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Head Hunters | 
| Artist: Herbie Hancock
Label: Sony
Category: Music
List Price: $11.98
Buy New: $10.99
You Save: $0.99 (8%)
Rating:  98 reviews
Sales Rank: 7549
Format: Original Recording Remastered, Original Recording Reissued
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 65123
UPC: 746465123266
EAN: 0746465123266
ASIN: B000002AGP
Release Date: March 25, 1997
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Promotion: Save $10.00 when you spend $50.00 or more on Qualifying Items offered by Amazon.com. Enter code BMLSAVES at checkout. Terms and Conditions
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Tracks:
| • | Chameleon - Herbie Hancock, Jackson, Paul [1] | | • | Watermelon Man | | • | Sly | | • | Vein Melter |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Keyboardist Herbie Hancock's remarkable career took a surprising turn with this funk album--one of the first jazz albums to be certified gold. Hancock's already-storied career had included an extended tenure with Miles Davis as a member of both the classic quintet of the '60s and the trumpeter's groundbreaking electric dates. As a leader, the pianist had followed a similar course, cutting both outstanding acoustic dates (Maiden Voyage, Empyrean Isles) and experimental electric sessions (Sextant, Crossings). Head Hunters, however, was something different: a stripped-down date featuring reedman Bennie Maupin as the only horn player, and a funk-oriented rhythm section made up of Paul Jackson, Harvey Mason, and Bill Summers. Hancock traded in his sophisticated piano performances and complex compositions for simple melodies, slow-burn funk grooves, and light electric keyboard splashes. The results, particularly on the tracks "Chameleon" and "Watermelon Man," had a profound impact on other musicians, although critics charged Hancock with playing to the galleries. But the album has stood the test of time--something neither the wealth of Hancock's imitators nor his own subsequent albums in this vein have been able to do. --Fred Goodman
Album Details
Limited Millennium Edition. Packed in a Heavy Weight Card Wallet that Faithfully Recreates the Original Vinyl Sleeve, Right Down to the Inner Bag. The Wallet Comes in a Plastic Cover.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 93 more reviews...
 Herbie Hancock Brings On The Funk!!! July 2, 2008
Louie Bourland (Nashville TN via Garden Grove CA)
Since its initial release in 1973, Herbie Hancock's "Head Hunters" album has become a fusion jazz classic and rightfully so. Much like his former boss Miles Davis as well as R&B artists like Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye, Herbie Hancock set out to make music that was innovative for its time and pushed the envelope of creativity. Although Herbie had been experimenting with fusing rock, funk and African rhythms with Jazz styles in previous albums like "Sextant" and with his former group Mwandishi, "Head Hunters" is where all the musical styles and experimentation fell together in all the right places.
At least two of the four tracks on the album have gone on to become timeless classics. The nearly 16-minute centerpiece "Chameleon" is probably one of Herbie's best known compositions of the '70s and features a relentless bassline that stays stuck in your head long after the piece is finished. Drummer Harvey Mason's driving funk rhythms are also a crucial element to this track. Mason's arrangement of Herbie's 1963 piece "Watermelon Man" has become a classic in its own right and has been sampled by numerous hip-hop and dance artists in recent years (notably the pipe intro performed by Herbie and percussionist Bill Summers).
The other two tracks aren't quite as popular as the previous two but are still loaded with great musical invention. "Sly" is a nod to soul pioneer Sly Stone but also features a killer turbo-charged middle section in which Herbie and his band improvise at a relentless pace. Reed player Bennie Maupin shines at his best here as does Herbie with his fabulous Fender Rhodes leads.
The closing track "Vein Melter" is very similar to the fusion music of Miles Davis and consists of a slow-moving vamp in which different musical phrases are played. This piece would not sound at all out of place on an album like "In A Silent Way" or "B--ches Brew". If anything, it shows that Herbie definitely learned some great lessons from his former band leader.
"Head Hunters" is not only an album that will appeal to Jazz fans, it's an album that will appeal to fans of all kinds of music. The styles on this album are an excellent blend of rock, funk and progressive elements with some great jazz-oriented improvisation. 35 years later, "Head Hunters" is still one of Herbie Hancock's best albums that in my opinion has yet to be surpassed.
If you're new to Herbie Hancock's music, this album should be your first choice. You won't be disappointed.
Great Fusion Jazz Funk! May 31, 2008
pinkfloyd (annoymus countries)
The first song Chameleon is probaly the greatest jazz jam of all time. It's by far fusion jazz, its a jazz jam with elements of psychedellic rock in it and has many other elements of music. Chameleon is also maybe one of the best songs of all time. great album buy it today timeless classic.
Ravishing May 18, 2008
John Feesey (British Columbia,Canada)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Herbie Hancock brings virtuosity back into vogue.He redefines the boundaries and has fun doing it....If you are the least interested in the art of jazz, its a good album to own, play it often....You can not listen to Watermelon Man and be the same about structure and context in music again.
Kudos to Amazon for bringing great albums ,via downloads to average budgets.
Brilliant work by Hancock via Miles Davis February 7, 2008
Jeffrey T. Goodall (AZ)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This record to me defines the period in which it was made perfectly. The early '70s; afros, dashikis, and funk music storming the mainstream. This seems to be similar to the effect that Davis was reaching for and Hancock knew it. Albeit I find this record better than any of Davis' electrical focused albums. Watermelon Man is my personal favorite track as it takes an old standard and turns it into something incredibly playful and fresh. Sly reminds me of a soundtrack to a Pam Grier film's action scene from the era; something I have a personal affinity for.
If you don't own this album, pick it up as it's likely not like any other music in your collection.
 Still a classic! Worth listening to again! November 9, 2007
D. Gorman "Crystalline Structure Moon"
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This album was always an underdog favorite of mine. I wouldn't put it on my Top 10 List of all time, but it's a strong classic that you JUST HAVE TO get out and play every so often....maybe more than once!!! When I saw this CD, I had to get it because it had been years since my last listen. It was so sweet to hear it again! Chameleon, the opening tune, is the longest and strongest selection on the album.....pure funk jazz that deserves its classic popular favorite status. Herbie and his supporting band are all fantastic. The writing, performances and jams are all first rate! The only problem with pacing is that the closing tune, Vein Melter is a bit long for being a closing tune with a slow pace. It's a great tune, but drags a bit as an album closer. But, don't let that stop you from buying the album, or enjoying the closing tune...it IS a good tune, but its placement was in a curious spot if you're concerned with overall album pacing. This is a great album!! I'm very glad I saw it again, bought the CD and played it all the way through more than once. I'm sure it's going to find its way onto my CD player many times in the future...when that special mood strikes.
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