Man-Child cover

Man-Child

Released

Hancock’s final album with the Headhunters featured a cast of thousands: guitarists DeWayne “Blackbyrd” McKnight and Melvin “Wah Wah Watson” Ragin are here, the latter making opening track “Hang Up Your Hang-Ups” his own, as are saxophonists Bennie Maupin and Wayne Shorter, and Stevie Wonder on harmonica on the grimy “Steppin’ In It.” Easily one of Hancock’s funkiest albums, Man-Child struts confidently alongside contemporaneous work by the Ohio Players, George Duke, or Parliament.

Phil Freeman

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