funky Homosapien
Turn to Clear View cover

Turn to Clear View

Joe Armon-Jones