Head Hunters

This is jazz fusion in its purest form. Herbie Hancock is masterful. A joy to listen to. I put this on while my son was off sick after an operation. And we were both dancing. Thank you Herbie

I wasn't expecting this - but it was a real treat. Perhaps I do actually like jazz?

And you know what? You don't tape people. What is this society, that we tape everything? What's going on? Do we not live in the moment anymore? We just tape everything from a phone? I don't like that. You know, that's what Herbie's music is against. I don't know, man, I think the dog humped you. That's why I love Herbie Hancock! He loves to lie.

One of the first albums I ever bought as a teenager. Still excites me 50 years later.

makes me feel almost as cool as herbie

generational peak

yea that's five stars

I like how every song has its own distinct feel, something I think gets lost a lot of Tines with longer jazz songs. Amazing solo’s and groovy backbeats

Interesante

Yeah Fricking Herbie

I don't like purely instrumental albums.

This was fine. I liked the start. Fun layering. But by the end I was like meh. I did laugh because I saw Vein Melter and def expected to hear something harder.

Jazz balancerer på en hårfin grænse mellem behagelig og ulidelig lytning. Den her plade falder lidt for ofte i den sidste kategori

top

Lots of respect for Herbie Hancock, but not something I’d go to if I want something in the background.

beetje gezweef , maar veel te lang

Cool but repetitive and makes you feel dizzy sometimes

Foundational

Such an amazing evolution of jazz!

typa jazz i really fw 8.5/10 best song - watermelon man

Very fun jazzy blast that forced me to get off my ass and move, great opener. Got some Forrest elf shit, yoooh! The drumming in this thing is immaculate Flutes sound funny The engineering my god! it’s so crisp. I can pick apart each piece like a pretzel, or a cupcake, or a soup! Five minutes, vein melter…… this shit rocks.

Good vibes and was needed that day.

wow so great

ok clearly i gotta develop a new ratings system for instrumental music. because i can't use this ratings system to give this album a fair score. i'm just asking a fish to climb a tree. i'm watching test cricket and expecting it to be a footy match. 2.88/5. BUT please understand that I would listen to this album again in the background.

Track By Track Chameleon - Great, funky groovy brilliance. Building layer by layer. I recognise the bass synth riff. To me it has that coolness of maybe Rick James or Teddy Pendergrass but with a more experimental edge. In the solos, I was almost hypnotised, although that might be because I’m tired after a day at work! Watermelon Man - This one was really innovative as a rework of his classic tune. The wind instruments sound African in their influence. Not sure how accurate that it but I enjoyed them. It sounded more beach-y as well in the groove. The little melodic inflections and nods to the original tune woven and peppered throughout are really nice and gives the listener just enough of a tie to it as to invoke familiarity and then moves somewhere else. Sly - This is cool. Got a nice background vibe to it, with great bass and solos. Then when it picks up the synth and horns really take off. Oh also I forgot to mention how good the drums are throughout. Big up Harvey Mason. Vein Melter - Slower one. This seems to be a nice combination of a more traditional jazz sound and futuristic vibes. I liked that it ends with the same beats as when it started. Like a little, gentle footstep out the door. Overall Review: I liked that I listened to this in the evening. As I listened, I enjoyed the late night feeling of me packing whilst my cat went a little crazy running about the house. I got into the textures and meandering melodic lines of the free expressionistic jazz, I was properly immersed at points. I actually didn’t realise how innovative Hancock was (& is). Impressed with a lot of the songs, the experimentation and the musicianship. Some were familiar but most weren’t and I very much enjoyed the vibe. I would listen again, but in context and when the mood is right! 3.9/5 Favourite Songs: Chameleon, Watermelon Man, Vein Melter

Not my favorite Herbie but it was fun to listen to his early stuff.

Fire

Very funky. Great music to groove to in the background. Loved it.

Had heard of the name Herbie Hancock before but couldn't have told you much about him. This however was a blast. Loved finding it!

I appreciate the artistry I just don't like fusion even at its best :(

Fun, funky jazz. I can dig.

really don't get the appeal that makes it one of the greatest albums of all time with this one, aside from it's influence. it just feels like rather standard electronic jazz, from a modern perspective.

I'm familiar with this album, and have even performed two of the tracks in bands. I should probably add this to my library. Yup, this is great. I'm adding it to my library and my list of albums to listen to again.

Head Hunters haz jazz.

Groovy?

Cool, jazz, man 😎🎺

Hell yeah this was a fun listen, especially liked watermelon man!

Does Herbie Hancock know that The White Lotus stole Watermelon Man for their intro?

So much better than John Zorn

4/10

Loved it! Funky jazz!

Goated herbie

Понравилось

The last album I got was Keith Jarret's Koeln Concert, and I gave it 4 stars writing that I never thought I'd rate a solo jazz album so highly. Well along comes another jazz album (albeit not solo), that absolutely blew my socks off. Am I starting to get jazz? What's happening to me?

It reminded me of a great video game soundtrack.

Overall okay. Not my type of thing.

Not previously very familiar with this, but pretty great.

Cool idea but not my thing and songs were too long

Just not for me

7.5/10 - Still not sold on jazz but I think I liked this.

I like the jazz fusion and the funk but some of these songs overstay their welcome a bit. It's not bad by any means but I view this more as background music with the repetitiveness. 6/10

I've wanted this on vinyl for a long time. Chameleon is such an epic intro, it's a transportation device every time it comes on. Watermelon Man follows, changing form for the third time into something somehow more epic than when Mongo Santamaría got his hands on it. That's side 1, with the catchy funk-influenced tracks. Side two is the more generous jazz side, odd times, communication between the band, a feel of masterful improvisational skill. The funk influence is a bonus. I didn't remember this as a 4 track album, I guess if you just hit play it feels like it has a lot more depth to it. It's of exquisite length, working beautifully for an instant replay as it does if it just fades into an ending. It's not just Herbie making this work, though if you ever feel it getting monotonous you'll notice the keys stepping into view and sliding through the company. To top it off, the overall production here is damn near perfect, down to track list selection, mix, and conceptualization. It's a fusion album that breathes jazz essence, it's one of a kind, a definite must-listen, and a record I can easily recognize as some of the best of all time. 4.85/5

Some good funky bits, but the length of the songs ruined it for me.

Maybe the quintessential jazz funk album, I still remember the first time I ever listened to Chameleon.

Head Hunters was a pretty fun jazz record. I haven't really heard of this guy prior to listening to this album but this was another case where i knew exactly what it was gonna be. It feels like one of those jazz songs that you would hear while waiting for a representative from customer service to call you over some issue. And that's the thing with this album, it's best as background music honestly. That being said, it is good background music. The songs have a fair bit of energy and most of them introduced new things at a good rate. As a serious listening experience, it gets a bit repetitive but as background music, it works quite well. Best Song: Chameleon Worst Song: Sly

Look I am known to be fond of a jazz fusion album and this was good, I loved its eccentric and funky sound. I think my favourite song on here was “watermelon man”. Whilst this was a deceptively long album it would listen to it again. Not bad overall I give it a 3/5

Weird but good

My first exposure to Herbie Hancock was the song Rockit with its bizarre music video from the early Mtv days. It was many years later I learned that the dance track had come from a jazz legend. I can't remember the first time I heard Chameleon but it sounds as fresh and infectious today as the first time hearing it... despite the repetitiveness of that bass line. This is a great gateway album into Herbie Hancock's music.

Wow, this was an awesome fusion of jazz and funk with great grooves, basslines, and more synths than I’ve heard on a jazz record before. There is such great texture and attention to detail throughout the whole thing. This certainly feels groundbreaking and was quite enjoyable on first listen. 1 listen Favorite Track: Chameleon

A few odd choices noted but this was pleasant enough.

Album #215: Herbie Hancock – Head Hunters ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Coming from Blood, Sweat & Tears yesterday, a jazz-rock album, to Herbie Hancock’s Head Hunters today has given me literal whiplash. This is how you do a jazz-fusion album. The difference in quality is immeasurable, in my opinion. I’ve never listened to Herbie Hancock, although his reputation precedes him. I know a bit about him and could probably recognise a few tunes here and there, but this is my first Herbie Hancock album, and oh my God, what have I been missing? Let’s get the elephant out of the room here. Chameleon is the best funk song I have ever heard in my entire life, and right up there with the best songs I’ve ever heard. It absolutely blew me away today. It’s 16 minutes long. It could have been another 16 minutes and it still wouldn’t have overstayed its welcome. It still would have found new ideas. The drumming, the way it changes, the moods and expressions it goes through, and the way it all seamlessly flows together. It’s literally a perfect song. It needs to be celebrated more. Today shouldn’t have been the first time I ever heard it. It should be a well-known song by everyone. And I wondered to myself, that’s a pretty impossible standard to set with your opener. Would the rest of the album keep up? It really does. There isn’t a bum note on the album. There isn’t a moment where it dips at all. It’s so energetic. It’s so funky. For the most part, it’s more funk than jazz, but when the jazz does come in, and I’m not the biggest jazz fan in the world, it’s so angelic and beautiful. The choices made are stellar. Take Vein Melter at the end. This really odd, almost Disney-style section comes in towards the middle-end of the song, and it’s so unexpected, but not jarring in the way jazz can sometimes be for me. It’s just a real display of beautiful, beautiful funk music. That’s not really something you hear very often. Funk is funk, you know? It’s funky. It stinks in a good way. But this is beautiful, heavenly funk music. It’s staggering. As well as that, this is one of the best-sounding albums I’ve ever heard. This thing is impeccably produced. Everything sounds perfect. Everything is measured perfectly. Everything sounds so crisp and pristine. I need to listen to this thing on vinyl or a FLAC file or something, because it deserves the highest fidelity possible. This was a welcome, welcome addition to my musical experience today. I loved it.

Funky

Ok

Endnu en kæmpe goat Banebrydende jazz klassiker ku godt ha været længere

It's pleasant enough to listen to, albeit with nothing that really jumps out as being great.

a lot of funk not my style i'm more lyrical but it was short and sweet

I feel cooler for having listened to this.

Not bad but didn't get pulled in

Listened

Great background music, nothing more

Headhunters- Such an amazing album. Nothing sounds like it. Headhunters is one of the my favorite rhythm sections with Mike Clark on Thrust too (that album should also be on the list too!). Probably some of the coolest synth playing ever on Chameleon. Really cool how Herbie reimagined Watermelon Man and again on”Mr. Hands” three iconic grooves for each era. Love Sly and Vein Melter too. Each of the four tunes are really unique, distinct stylistically. Such great compositions

Can’t say anything I haven’t said before

Deze plaat is de reden dan ik dit doe. Dit was werkelijk een pareltje onder de shitload en matige muziek die we soms moeten luisteren. Ik kan nog steeds lastig bevatten dat deze plaat al zo oud is! Waarlijk genieten van de experimentele dance achtige jazz uit de 70?! 6 sterren voor mij

Wat is dit een verademing na Broes! Het is echt een fantastisch album. Ik start de week met dit album en het is een leikker begin van de week.; Het nummer watermelonman had ik al wel eens eerder gehoord en nu het hele nummer. fantastisch. De albumcover is fantastisch! De fusion jazz is een hele fijne fusion en maakt het voor mij plezieriger om naar jazz te luisteren, omdat ik er niet zo mijn best voor hoef te doen. Het smaakt mij gewoon erg lekker. Genoten van elk nummer. Top album!

Phoe, staat er maar één keer in, zonde. Dit is natuurlijk de meest commerciële en daardoor ook de meest invloedrijke Hancock plaat, dus voor een lijst als dit is het wel logisch dat hij erin staat. Head Hunters is eigenlijk de toegankelijke versie van de twee eerdere albums Sextant en Crossings. Die zijn een stuk leiper en obscuurder, met veel meer abstracte elektronica. Als je meer een traditionele jazzpurist bent en fusion en meer groove als verraad beschouwt, zou ik Maiden Voyage of Empyrean Isles luisteren (mijn favoriet). Zal niet gaan zeiken dat er betere Hancock-albums zijn, maar vooral aanmoedigen om de andere ook te luisteren. De cover van Head Hunters is ook behoorlijk vet. Gemaakt door Victor Moscoso, een bekende kunstenaar uit de psychedelische posterwereld van San Francisco. Zeker het googlen waard.

Hoe komt dit uit 1973? Herbie Hancock is met recht een levende legende te noemen. Vier nummers op één plaat, het werkt goed voor mij aangezien iedere dag mijn spanningsboog op de proef wordt gesteld. Hierbij kun je je gewoon laten meeslepen door de muziek. Misschien val ik een beetje in herhaling, maar het moet gezegd worden dat ik echt een elektrische-pianofetisjist ben. Herbie op Rhodes is als appel-kaneel, als geitenkaas met honing (en walnoten). Jammer dat hij de lijst alleen maar met dit album heeft gehaald, maar niet getreurd: hij heeft ook nog samengewerkt met onder anderen Miles Davis, en die komt zeker nog een keer langs in de lijst! Sidenote: de saxofoon is weer gepromoveerd naar de sexy instrumenten divisie.

pilgrimage through the bush, stop to tweak out, continue

Har lyssnat rätt mycket och jag måste säga att jag gillar det. Initialt började första låten lite underligt. Men blev snabbt skön (samma med andra låten). Har lyssnat genom flera gånger. Första och andra låten är bäst totalt. De andra sådär. Kul!

nice discovery

Listened to this a bunch previously in high school and college, doesn’t get old

Onorthodox

When it was grooving it was good. When it was experimental it was not.

especially great paired with a full day of heads down computer work. Thanks Herb.

The best jazz type album ive listened to so far from this list. Admittedly the bar (in my opinion) has been very low....

First jazz record I’ve properly enjoyed as part of the 1001… The funk is just infectious

Head Hunters has arguably got one of the most iconic jazz album covers I've ever seen, yet somehow I have never listened to it....until today. I love the use of electronics in this project, not something I was expecting to hear here or anywhere in 1973 but I think Herbie uses it in a way that makes everything so much more funky and charming. This is a really fun jazz record, which I think is hard to pull off as usually jazz gives off simple emotions like happiness or sadness but hardly ever fun or groovy. The different soundscapes created by each song are such a treat, with the main instrument on each song changing every time. As much as I hate to say it Vein Melter is a very distinct shift from the sound a majority of this album was molding, but it isn't bad it just sticks out like a sore thumb. This isn't an album I would repeat a lot but it is for sure an album I can have a great time to.

A masterpiece

the only jazz i can enjoy is when it is funky

I really wanted to like this more. I'd recently watched a YouTube video on Herbie Hancock and this one featured heavily. So I tried...I think when it comes down to it, jazz isn't really for me. I respect all the talent involved I really do but it didn't grab me.

Funky! All I knew of Herbie Hancock was Rockit, this is not that. I suppose this is the jazzy/funk 70's version of that, whereas Rockit is the 80's equivalent. It's alright, not something I'd go out of my way to listen to again, but decent background music until I got to the back half of Sly which was too jazzy/chaotic for my taste. (2.5)

so funky and smooth. Amazing use of drums and the best type of jazz to have on in the background. The instruments used throughout this album mirror, to me, the sounds of nature; like the buzz of insects, or the rush of a river or the slight crackling of a hot day. Creates this gorgeous image of floating down a river while the sun beats down on me (a must try). A standout track for me was watermelon man the use of drums, piano and sax are to dieeee for. I really enjoyed listening but I do find myself leaning towards more lyrical based songs- but I don’t hate jazz…never that… just something I could only listen to selectively

not my jam

Forse non lo ascolterei per intero per piacere, ma Watermelon Man…

oh HELL yeah

I know the importance but I just can't get into it. It was actively punishing me at points.

It's funny how the common complaints are for the songs being long and that they all sound they same, but this guy can change the vibe more in one song than Bowie can in a whole album. Shit rules dude.

Jazzzzzz

Jazz with synths. Ok!

it's OK . 4th track is way too hot for my taste

Pretty decent funk jazz infusion, if that's your thing.