Head Hunters

To experimental and repetitive, otherwise a good background track.

Pleased to have listened to it, after many years. Got me also listening to a bit of Miles Davis and John Coltrane too

No me ha gustado nada de nada

10/10. I’d love this album listening while I focus. I’d love this album listening passively while I’ll chill. I loved this album listening intently. Unique to me. Added the first 3 to the 5 ⭐️ playlist.

One of the best records of the 70s, and one of the best jazz records. Period.

Fucking great.

this should be a 3. it is good but i need lyrics to truly connect to things could i write poetry to this? n

This is one of the best, not just by Herbie Hancock but by any musician

Sometimes the opening to Watermelon Man randomly pops into my head

I've tried to get into this album before, but I just can't. I always end up listening to Fat Albert Rotunda instead.

Jazz

Funky but a little over the top at times

There is a whole lotta funkadelic musicianship here that I can't even pretend to understand. All I can say is that it sounded cool and groovy while I was listening and I enjoyed tidying up my emails while it played through 3 times. So, that's a 3 from me dawg.

Kaufhaussound, nichts für mich!

Solid but light, funky but jazz, with a tight rhythm section who keep it loose. With a mass of contradictions like that, this was one of the hardest to rate - I might have given 2 after the first (distracted) listen, 5 after a couple of (more focussed) plays, but the repetitious nature (and lack of vocals) means after a full day, it dropped just short of full marks. I really liked it though, and have enjoyed learning more about jazz and associated styles

It was a very interesting listen. Some jazz, R&B, fusion, blues, techno..... And for 1973 this was way ahead of its time. A lot of it sounded like a Beck album without the vocals: 20 years before Beck put out Mellow Gold. This isn't really my thing. But if this were on in the background, it wouldn't bother me.

A great example of jazz improvisation of the 70's with a strong funk element to it!

To quote Ash Williams in Evil Dead: Groovy! I don't usually listen to jazz much but this was a very catchy album; Chameleon and Watermelon Man are tracks I'd happily listen to on repeat, and Vein Melter is very chill and easy to listen to. I found Sly had sections where they were fast and chaotic for the sake of it more than providing any purpose, but on the whole the album is an enjoyable listen.

Utterly tremendous - it had that "live" feel of people having fun and being ruddy great at their instruments. Any criticism I might have about it being 4 songs over the best part of an hour are offset by the fun I had listening to it. It's zany, out there, and this is the third time I'll say it, fun! :) This one goes firmly up at the top for me so far, because it sounds like they really nailed what they were going for, and it managed to surprise me in a few spots, which was really cool! :)

Prachtig instrumenteel zeker eerste twee nummers

Junky. 4.75

Trippy

Now that’s funk ! 4 stars.

A curious one. Interesting but not one to listen to again. 2.5

BL: I firmly believe this may be the best jazz record of all time. If not, it certainly has a place as my favourite jazz record of all time. The steps forward Hancock took in this album and his whole career are reflective of one of the biggest jazz pioneers of the 20th century. While he may not have gone into as wild experimentations as Davis or Monk, this groove filled exploration of electronic and acoustic sounds in harmony is everything an album should be. AL: see above. FT: “Chameleon”, “Watermelon Man” 5/5

Not much of a jazz fan, but didn't mind this. Didn't fall in love either, I find jazz does tend towards self indulgent. Loved the sound of the clavinet, that was the highlight for me.

Chill, funky jazz album. Enjoyed this more than I expected, a pleasant start to my 1001 albums journey. I'm not a jazz fan but if I was then this might just be the first thing I listen to!

instrumentally speaking great album with great musicians. To listen in a bar while sipping whiskey

solo instrumental, me gusta que es corto dentro de todo y va cambiando las vibes a medida que avanza, el principio me recuerda mucho a la musica de la pelicula gatsby, una gran fiesta de los años 20 y termina casi sonando como una peli de terror

funky

Loved this

I mean, wha can you say, it’s Head Hunters. But, I have to tell you how bizarre an experience it was listening to this at 8 in the morning waiting for a replacement for a cancelled train, in the middle of North Wales with seagulls crying all around me

I think you had to be there.

This fusion reaction released enough energy to power 5 kettles

Expected this to be so much more pretentious and insufferable than it was. Don’t judge a book by its 15 minute song, I guess.

Herbie can cook. But after awhile, like everything instrumental, it just becomes background.

Meh

very groovy

This is cocktail lounge jazz. It makes good background music but otherwise is just ok. 2

Errrrm No.

MAKE IT STOP

Funky.

Hmm...I'm not quite sure how to rate this album. It has four lengthy jazz-funk instrumentals, each of which sort of noodles away without really being particularly engaging.

A classic! But haven't listened to it straight through in 15+ years probably, so I'm glad it popped up today!

This is not what I was expecting from a Herbie Hancock album but I am blown away. I rarely do this, but I listened to the album again immediately after it was finished. I loved all of it, but especially Chameleon and Watermelon Man. I expect I'll be listening to this again very soon.

How can I explain, you ever have a destination in mind and you kind just meander around too much and forget where you're headed? Thats what this, if you love jazz and funk you'll like it but it just spends too much time exploring, if that makes sense.

Some groovy things on this album but I found a lot of it… annoying? Just the sounds and notes he was playing were very grating at times. Also a friend convinced me to see Herbie in concert once and it was the worst show I’ve ever sat through so that might be colouring my view of this album

Amazing my favourite

This album is only four songs, but it is a fantastic fusion of jazz and funk music. "Chameleon" is a great start, with its memorable synthesizer bassline. I really enjoyed the afro-influenced rework of "Watermelon Man". "Sly" and "Vein Melter" make up the back half of the album and are solid jazz-funk songs. "Vein Melter" grew on me as I listened to it more. I listened to this album multiple times on repeat, and expect to come back to it often in the future.

Listening to this you can hear the influence it had on the Beasite Boys, so obviously, I dug it, though I did feeling like I was the sidekick in a Blacksploitation movie. Chameleon was the key track for me, and I vaguely remember our high school band teacher attempting to have us play this. Overall, I’d listen to this again

I got into this one during Covid when I tracked down the samples from Digable Planets. What a great funk/jazz album. Chameleon is a funky jam and the updated Watermelon Msn is great too. I had only known Her ie as the Rock It guy from the 80s song, so it was great to learn a bit more. I put this one every so often.

Herbie GOATed

this album still sounds fresh today. love the blend of jazz with funk, soul and hip hop. one of my favorite jazz artists.

Chameleon and Watermelon Man are defining. Great work on jazz<-->funk. Good thing these make up majority of the album, I can turn it off by the last song, which is in a hard spot to follow these first tunes. But still gets a top rank.

Far out. Loved Watermelo Man.

What a musical odyssey. Powerful, driving drum beats, awe-inspiring melodies. And despite only 4 tracks, so much emotion and uniqueness between them. Absolutely incredible

Ich empfehle, dieses Album nicht bei Autofahren zuhören. Die gruseligen Bontempi-Orgel Experimente im Jazz Style hätten fast einen Verkehrsunfall verschuldet. Ich fand das Werk extrem nervig und vollends uninteressant sowie musikalisch sinnlos.

5/10. An alright jazz album to listen to

Chameleon - 4 Watermelon Man - 3 Sly - 2 Vein Melter - 3

Chameleon - 3.6 Watermelon man - 3.4 Sly - 3.3 Vein melter - 3.3 3.4

5/20/24 S Tier—————————5 A Tier—————————4 B Tier—————————3 Sly Chameleon Vein Melter Watermelon Man C Tier—————————2 D Tier—————————1

Headhunters by Herbie Hancock Monday 5/20/2024 2:00, office A Tier————————— Sly Chameleon Vein Melter B Tier————————— Watermelon Man

Fun musical ideas turned into whole journeys. Well ahead of its time and aside from everything else that was coming out around then, with the exception of maybe Brian Eno. Great way to start my morning with this album

Great listen.

Not his best album but so so cool.

Tons of fun. Not totally familiar with Herbies library, so this was a mostly new adventure.

I enjoyed this album immensely. I am not an expert on Jazz, Funk, etc., but It is impossible not respect the craftsmanship and craft on every musician involved on this album.

This album is fucking incredible. So damn groovy with some very proficient playing. Love the drums, Harvey Mason is fucking nuts!

I'm not a big fan of jazz, but I can acknowledge the beautiful artistry that is Herbie. This album slaps!

Jazz for the uninitiated

Yess had deze toevallig een tijdje geleden al ontdekt, heel nice Vooral ook voor zijn tijd erg funky en coole jazz

ja heel leuk album zeg, nooit geluisterd maar 4 bangers op 1 album, ik ghs hem nog wel een keer luisteren denk ik

Goodvibez only Deze man ademt ritme

cock. un jazz bastante interesante y divertido

Gracias 1001albumsgenerator, contribuyes a mi lista pomodore. Conocía de Herbie Hancock pero no había escuchado su música antes, entiendo la monumentalidad de su obra familiar

Funky, surprising

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> awesome album. funky jazz <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Sounds like I just listened to a man having sex with a trumpet for 45 minutes... intense.

Cool, funky jazz. I like the first song quite a bit, but I don’t think I listen to enough jazz to really appreciate this

Durisimo hermano 10/10 chameleon god

Perfectly funky and fun

The opening track “chameleon” is great!this is a great record and I wish I would have discovered it sooner.

Weer Jazz achtig dus weer drie sterren. Wel leuk, niet fantastisch

Funky, psychedelic, instrumental jazz that absolutely rips

Never loved this album much, but enjoyed it this time more than I expected.

No words I don’t like jazz Songs too long

Something this dated and smooth jazz like shouldn’t be this funky and good.

Did not enjoy this at all

Classic Setbreak

Cool original hard to beat 4.6

Super funky, bizarre. Can see it influencing a lot of music— especially Watermelon Man for the opening credits for The White Lotus.

secondo me alcune canzoni sotto sostanze stupefacenti ci potrebbero stare. Altre ce le vedrei bene in un locale blues di New Orleans

ho appena realizzato una cosa. mi piace il jazz. sono shook to the core.

Bel groove, però boh.

Voglio apprezzare il mix di strumenti ma la noia prevale nonostante duri relativamente poco

Nice sounds

When I was a kid, Rockit was my favorite music video. I can't even hear the song without seeing it. And that is all I knew of Herbie Hancock for a long time until I found out he was a very well respected jazz musician. This is the first time hearing one of his albums, which came out the year before I was born. For someone who doesn't love jazz, it's decent jazz. There were some annoying things like the (I think) slide whistle in Watermelon Man and the repetitive beat in Vein Melter. I liked the craziness of Sly. Overall, 3/5.

Pretty cool jazz and funk mixed together. Fun album to listen to.

With all due respect to people who enjoys this racket, this is almost unlistenable. 10 minute-long free jazz tracks has never been my idea of a good time, and it still isn't. The first track starts up nice with a decent main riff, but about a third into the neverending tune, the keys show up and destroy everything. It's not nice at all. The Watermelon song is just awful, making my ears beg for mercy. The third track has some periods of nice sounding melodies, but this time it's the saxophone's turn to make unpleasant sounds and ruin it all. The fourth and final track is mostly calm and soothing, but from time to time there are parts I absolutely hate, so it's a 2/10, which makes 1 star. Sorry

Chameleon: slaps, mayyybe a bit long tho, but it is justified by just how much of a jam it is. Gotta love the gradual increase of bpm in the first minutes Watermelon man: Weirdly unsettling, but middle part is a big jam

You have to be in the mood for fusion JAZZ.

Acid synths, bass loops, funky keys, soothing strings, singing woodwinds, tricky drums taking the listener on a walk, no questions asked.

I don’t listen to this jazz funk enough. Sounds like the most fun. Love it.

Good

01) Chameleon - 6,0 02) Watermelon Man - 6,5 03) Sly - 4,0 04) Vein Melter - 5,5 TOTAL: 5,50 (55/100) How refreshing is to see 4 songs on the album after the double album yesterday... On the other hand, it's jazz. Maybe funk can save it. Let's see... aaaand it can't. I still hate jazz.

Gets a little weird at times

The opening track Chameleon is pretty fun. They sort of sound like a jazzier version of Funkadelic. The bass part that comes in about 1/3 of the way through the track is sick. I usually don’t like songs that go on for 15 minutes, but this is a vibe the whole way through. Watermelon Man feels like the inspiration for the White Lotus theme song with the flute (which is apparently actually a beer bottle?! What??) and weird vocalizations. Maybe this is also where Andre 3000 drew his inspiration for his flute album? The sax is dope. This is another cool track that has a lot of different movements as it progresses. The last two songs are also good, but I didn't take notes on specifics. Really enjoyed this album, though. The songs are long, but they never get boring. And because they're instrumental you can listen while doing other things (or just fully enjoy listening). 5/5

I was excited when I first started this record playing, because I think there should be more instrumental music and so often good music is spoiled when an artist opens their mouth. However, my excitement was quickly turned into irritation by all the extra noises that were repeated throughout the album.

Jazz is definitely not usually my thing but I enjoyed this one. Good to have on in the background while working.

Mario Odyssey vibes… mostly Metro City for some reason

Funky

This album's four (yes, only four) tracks are the definition of Funk. I found the listening experience to be very invigorating, even though some of the wilder Jazz elements were running dangerously close of losing my interest. Still, I'm glad to get an album that really belongs on this list for a change. 4/5

There is no album better to listen to when you are about to listen to Miles Davis.

Pretty good, groundbreaking, but not my jam.

Favourite song chameleon

The grooviest of the groove to ever have grooved. Try to get Chameleon out of your head, I dare you.

Herbie and his hunters are after your head, and once they find it, they’re going to fill that cranium with the funkiest, grooviest, sweetest cerebral candy your mind’s ever tasted.

Herbie is fun as a hell. Who would’ve thought one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence could make such groovy jazz.

Groovy

2000s wii music is fire. i literally loved it. idk why i like this jazz but not the other stuff. actually sly lost me a little bit but overall really fun

My head was hunted

Great album

It's okay, but not even the best version of Watermelon Man, I'd say.

I am a big fan of the long funky jam. And this has 4! I knew Watermelon Man already but the rest were new to me. But none of them were as good. But it was a fun time on a nice warm spring day.

Rollo.

Awful stuff

off the charts musicality. Not 100% my vibe. Panera + CRACK = Headhunters by Herbie Hancock 1973

Not bad. Not my favorite. But I see where its place is on the list at least. 2.25

Funky, jazzy, bluesy. Broad array of influences. All the players can get it. Loved the funked-up version of Watermelon Man. Vein Melter is an underrated classic. Nice.

Herbie is Sly on this album. Like a Chameleon!

Yeah, this was pretty good.

One of my all time favorites of any genre. Funky, jazzy, everything you want from a great Herbie album.

Entspannter Jazz Funk fürs Wohnzimmer.

Great, actually

instrumental funkero lo he disfrutado y quiero tenerlo en mente para ponérmelo más

Love this album!! Love all of the different noises and instruments

I guess I'd say I struggled with this one, or at least found it challenging? Its definitely out of my wheelhouse. I've been aware of it, and its place in the music canon forever but never fully listened. I mainly just knew it as the album with Watermelon Man on it. Having now listened properly, I'd say its incredible but not quite my cup of tea. 5 stars cause I can't give it anything less, but not giving it an x/10 rating because I don't have my feelings on it sorted yet. A+ album cover

Couldn't get through it. I'm sure it's an important album and well regarded in it's genre but listening felt like a chore. Most bored I have been all week, and I had to watch the bachelor finale...

Funk genesis

This was a new experience for me. The only Herbie I had experienced before is Herbie: Fully Loaded. I was expecting this album to be conventional jazz (or what I consider to be conventional jazz) with a saxophone, piano, drums, and an upright bass. I was surprised to hear how electronic and funky it was. My musical palette is not well developed for this kind of album. I have a hard time listening actively, and it largely fades into (enjoyable) background noise. I liked what I heard, but I'd never put this on when I am trying to actually listen. I'd put it on as I do work, or have some atmosphere around my house. I liked Watermelon Man the most. Sly gave me anxiety. I know this album is not a 3 star album, but I'm going to give it a 6/10 purely based on my enjoyment. I am not a jazzman. 6/10

Good jazz funk album. No lyrics allows me to focus on the task at hand when doing other things. A great introductory album.

Favourite tracks: chameleon; watermelon man

41 minutes long and only 4 songs? This could be special. That said while the tracks are enjoyable enough there doesn’t seem to be a coherence that joins them together. As such, while I hate giving out 3* ratings as it’s the ‘meh’ score, that’s what this one’s going to get.

Well it started OK, but descended into too much jazz wankery for my tastes.

Loved it on my walk along the coastal path this morning. Jazz, funk and rock hands all going at once. A genius.

This album fused funk like elements into the famed herbie Hancock jazz. I liked the inclusion of what I think are synthesizers? Thus guy has a long career of pushing the genre and I would like to listen to more.

Meh I’ve grown into jazz, but evidently not this type of jazz. Too much fucking around here for me.

Funk jazz hybrid. *(More funk than jazz!) Engaging. 1st side better than second.

Herbs a dog but I’m not with the vibe.

Funky and fun. I enjoyed listening to this instrumental album.

Love this

A very pleasant groove

One of the very best. Love the early jazz/funk fusion. Wonderful layering. Beaut soundtrack for a summer’s evening.

Really great. Recognised some samples and influences in there as well

So good. Whenever I type the word “funky” this album should start playing. Although to be honest, I prefer Mongo Santamaria’s version of Watermelon Man (which I became familiar with thanks to the Out Of Sight soundtrack).

Now this is the stuff! A really nice way to wrap the week up, with some killer grooves. More of this on the list please.

I hadn’t heard this before. I liked it and may give it another listen sometime.

Nr. 154/1001 Chameleon 3/5 Watermelon Man 2/5 Sly 3/5 Vein Melter 2/5 Average: 2,5 Didn't really care for this album.

As someone who only knew about "Rockit" before listening, this was an amazing experience. Herbie takes you on an audible journey that goes through several movements, and the only time the mood got questionable was the first minute of "Watermelon Man". But even that track settles into a chill groove. This is not an album for everyone, given that it's instrumental jazz and the first track is 15 minutes. But if you have the stomach for that vibe it comes with a strong recommendation.

Droned on a bit and got boring, but overall enjoyable!

Mooie achtergrond

Had this on repeat, late 90s, teenager, was convinced I LOVED jazz. 25yrs later amd some big jazz records stay in my heavy rotation. However, it's come to light that I love Herbie Hancock and I just appreciate jazz. To me, the best music utilizes soundscapes. This is prevalent on most of Herbies early 70s work and on masterful display here.

I love Herbie Hancock as a concept. The same guy wrote the classic jazz standard Cantaloupe Island and the 80s electro pioneering Rockit. That's just mental. This should be two different guys. I did a bit of prep before listening as I don't know this record. Went back to Takin' Off for the original read of Watermelon Man a decade before this. Not much to say other than, astonishing. Jazz-funk, Sly Stone, yes. Probably one of the best albums new to me I've found via this book.

These rifs remind me of 1970s tv theme songs and backing tracks. I keep thinking of Buddy Ebson as Barnaby Jones wandering into a nightclub to investigate a case.

“Chameleon” has so many memorable melody lines.

Enjoyed this listen, good background music.

good time

Acid jazz hippie shit

Welcome to twang town. Very Starsky & Hutch (original series).

The streak continues. I was first introduced to the power of Herbie Hancock on In a Silent Way. And his electric piano work pushed that album to another level of perfection. So I was ready to embrace this record with open arms. Of course it didn’t disappoint. There really was no way it could. This is that sort of faster-paced rock influenced jazz fusion music that I really can’t ever get enough of. The way the opening track builds and each instrument gets added on, which eventually results in 15 minutes of near flawless jazz music. Or the woodwind intro of Watermelon Man. Or how Sly picks up the speed and is consistently moving forward at a break neck pace. I really love how this album paces and carries itself. Each element is so fine tuned, it sounds excellent, and it’s progressive in the movement of the instruments. With only four tracks, this is very close to being a near flawless jazz experience. But the last song brings it down slightly for me. The energy gets slightly less exciting. And while I’ll admit that it still sounds beautiful, it does dampen the mood a little bit too much for me. But even still, this is a marvelous piece of work. Even past the true golden age of jazz, Herbie proved that he doesn’t need those big names to find success. He was a pioneer of the post-bop style, led his own group, and created a masterpiece with them. Rating: 9/10

Seriously cool, funky 70’s jazz. Love the vibe!

Not unpleasant to listen to, but boring and uninteresting background noise. There are 4 hour long YouTube videos of logs burning which evoke a stronger emotional reaction.

A bit more funky than some the previous Jazz albums, didn’t mind it. Simpsons: Yes

An old school porn soundtrack for a Nintendo Wii game.

Its a product of its time. Its not bad but just not my jam. Would fit perfectly in to a 70s cops TV show.

Herbie slaps man. I've listened to some of his stuff but never really given him a fair listen. I've heard Mongo Santamaria's cover of Watermelon Man before and really enjoyed it this time round too. Sly really hit some jazzy notes for me that I was vibing. Vein Melter was alright, I liked the ending but the rest didn't hit for me. I love funk, I love jazz, why have I never listened to Herbie really before now??

Any album with 4 songs and it's 41 minutes and 34 seconds long makes me feel uncomfortable. And album with 15 songs and it's 20 minutes is the dream. It's okay. I hated watermelon man. Chameleon is okay and I can see Haris playing it. I want to like jazz (I believe this is jazz) but it's just quite difficult tbh. It slays that he's called Herbie though.

This album has been in my rotation for many years, getting 1-2 plays per year. It would be great if so many tracks weren't as repetitive, but it's still enjoyable! The final track, Vein Melter, starts off like a noir detective story set in the 70s, with tie dye patterns and bell bottoms, and it flows into the shape of an emotional drama, like Wuthering Heights. I dig it!

Uhhhh...yeah, this wasn't for me. I recognize the musical talent here, but I guess I'm just not a jazz guy.

More stars than are in the night sky. Magnificent. Everything I want in a record. Ordered a copy, immediately.

This is exactly what I needed right now!

Amazing experience, lovely background. Would listen again.

pre listening notes: i have heard of herbie hancock before but u honestly have no clue what i’m getting into. i like the album art, let’s go! Chameleon - funk! holy shit funk. i’m omw to work with a latte in hand already late and this song is making me want to call out. i can’t work with this juicy baseline and saxophone in my ear. y’all this song is 13 minutes long. this rips!! and then halfway through it changes to a. well i was going to say sounds like Louie Zong but then i looked into it and louie zong cites herbie hancock as being one of his biggest inspirations so i guess no one was fucking doing it like this! Watermelon Man - pretty much immediately a different vibe! there’s woodwinds here. flute and recorder and something else i’m not sure what it is? ahh but there’s that bass. this one was less hype to me than Chameleon but still very good! would def listen again Sly - aptly titled, this song feels sly. smooth and inquisitive. fuck i love the saxophone. where was this while i was studying at college?? looking for jazzy lofi beats. i didn’t know i was subconsciously searching for herbie. Vein Melter - much different vibe. more chilled out and laid back but still technically impressive and easy to listen to. although this album is only four songs, the range shown and the musicianship is literally mindblowing. once again, i find myself immensely grateful that i’m trying this 1001 album thing out because although sometimes i get frustrated (cough cough morrissey), sometimes i’m introduced to genius. 5/5

The album art looks like the little guy from Robots! Crazy that each song is 10min long. I don’t listen to much jazz, but I liked the techno aspect of the keys, that really saved this album for me. After so much dude rock, this album was refreshing. Good stuff!

I own this one. Worth price of admission for watermelon man, the song that put me onto this record. The rest is all pretty great too. My only gripe is it peaks too early. But totally something you can just lose yourself in or enjoy as a backdrop to studying, or making art.

This isn't something I would normally seek out, but I'm glad this is included on this list. An enjoyable listen of funky-jazz fusion instrumentals that is really worth hearing to. This has turned me on to more of his music, as long as it's upbeat, grooving and fun, which this definitely is!

some groovy tracks that i really enjoy on this, i’d love to go back to it again, i’d give it an 8 overall it was really great, nothing wrong with it.

I've listened to this album more times than I can remember. I'm not a jazz aficionado, and I don't think I ever will be. The genre is just too big, and I know so little about it. I know what sounds good to me, and this is one of my favorites. Although I prefer straight jazz fusion, the funky elements on this album carry an infectious happiness I cannot deny. I guess my tastes run more toward the mainstream. I dunno. All I know is this album gets everyone moving, no matter how much melanin may or may not be in your epidermis.

This is a very fun album, groove is off the charts. I don't know enough about jazz to critique is properly but I certainly enjoyed it. Album cover is awesome. Fav songs: - Chameleon - Watermelon Man

Songs are too long & too repetitive or just strange

Funky

I'm not a Funk guy, but I do like Jazz. I thought I wouldn't be into this, but here I am enjoying the eclectic and playful vibes.

Imagine my surprise when the first song comes on and I instantly recognize it. I guess that's what you get when you go to all your high school's jazz band concerts. Without a doubt Herbie Hancock has had extreme influence on jazz as we know it today and even though it's not my genre of choice I really enjoyed listening to this album

I was actually really enjoying this for the first 4 minutes of the album, but it really went downhill from there and i couldn't stand it for a lot of the rest. 1.5 stars

So I read some of the reviews for this album on this website before listening and I was expecting something life changing. Not the case. This funky jazz was fine, but not 5-star, MUST-HEAR great, as a lot of people have expressed. Some obviously talented musicians put these pieces together and it was worth a listen, but I wouldn't say I'd listen to it again.

I'm sure there's something genius going on, but it's lost on me

Relentless instrumental mastery.

yeah sure i get it, it's great, but it's not for me

This is a hard album for me to review because it is so far removed from what I usually enjoy. I can appreciate the musicianship and the influence it has had, especially in jazz fusion and funk, but as a listening experience it just does not connect with me. The extended instrumental passages and heavy keyboard focus feel repetitive, and with only four long tracks, it all starts to blur into one. It is the first album in this challenge where I genuinely considered stopping halfway through. That is not to say it lacks quality, but it simply is not for me. Favourite song: I honestly could not pick one Least favourite song: The overall sound feels too similar throughout Album artwork: Funky and striking. Easily the most immediately engaging part of the album for me

Will put it in my jazz playlist to give it a few more listens but not sure if I like it

Chill but not my vibe

I feel like I would have enjoyed this way more if marijuana was involved during listening.

The first 5 bars told me everything I needed to know. Boring Funk is fine, but the synth spoils it. It's not awful, but it's only one step up from that. It's a 2

Chameleon opens with a simple, funky bassline before overlapping waves of synths come in, almost overwhelming the listener, then retreating. The bass becomes more insistent and the synths softer. The clavinet (?) comes in and the drumming is intricate, then the bassline from the intro returns. Watermelon Man is shorter, with pan flutes creating a vibrant atmosphere. Sly stays closer to jazz, with a rapid tempo and very complex rhythm section. Vein Melter is calmer, with fragments of melody over a rhythm recalling a marching band. Incredibly dense and rewarding music.

Sounds like we’re on a good, late night jam session at Jes & Jon’s with some bad, tune-up jazz blended together. Also has a menagerie of sounds on a couple of numbers. (1.9*s)

Starts off good then tapers off, some interesting sounds and fusions going on throughout. Pretty easy to listen to, groovy but nothing super exciting. At least it's composed and not freeform, very 70's. Jazz and synth are hard to mix well so I'll give it that. I like the eclectic use of various drums. For perspective, if this were in my living room it'd be phenomenal.

Some funky muzak. I wouldn't mind grooving to this in an elevator or dentist office. Some songs could have been broken up into multiple instead of one long one. All in all a worthy listen but I won't be hunting the bins for it.

Started off groovy. Lost some of its luster by the end but overall some decent jazz fusion stuff. Definitely sounded like it was bridging genres and ahead of its time. Maybe not an everyday listen but works for background at work or while chilling. I dug the first half but was over it by the end. Been aware of Herbie Hancock for a while but don't think I've ever heard anything before. If this is what his other stuff sounds like I might check it out periodically. It sounds like he has assembled a handful of bands/projects over the years so not sure if that is the case. Either way glad I gave Head Hunters a listen. 2.30 stars

3.5

I liked how different this was, but it wasn't really my thing. Kept me interested though. 3/5

Not sure what all the hype is about on here? Impressive, sure, but boring for me. Don't want to have to listen to a 16 minute song ever, regardless of the genre etc. Really respect mateys discography and can tell he's a sound guy and very talented. Not for me though. 2/5

I don't hate it, but I didn't save any songs for later. andddd then I kind of ended up hating it...

Not for me.

fucking sick awesome amazing album!!! i really need to get more into jazz,, this seems like a good entry point for me. 9/10 fav track: watermelon man

Wonderful. Soooo good.

it’s giving elevator music

I had never hear dthis before and i can confidently say now that this album goes hard. And when i say hard i mean this album is unrelenting in it's funkyness. I was enthralled for the entire duration. Will listen to this on repeat for a week.

I don’t like this type of scale racing jazz Pretty cool for its time with the synths though

Busy

I like jazz, especially jazz like this

Cool, groovy, wild.

I thought this was really cool and wild, and I can’t believe Herbie played in the Miles Davis Quintet and is still alive and performing!!!

Very good ambient album. Felt like I was in an elevator

Not for me.

Amazing how much mileage Herbie Hancock got out of the opening riff on Chameleon. These guys are master improvisers, but I find the lack of melodic motifs, and unending improvising is fatigue inducing. I appreciate the creativity, but I can't imagine any circumstance where I would want to play the entire album.

Groovy!! How did I not know Herbie Hancock is from Chicago? Cool cat and a very smart dude. Even though this wouldn't one of my desert island picks, I love the creativity and experimentation on this record. After it played on Spotify, the algorithm thought I'd like the Budos Band, and the algorithm was right! Much more accessible than Herbie and super cool! https://open.spotify.com/album/7Gu0cy8nMC6Uk10PsdAHXd?si=IQ_JUYZJRNW0uOrkh3Mqqw

Loved the three tracks other than Watermelon Man, but I think I'll listen to this again often.

I guess the musicianship is good but I find it tedious.

Not to my taste

I have not heard of this album before. Not the biggest fan of jazz and it was especially bad because all of the songs on this album were very long. Will not listen again.

Echt nice

First track - It's very pleasant to listen to, perhaps in the background, but nothing really stands out. Second track - the scat singing or flute, or whatever that is in the beginning, is amazing. The way this track progresses puts a smile on my face. Third track - and we're back to the merely-pleasant background music. I love the way it speeds up and become almost chaotic a minute or two in, though. It screeches like a beast! Fourth track - Doesn't live up to it's name XD. Some devastating keyboard sounds but nothing more to it than that. Overall - I see the appeal, but it's not my thing.

Still sounds so hip and funky fresh!

Nicht mein Geschmack.

An album like this is exactly why I'm on this 1001 album journey. I never would have listened to this otherwise - while I know who Herbie Hancock is, I just never felt the need to give him a listen. I'm very glad to have heard it now, though! Great music for a morning at home or a study session. I know this came well before Cowboy Bebop, but it's like I just found a long-lost soundtrack from that show in the best way. 5/5

Jazz fusion. Herbie Hancock is one of the seminal figures in 20th century jazz, having played with almost all the greats at one time or another. This record is another of his many attempts to fuse different styles, adding a heavy dose of funk to the jazz instrumentation. The quality of the musicianship is never in doubt with Hancock, and it isn't here. I only knew Watermelon Man before listening to this record but Chameleon is my favorite track here. It's all very chill and fun to listen to.

Beginning

Good by feels dated.

I am a big HH fan. His early stuff (Maiden Voyage and Empyrean Isles) are all-time favorites. After his avant garde period he descended into fusion. HH is the best of that period 4 Stars

Love this album. Herbie Hancock's entrance into a funk and it's a classic!

Music for boring porno flicks set in department store elevators.

Started off fine, but just became boring. Songs are too long and start becoming unlistenable.

I totally thought this was going to be another boring prog rock album once I saw the 40 minute, 4 song lineup but was pleasantly surprised when it turned out to be funky jazz. The first track was great, I thought the second one was annoying but my gf loved it because “the start is what her inner monologue sounds like”, and the latter two were both fine but didn’t quite keep the momentum going and bordered on being too much for me.

Good but cant take that type of music for 40 minutes

Interesting listen. Really not my cup of tea....but it was okay.

джазовые треки клёвые, фанковые вообще не зашли, в среднем норм)

Honestly this album is what I hear in my head when I think about jazz and funk together. It's great. Jazzy and funky. 8/10

Originally only knew this guy from his song Rockit which is very different from this album. It started off strong but ended poorly

Watermelon Man kannte ich aus der Bruce Lee-Verarsche.. Ansonsten insgesamt etwas aufwühlend und nichts , was ich noch häufiger hören muss.

- Herbie Hancock ist eine absolute Legende, ein krankes Musikgenie und ein geiler Typ - Das hier war mir zu hoch Rating: 2/3

- Der Typ ist ein Genie und ein Jahrhunderttalent. Der durchbricht Genres, bläht Jazz bis zur Unkenntlichkeit auf und nebenbei auch noch ein Virtuose am Instrument - Die Platte war einfach zu krass und komplex für mich. Ich hatte permanent das Gefühl, abgehängt zu werden. Vom Tempo, von den Melodien, von den Strukturen, von den Rhythmen, von allem. Wie ein Kind im Autoscooter, was nicht an die Pedale rankommt und alle anderen schwirren und drehen um es herum. Das Kind kann nur zugucken und hin und wieder gerammt werden. - Einige Parts fand ich ganz gut aber die waren dann auch viel zu schnell wieder vorbei - Ein Album, wo die Erfahrung echt cool war, was ich mir aber nie wieder anschmeißen werde 2/5

Musste mich etwas zwingen, mich darauf einzulassen. Bis auf wenige Parts in "Sly", die mir gehörige auf den Sack gingen, fand ich es aber durchaus solide. Nochmal werde ich es aber wahrscheinlich nicht hören.

The legendary Herbie steps away from his traditional roots and embraces fusion jazz with a full on bear hug. What we didn't expect is that he would play it like he's been doing it all his life. This is a wonder of an album that ages like a great pair of jeans. Step in to the comfort.

In a nutshell: Herbie succeeded in meeting the brief. Didn't know that Herbie Hancock dabbled in funk. Up until now I identified Hancock with jazz and their standards. I like that he experimented with different sounds in Head Hunters. Fusing two or more genres can ordinarily lead to a half baked album. Not this one. It feels light and thoughtfully composed. Hancock wanted it to be ‘tethered’. In his words “… I was beginning to feel that we (the Mwandishi sextet) were playing this heavy kind of music, and I was tired of everything being heavy. I wanted to play something lighter.” Mission accomplished, Herbie. Well done. Overall: 7/10

Funky! Loved it.

One of the greats. Watermelon Man is a masterpiece.

Pretty good!

Well, it's not my type. Anyway, I fully understand it's value and importance.. Herbie Hancock surely was/is very innovative ;-)

"Head Hunters" by Herbie Hancock, released in 1973, is a groundbreaking album that blends jazz, funk, and electronic music in a way that was ahead of its time. The album's opening track, "Chameleon," is a jazz-funk masterpiece that features a hypnotic bassline and innovative use of synthesizers. Other tracks, like "Watermelon Man" and "Sly," showcase Hancock's ability to create infectious grooves that keep the listener engaged from start to finish. What sets "Head Hunters" apart is its accessibility. While it is undeniably a jazz album, its funky rhythms and catchy melodies make it appealing to a wide audience. It's no wonder that "Head Hunters" became one of the best-selling jazz albums of all time. Overall, "Head Hunters" earns a 4/5 rating for its innovative sound, memorable compositions, and timeless appeal.

Weird time for Jazz. Groovy for sure but not sure if I want it to be jazzier or funkier.

Jazz, flott, 1973 -> 3

Banger of an album. Chameleon goes so hard. Watermelon Man slaps even harder.

Herbie Hancock is an inspired keyboard player, with an extensive career in jazz, funk, fusion, and electronic music. Head Hunters was a breakthrough album for him, which brought his jazz/funk fusion to mainstream audiences. The album includes four long tracks, which wind through composition that sound as if they arose out of improvisation session. The songs are centered on Hancock's impressive keyboard work, and he's supported by a talented jazz band. These are interesting tracks, like "Chameleon" and "Watermelon Man," and makes for a good album, but perhaps not a great album.

Enjoyable, surprisingly short.

I want this on vinyl. Not at all what I expected but find myself dancing through the house to this one. It's a good early morning album

Beautifully funky, chill, and calming while being full of energy and unique spunk. A tad repetitive, so one song at a time is fine. No mistakes; full tiki bar friday night in turks and cacos vibes 4ever.

I got a lot of homework done with this album!

Á erfitt með að gera upp við mig. Ekkert geggjað sérstakt en á sína spretti. Vil gefa meiri athygli

Deceptively casual, nonchalantly great, yet two listens felt enough for the day.

This went a lot harder than expected. I was naively looking forward to a pleasant rendition of Watermelon Man but got the full Jazz Odyssey in its place. Entertaining, but quite a spooky accompaniment to working late into the night alone in an empty office. Weird noises and some unpredictable banging high in the mix. Not sure I'd rush to listen again in different circumstances, but I can feel the quality

What a weird album, but honestly I super loved this. Not sure about the vocalizations but everything else is A++. Favorite song: Chameleon

Dit album is best ziek, vooral als je ziet dat ie afkomstig is uit 1973, wat lijkt als lichtjaren verwijderd van het heden. De plaat is aardig groundbreaking als het gaat om de toevoeging van synthesizers bij jazz. Deze toevoeging zorgt in dit album voor twee funky nummers die enorm strak in elkaar steken (Chameleon & Sly). De andere twee nummers (Watermelon Man & Vein Melter) bieden wat meer atmosferische, hypnotiserende geluiden. Highlight: Watermelon Man. De rimboegeluiden in het begin en eind van het nummer wordt aangevuld met heerlijke bluesy laid back sounds. Deze was niet zo revolutionair als bijvoorbeeld Chameleon of Sly als het gaat om de toevoeging van dikke synths. Maar toch mijn persoonlijke favoriet. Rating: 8/10

Nog lichtelijk comateus na deze funk overdose, probeer ik toch een stukje te typen. Om te beginnen, soms heb je van die albums die klinken zoals de hoes eruit ziet. Deze cover art bereidt je voor op een perfect afgewogen lading buitenaardse funk. Herbie en de rest van de koppensnellers zijn allemaal in de vorm van hun leven, waar niet over valt te twisten als je het openingsnummer hoort. Die bass line is als een levensader door alle jazz rap die een decennium later pas volgde. Sterker nog, de gehele compositie zou als een bijbel hebben gediend voor groepen als A Tribe Called Quest, Jungle Brothers en De La Soul. Ik snap dat jazz niet ieders cup of tea is, maar als je deze groove niet rechtstreeks door je poriën opneemt dan is er iets goed mis. Door zo groots te beginnen schrijf je je eigen doodsvonnis al bijna als jazz band, hoe ga je het nu nog interessant houden voor de gemiddelde luisteraar? De re-imagination van Herbie's classic 'Watermelon Man' houdt zich uitstekend staande. En de spacende flow sust mij nog iets dieper in m'n funk-coma. Een tip voor de mensen die een hond hebben: zet hem eens op in het bijzijn van je viervoeter. De hond bij m'n ouders geeft nooit ene fuck om welke muziek dan ook, tot dat die eigenaardige tribal fluitjes - hoogstwaarschijnlijk geproduceerd door een echte kannibalenstam - door de speakers blazen. Dan verlaat de geest van je huisdier z'n lichaam, en wordt het reptielenbrein maximaal getriggerd. En ook die van mij, kan er geen genoeg van krijgen. Bij 'Sly' wordt de spaceshuttle echt gelanceerd, en belanden we in een 10-minuten lange free-jazz trip. Ik waardeer de wat subtielere grooves op deze plaat meer, maar deze adrenaline rush is een schoolvoorbeeld van hoe je een album dus wél interessant houdt nadat je al je kruid al verschoten leek te hebben bij een legendarische opener. Het slotstuk met de toepasselijke naam 'Vein Melter' zorgt ervoor dat we weer veilig op aarde belanden. Het nummer geeft je overprikkelde zenuwcentrum de ruimte om tot rust kan komen, ondanks dat er af en toe nog een buitenaards geluid langs dwaalt waar je toch weer even paranoïde van wordt. De angst om weer terug het luchtruim ingeschoten te worden is nooit ver weg. Toch is deze come down ietwat onbevredigend, en voelt hij een beetje leeg aan. Maar al met al overheerst het vakmanschap van deze gasten. Elk lid was on top of his game tijdens deze sessie, en elk instrument kreeg de ruimte om te schitteren. De kracht van dit album ligt hem wat mij betreft grotendeels in deze balans, waar 40 minuten ook een ideale dosis jazz-funk is zonder dat de vreemde geluidjes, abrupte tempowisselingen, en zélfs de dominante bass lines gingen irriteren of vervelen. 9/10 Highlights: Chameleon Watermelon Man

Al de hele dag loop ik Watermelon Man te fluiten, nog voor ik maar één toon van het album geluisterd heb. Blijkt het uiteraard niet de versie te zijn op Head Hunters, maar die van zijn debuutplaat. Dat is even bijkomen. Head Hunters is natuurlijk een masterpiece van de fusion van jazz en funk. En hoe dat klinkt hoe je perfect in het verschil tussen beide "Watermelon Mannen". Al stoor ik me aan het gefluit op dat bierflesje, dat had Herbie achterwege mogen laten. Hoe dan ook is Head Hunters is heerlijke luistersessie met opener Chameleon als hoogtepunt. Shout-out naar Sly Stone voor de #inspiration. Highlights: Chameleon Sly

goat music. fun, funny, groovy. I love music and these instruments

Fun, but long and a little repetitive

Legend.

henti þessu á þegar ég var að elda. Game changer að hafa djass í eldhúsinu. 3.5/5.0

Herbie alltaf grúví.

It’s Herbie Hancock, the guy’s a legend for a reason. So even if you don’t like it you can appreciate it. I was surprised I knew one of the tunes even, somehow. It’s not my bag, but hey, it’s Herbie.

No notes. Those are my notes, no notes. you get it? Like, these aren't here to provide notes on the album because I have nothing to say that could possibly inform on something so magnanimously awesome

If you're looking for a prog funk-jazz fusion, this is probably the place. Chameleon is funky, fun, and certainly is the most accessible; the album seems to get more esoteric and experimental as it goes on. "Watermelon Man" is a bit of a jarring transition with its African inspired intro, but it settles into a much more western vibe that honestly wouldn't be out of place in the background of Peanuts special. I'd bet money "Sly", or at least a section of it, has been used over an extended Blaxploitation chase scene. "Vein Melter" has more of an X-rated cartoon scenery vibe, but both are very much 70s time pieces. Oddly, I hear some echoes of Nobuo Uematsu's FF6 in some of these pieces, maybe he is a fan? Head Hunters is a cool album with virtuosic instrumental displays, but for me there's not a lot to come back for either.

this slaps

Shit bangs. Chameleon slaps. 9/10

Herbie is amazing, a provocative combination of Isaac Hayes and Myles Davis. Head Hunters, his most famous work, was ahead of his time. With an electronic vibe and funky rhythms, Herbie delivered an infectious album that is still venerated 50 years after. Mandatory listen

Wow. This is not music. This is torture.

Good background music

I have listened to other albums of Herbie Hancock, but this was the first time I have heard this one. I enjoyed it. Very energetic. I could tell it was HH right away. Same familiar sounds and vibe.

Weird. In a positive way.

One of the quintessential jazz-funk fusion albums. I like a lot of funk and I can do some jazz, so I enjoyed this. The tracks are long and super jammy and they clearly know their way around their instruments. This type of album is really unlikely to reach a 4 or 5 from me, but it's a solid 3 that I could see throwing on for chill vibes. Highlights - I dunno man, it might as well have been 1 super sized track for me.

This was a soothing album to listen to and made for some great background music. I appreciated the 'jamminess' of it.

Cooltrea

Very fun album.

Liked the good elevator music portions, some of it was not up my alley don't really know anything about jazz, should listen to some more

4 nummers, duurt 41 minuten! Interessant album wat een beetje het midden houdt tussen jazz en funk naar mijn mening. De nummers duren ontzettend lang en dat kan een nadeel zijn Maar tering wat funkt dit hard zeg. Het is chaotisch, het is jazzy, het is funky. Dit is wel echt behoorlijk alles waar ik op hoopte toen ik een Herbie Hancock album zag. Vein Melter is echt een prachtig einde en een goede titel! Ik ga dit album hierna nog een keer luisteren denk ik. Dit album doet voor mij wat Kind Of Blue ook deed, ik wilde meteen meer en meer en heb sindsdien dat album echt vaker geluisterd. Fuck it, 5 sterren! FAVO: Chameleon, Watermelon man, Sly, Vein Melter

Ewww

Badd azzz!!!

I like Herb

Pure Dan Jazz, listened again this morning.

Absolute perfection. Chameleon is my favorite track ever. This album cover is on my favorite T-shirt.