Head Hunters

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

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

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

My head was hunted

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

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

Funk genesis

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.

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

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.

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!

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

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.

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.

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 like jazz, especially jazz like this

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

Echt nice

Still sounds so hip and funky fresh!

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

Beginning

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

One of the greats. Watermelon Man is a masterpiece.

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

I got a lot of homework done with this album!

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

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

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

Legend.

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

this slaps

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.

Very fun album.

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

Badd azzz!!!

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

Wow!!!!

Absolute banger. Watermelon man is a 10/10

This one is an instant 5* album for me. I'm a big fusion fan and this is such a big record that I've been familiar with since childhood. Everything about is is fantastic: the strong rhythms, exploratory solos and developing arrangements that stay funky all the way through. All of the musicians on the record are superb but Harvey Mason's drums stand out for me - I would love to be able to play like him. Love it.

Proving that Funky can be Fun, Head Hunters is one of the great Jazz albums ever. Peaking at #13 on the Billboard 200 (in 1974), it had great crossover success, and is one of the top selling jazz albums of all time. Wikipedia says it was “Among the defining moments of the [then] emerging jazz fusion and jazz-funk movements…” That pretty well sums it up. I own this album, am quite familiar with it. I’d certainly recommend it to anyone interested in classic Jazz, fusion or funk It is an easy 4.5/5, in this case I’ll round up because of its significance. 5

Absolutely phenomenal thank

Man have I been lucky this week. The Police's "Reggatta De Blanc," Muddy Waters's "At Newport 1960," and now this. What is there to say about Herbie Hancock that hasn't already been said? This feels like an album that absolutely belongs on this list not simply because it's popular, but because of its influence. This album *needed* to be on this list. If you have any interest in funk, soul, jazz, or hip-hop (especially old school hip-hop), you will like this album not just because it's an absolute joy to listen to, but because it went on to influence all of those genres. It's only 4 tracks, but man is there so much funky soul, so much attitude, so much precision and confidence packed into them. The synth work in this is exceptional. He uses it as an instrument and not as a gimmick or something just to add layers. And rhythm section is absolutely in lockstep. He really assembled such an excellent group of musicians for this one. This is one I would want to own a physical copy of. This is one I'll have on repeat for a while. Standout tracks (even though there's only 4): Chameleon, Watermelon Man, Sly (though the fading heartbeat-like bass drum at the end of Vein Melter almost makes it a standout)

For someone who doesn’t listen to much jazz or funk, this is the best jazz-funk record I’ve ever heard.

Extremely groovy. Great look at the mixture of funk and mod.

I listened to this for a week straight when a trusted friend first introduced me. He said I would love it, and sure enough I did. I remember playing it one afternoon at a stoplight and the gentleman next to me motioning to roll the window down, and proceeded to tell me about seeing Herbie and how it changed his life. So glad to have been introduced to it myself!

fucking groovy

5/5 already know and love

Listened to this one a LOT when growing up. It was influential. Even covered Chameleon in a ska band I was in. Revolutionary in the use of synth.

Easy. Vibin' and boppin' here. (Made me peak at the 1001 to see whether my jazzfusionrock favourite is on there and now all is good.)

Sooooo groovy!

I like it! Good for stimulating background music at dinner.

This is one of the first albums I heard on Ian's McIntosh system and it was amazing. I also met Herbie Hancock at Sound Warehouse and had him sign my hand LOLOL

Great album. I’ll listen to anything Herbie Hancock.

Extremely funky jazz. For what it is, it's basically perfect.

Repetitive but interesting.

Nice upbeat Jazz, really fun to listen to

“It’s a mixture of Jazz and Funk. It’s called Junk” Chameleon is an absolute bop Watermelon Man is weird but I do like it The rest of the album is dope

I enjoyed the album Head Hunters. I am motivated to listen to more of Herbie Hancock’s music. What a musical genius!

Wonderful listen. Was fortunate to see Herbie not too long ago and can’t believe he is still touring.

Absolute classic.

Great - Chameleon and Watermelon Man are 2 of the greatest Jazz Funk tracks ever

Absolutely awesome album. This band reminds me so much of my favorite group, Snarky Puppy, and it's clear to see them as an influence to fusion jazz pieces everywhere. Incredible stuff.

A vibe.

A ride to funk ville

Sublime and fun Jazz/Funk record. Short and sweet even though it has 15 min songs. Gotta love Herbie.

Absolutely groovy, lots of interesting sounds, a gem of its kind. Though it's an album whose musics are a bit long for today's standards (10' on average), so it has to be adequately ingested in order to fully enjoy it.

Wow. This was incredible. Loved all of this. So fun and delightful.

JAZZ

The musicianship on this album is incredible; the drumming is so tight, the bass locks into the groove. The keyboard solo 12 mins into Chameleon is excellent.

Good stuff

Each of the tracks has pretty impressive creativity - going from the funky acid bassline over a funky breakbeat on Chameleon to the hectic psychedelic saxophone solo over a perfectly metered cacophony of hand drums, breakbeat drums, and syncopated organ hits on Sly. Then you've got the off-kilter flute melodies on Watermelon and the march like feel on Vein Melter - pretty impressive on a 4 song album.

Fantastic album. Really funky and accessible Jazz.

Just wow

Watermelon man and Chameleon

This is definitely a bit of me. Love the jazz funk fusion, and also whatever the fuck was happening on track two. Best new album of the game so far.

Soulful, funky, fun. Great for a party background.

magnificent

4.75

Great album

Quite odd for the last track off Head Hunters to be called Vein Melter because this album, as a whole, should be called Face Melter. It feels quite appropriate for this to be the breakthrough for Herbie Hancock after a little over a decade of toiling under the likes of Miles Davis and putting out slivers of greatness in between (the Mwandishi albums in particular), for Head Hunters arrived at the right place at the right time. It proved that, no matter how jazz was perceived in the music world back in the 70s, it could still be on the cutting edge and the pinnacle of innovation and evolution. Fifty years later, it's still seen as such.

jazz and good fucking bass with some weird effects. Catchy themes.

8:30 into Chameleon - the synth/keys that join are so nice. Watermelon Man groove is delicious. Sly is my least favourite track, but still pleasant. Vein Melter is a woozy way to end it. 4.6/5

Da funk right here. Keeping this one, it’s like Herbie’s Bitches’ Brew (kinda).

An all time classic of the genre

Truly a classic and a great introduction to jazz fusion. Chameleon and Watermelon Man are so groovy. Easy 5 stars.

Reply good!

Rating: 10/10 Masterpiece. I normally dislike jazz, but this album is something really special. A mix of jazz and funk mostly, it is incredibly groovy, virtuosic, and creative, combining technical ability with fantastic songwriting. Each song feels like a progressive journey and is never for a second boring. The songs are all very long but none of them overstay their welcome, it's truly a pleasure listening to every second of this album. I did not love a part of Sway and Watermelon Man but I loved literally everything else about this album.

star reviews suck

Oh fuck yes!

Funk and groove from the opening track. Great listen.

Classic exploratory jazz

love

Love Jazz, and Herbie is a legend, tho I have never listened until now! It sounds so fresh, even tho it is 50 years old! 28/10/2023

Very fun, poppy, jazzy. Loved this

Perfect for a weird afternoon.

Great album overall, first 3 tracks set the tone for the entire album! Was even better seeing it live in person

Loved it. Love jazz.

Funky, patient, formative

A++ Jazz Funk

Grooves jazz funk soutenus toujours en dialogue avec les différents instruments. De la bonne vibe à l’infini.

Album très impressionnant, mélangeant le jazz, le big band, le funk et l'électro. Très "forward-thinking" et audacieux. J'adore la sonorité étrangement "jungle" de Watermelon Man, qui lentement se construit pour devenir une pièce jazz complexe et nuancée. À écouter avec de bons écouteurs pour en profiter pleinement!!

Expected this to be way more classic Jazz and way less psychedelic then it turned out to be - happy on both accounts. Chameleon starts and ends with the same bass line but everything in between that is straight jazz funk chaos (in the best possible way), so good how they sit you straight back down into the intro bass line (albeit now at a way faster tempo then where you started at 14 minutes ago) to see you out the door. Watermelon Man is particularly excellent, starts off with super dissonant and spooky pan flute (big White Lotus energy), drops in a sweet guitar lick, goes full cruise mode for a while then AGAIN brings you all the way back to the intro, as if the whole middle section's purpose was to explain why the pan flute was at the party in the first place.

Really enjoyed this album. Wasn't sure what to expect, but especially track 1 was great.

10/10 Herbie Hancock has gotta be one of my all-time favorite musicians his interpretation of jazz is so legendary and sets itself apart from all other musicians

Have always loved this album since the first time I heard it at age 19/20. Unforgettable first two tracks. Unsure about track three, but track four is surprisingly beautiful.

The proto EDM of Chameleon makes an initial impact. There’s a jittery, nervous energy to side 1 that I found anxiety inducing. The anxiety is resolved about 2 minutes into Sly at the start of side 2. The two halves complement each other perfectly. It's also got a great album cover. Favourite track: Sly.

Played Chameleon in hs jazz band

There's nothing new to be said about Head Hunters - it's a perfect, groundbreaking album. What impresses me is how easily HH and his ensemble lure you into the jazz-funk world with the build ups. Halfway through a track like 'Sly' you don't even stop and wonder how it all evolved into this funky, polyrhythmic, cacophonic beast.

An unbelievable line-up on an equally unbelievable jazz record. There’s really not a bad second on this legendary piece of work.

Starts catchy and gets better and better from there.

This is some wack prog jazz. Love it.

I've listened to this album at least 100 times. We played Chameleon in high school jazz band and I loved that bass riff so much. My friends hated Watermelon Man when I played it, but I think it's a banger. I like Thrust better, but this is still a masterpiece.

une légende

Amazing funk jazz fusion

Quirky and upbeat. Deep jams, good vibes.

I love this album.

Hot shit that’s good stuff. This is the jazz I want to hear. Hell yes.

Loved this

Excellent album I am familiar with

Great jazz classic, for good reason

Amazing have on cd <3

Brilliant! This album grooves like no other. "Watermelon Man" is one of the great instrumental songs of all time. I just saw Herbie live 5 days ago, and he is still amazing. Closed the show with "Chameleon", and overall was just wonderful. 5/5 One of my favorites

mmmmmmmmmmm jazzy

so good

Un disco increíble

no words are needed. amazing album. full of funky, fresh synthy jazz.

One of those records that immediately transforms you the moment you listen to it. Everything is beautiful, the instruments, the bass tone, the synthesizers and effects, the fucking drums! The level of feelin' is beyond this world. Simply amazing, immediately makes you smile

Most of the "big" albums on this list, I've already heard. This one had somehow passed me by; though I was very aware of the album, I'd never given it a full listen. Wow. I can't believe I missed out on this. I can't tell if it's funky jazz or jazzy funk, but goddamn does it ever slap!

"Head Hunters" is the twelve studio album by American pianist, keyboardist and composer Herbie Hancock. Jazz-funk fusion! Yep, in the highest order, pretty much the defining moment of. Hancock was looking for a new direction from his previous three albums, something lighter. No guitars were used, instead a Hohner Clavinet and funky grooves. Hancock brought in three new musicians (Paul Jackson-bassist, Bill Summers-percussionist, Harvey Mason-drums) alongside saxophonist Bennie Maupin who were collectively known as the Headhunters. The album was a commericial breakthrough for jazz-funk reaching #13 in the US. In 2007, the Library of Congress inducted this album into the National Recording Registry for its artistic significance. "Chameleon" opens the four-track album. A synth bassline, a bass with a guitar riff, drums and a funky groove. There's elements of both jazz and funk here. Weird keys come in sounding like outer space. Halfway through, there's a bass solo then jazzy piano, a dreamy alto sax and back to the initial bassline. "Watermelon Man" is a song reworked from Hancock's hard bop days. Bill Summer's memorable open includes beer bottles, a pennywhistle, shakere and handclaps. The bassline is quite originial and now the keys sound like a guitar. A horn....jazzy. "Sly" is dedicated to Sly Stone. This song is all over the place in a good way. By the way, the pace consistently picks up throughout this song. A more jazzy open. A funky synth. Maupin's sax solo. Hancock's piano solo. The album closer "Vein Melter" is a psalm for a friend's death due to a heroin overdose. It's slower and more jazzy especially with the sax. Keyboards driving the melody with an underlying piano. This album is the perfect mesh of jazz-funk, intimate yet laid back and groovy. There's improvisation, yet structured with the rhythmic structure. It is not only one of, if not the, best fusion album I've heard but also jazz and just overall albums. An album everyone needs to listen to.

What I love about Hancock is that he saw the advent of synthesizers and instead of being a purist about jazz, he recognized its worth and made it work.

Soundscape

So great and important

Wow. 4 tracks at roughly ten minutes each. Serving up some of the smoothest, funkiest grooves I've heard in a long time. I'd heard of Herbie but don't think we have had a chance to listen yet. This was his "essential" album on Apple Music and I can see why. This one is an instant classic for me. Listened again before bed and it’s confined.

Man, the sigh of relief I breathed when I saw this pop up. Herbie, the LEGEND, one of my favorite jazz albums (if you can really call it jazz). It's more of a fusion with funk elements, and that's what makes it so appealing to me. The first two tracks are fantastic. "Watermelon Man" is one of my favorite things ever, that flute or whatever at the core of the track is so memorable. There's a great Rapsody track called "Whoopi" that samples this song, it just made this one even more classic to me. Of course, with only four tracks, there's a lot of time on each to sink your teeth in. The second half of the album isn't as strong, but how could it be? This is a five star, there's no way around it. I'd be surprised if we get another project from Herbie on here, but if anyone's reading this, know that this is also the man who would make "Rockit," which you've probably heard at some point. He's goated. Favorite tracks: Watermelon Man, Chameleon, Sly, Vein Melter (in that order). Album art: Classic, classic, iconic. Fantastic use of color contrast, and what even is on this man's head? It's some kind of robotic head with knob eyes and a meter for a smile. I hope they found the head they were hunting for. 5/5

всё понравилось особенно трек с тревожкой

Very peculiar piece of art, tho might be too long to listen to. It is quite gradual which means the melody develops as we listen to it. Sounding's quite pleasant with jazzy fragments and a spice to it

5*

Oh yeah baby, Jazz from another dimension, quality cererbral pudding for the soul!

One of my favorite albums of all time. Used to play Chameleon and Watermelon Man in jazz band almost every year. We didnt even come close to doing it justice. I also feel like its pretty accessible for those not super well versed in jazz? I dont know how anyone couldnt love it.

Did jazz funk start here or with Miles Davis? Does it really matter. This brough the fusion to the mainstream (and at one time was the best-selling jazz album ever). This was not only jazz, but the emphasis on the groove seamlessly brought in elements of funk, soul, and had an indelible mark on hip-hop decades later. Essential listening.

This was great. Funky, exploratory and fun. This list has been a massive influence on a ton of artists.

When people think of jazz fusion, the first thing that usually pops into their heads is ‘Bitches Brew’ and this. However, where ‘Bitches Brew’ is dense and thick as molasses, ‘Head Hunters’ is funky and accessible. It’s a jazz album with the rhythms of soul, funk, and r&b coursing through its veins, giving it maximum mass appeal, and it still sounds fresh and essential today. As an entry point into the world of jazz fusion it’s a no brainer.

Redefined Funk

Instrumental funk always good

One of the coolest jazz albums of all time and a personal favorite. I should keep this in mind when people ask for recommendations on how to get into jazz. The funky style makes the album very accessible and there are some memorable, catchy hooks. I feel like Herbie Hancock and his band set out to make music that sounded like it was from the future. It still sounds like that decades after its release. When I start new writing projects, I like to assemble a playlist of a few albums that will match the tone and style of what I’m writing. Then whenever I sit down to write, I listen to those albums and it helps me slip back into the project each day. Earlier this year I wrote a wild and experimental animated feature (first time I ever wrote with animation in mind) and “Head Hunters” was on the playlist. It always helped me enter the strange, weird world I was inventing in the script.

Fun, chill, vibed out, funky, future-thinking. Awesome. Best song: Chameleon

I was 10 years old and saw the music video for Rock It... 🤯. I got Future Shock on cassette through one of those mail order clubs (Columbia?). Preteen me was obsessed. All these years, it never occurred to me that there was Herbie Hancock before Future Shock. Tonight, Herbie Hancock blew my mind for a second time in my life. This album is insane and I can't believe Herbie's been grooving and funking like this for two decades earlier than I imagined. 🤯 Oh, and judging this album by the cover, I was gonna play this was soon as I saw it. No need to even know it was Herbie Hancock. That face!

Chameleon and Watermelon Man are two of my all time favorite jazz/funk songs. The final two tracks are forgettable. But half the album is legendary, so this gets 5 stars

15 minute track and it stays fresh? *tasting sound* That's a 10.

Life-changing jazz funk—Watermelon Man is the reason I played/listen to jazz, and without jazz in high school I seriously doubt I would care about music anywhere near as much as I do now Favorite Tracks: Watermelon Man, Chameleon, Sly 4.5-5/5

Great jazz album, Herbie Hancock is a legend

Awesome

Exactly the kind of album I hoped this project would bring me - I did not anticipate enjoying spacey jazz-fusion instrumentals this much but here we are. I loved this slice of weirdness.

Classic funky jazz

1. “Chameleon” 🔥 2. “Watermelon Man” 💎 3. “Sly” 🔥 4. “Vein Melter” 😃 Overall rating: 💎🏆 Classic meter: 💮💮💮💮💮

Jazz funk. 5/5.

As smooth as you like.

This was a really good album and I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed it. I would give it five stars but the final track is a bit of a downer and wasn't my favorite. Otherwise, I enjoyed this.

Funkadelic!

Un disco de funk-jazz muy bien nivelado. Para ser instrumental y de esa época tiene demasiados detalles constantes e incentivos que hacen que no se pierda la oreja y termines aburriéndote. El juego percutivo de la guitarra y la bateria en sí logran ser vitales para el desarrollo de los solos psicodélicos de un órgano que quien sabe como quedan bien. Este instrumento también le actúa en diferentes ocasiones como percusión y aporta a solo hermosas de saxofón o de algun viento expléndido que es lo que más destaco del disco. La capacidad de experimentar con silencios, sonidos paralelos en los tracks y voces se convierten en arreglos adelantados para la época, como un estilo de pink floyd pero un poco más bajado a tierra. Una escucha muy fructífera en la que magicamente no me cansé en ningón momento de escuchar jazz 9/10.

This is an amazing album. I saw Herbie live, and you already know his encore was playing Chameleon on a keytar.

A funked up jazz fusion trip out

I thoroughly enjoyed this.

Enjoyed the entire thing. Great jazz album.

Dang, this album is funky jazz hotness! As soon as the first track started playing, I stopped what I was doing & started dancing. This fits right in l with my James Brown/Funkadelic/Alice Coltrane playlist. I'm so glad this popped up in the challenge, otherwise I probably would've missed out. I'll be listening to more of his work. 5 enthusiastic stars.

feel like strolling down a road with my button down open (yes, exactly like in spiderman 3)

Sad that Rockit isn't on this album, but Herbie Hancock is a lean, mean, jazz machine who can row my boat any day. This gets 5 stars for Chameleon alone, nearly loses a star for the more bebop parts of Sly, and then gets its star back in Vein Melter.

The vibes are immaculate. Jazz and funk never sounded so good.

Liked it. Previously unknown gem.

Funky. Jazzy. Electronic. I would rate this as a 5/5, even if it is not the kind of album I will be drawn back to. It was unpredictable yet still very melodic.

Landmark recording in jazz/funk. This basically invented the idea of acid jazz, which has become one of my favorite albums. Also interesting that there are no guitars on here, as opposed to many other early fusion/electric jazz/acid jazz projects that were coming out at the time.

5.0 + The opening sequence of "Watermelon Man" that combines vocal yelps and flute, followed by that sneaky bass and, finally, snappy drums - that buildup alone makes this album a classic. The track start to finish is a masterpiece. And, no discussion of this record is complete without noting that bassline on "Chameleon."

LP

Funk and Jazz arrives to blow your head off. The tunes are slick and you can just imagine them soundtracking a life you wish you were cool enough to be living. Fucking ace. Best Tracks: Chameleon; Watermelon Man

Funky, assured with integrity. There's a great vibe going on with this album and it's 50 years old! Enough variety to make it interesting and sooooo smooth. I loved it.

Faultless album. Never gets old.

A lot funkier than I expect fusion to be. I guess that's his style. I had already known the first two tracks but the whole thing is really great. I love his tone on whatever kind of synths he's using. Kind of moog-y

Classic - funky, tasteful, complex but accessible. Anyone can love this album and you're a dork if you don't.

A classic and staple of influential Jazz. A display of impressive musicianship where each song is more dynamic than the next.

Exceptional future jazz

This album is not really what I would listen to normally but objectively it is great. It is sleek, not rough around the edges like most of the stuff from that era. I was shocked when I thought that a song was a bit long and saw that it's been 13 minutes, which passed in an instant. I find Pink Floyd songs of similar length a bit more tedious to listen to, no matter how much I love them

Brutal musicians!

Groovy. Wish this album was longer than 4 songs.

SOOOOO FUNKY

I was looking at my rankings (over 500 now!) and saw that my average ranking was 3.6. I thought ‘maybe I should be more critical and rank things lower’ and then this album came up and I was like ‘nope’. Just the best jazz-funk, ever. I’ve loved this album since I was 13yo.

a jewel

Simply one of the best jazz albums ever recorded.

Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Herbie Hancock were all framers of the constitution.

Godly music. Spitfire improv over some of the gnarliest grooves ever concocted. Essential listening for every human being.

wowww that was so good

Herbie Hancock has done some pretty far out things, blending jazz & funk isn't one of 'em. 5/5.

Excellent, groovy, captivating. Really glad to discover it tonight.

Dette albumet er hva jeg tenker på når jeg tenker på Herbie Hancock. Såå slick, sååå funky.

Aivan megatiukka! Erittäin pitkäaikainen suosikki. On jazzahtavaa ja on funkahtavaa mutta yksi on varma: pääkallonmetsästäjät on pahuksen kova levy! : D Tätä ei vieläkään oo meikän vinyylihyllyssä, mutta kuuntelussa tää on jatkuvasti. Täydet bongot! 5/5

Melancias homens

Never heard this before and it’s a fantastic mix of background Muzak, jazz, pop and electric. Will definitely go into rotation. Great for having on in the background whilst you work or socialise. Solid 8.5/10

Chameleon, Watermelon Man - 5/5

Groovy jazz with a funky tribal underbeat throughout, one of my favs before this project and still a fav

Herbie made a masterpiece that everyone can enjoy!

Very solid album. Good length, 4 great great songs that totally keep on going even after minutes into the song. Nice jazz, nice funk energy too. A must listen, and you still want more at the end. 4.5/5

An epic fuse of jazz and soul and funk. This is an outstanding example of the musical period that served my needs during the disco age - JAZZ FUSION. In addition, such a recording served as an impetus for "going back" in Hancock's catalogue to gain a much greater appreciation of straight-ahead jazz. "Chameleon" is the classic tune from this great period piece!

THIS is what seventies music should sound like. Focused and flowing. Amazing tunes, amazing band, and funky as all get-out. A perfect length for an album too. Prefer side one, but I like the fact the two ‘sides’ feel different.

five stars

Fantastic as always.

Fantastic

Definitely varied and interesting. I dig the dub influence across it.

What a brilliant album. Jazzy, funky. Loved it. It's only 4 songs, so I'm saving the whole thing, but my favourite was Watermelon Man and Chameleon

One of a couple perfect jazz/funk records. Could loop it endlessly without issue.

Like Bitches Brew, this is an album that changed jazz forever.

I was going to say my one criticism is that Herbie is having a little too much fun with the synth fx, but that’s also partly why this album is so good. Chameleon has one of my all-time favourite bass riffs, Watermelon Man is barely recognizable from the original but glad there are both versions, & the last 2 tracks are great complements to each other: the fiery sax & percussion of “Sly” is a world apart from the ethereal piano in “Vein Melter”. October 9, 2022

Best song: Chameleon Classic jazz with some awesome, funky instrumentals.

Every time I play this it's even better than I remember

iconic jazz

Jazzy, funky sweet goodness. Absolutely phenomenal. Chameleon and Watermelon Men just smoke.

Absolutely xlassix

Funky

I love Herbie Hancock. Amazing groove, amazing artwork. 5 stars!

Funky

Хорошо приятно

Funky smooth and cool

Jazz fusion that rips all the way through. The cymbals on Sly got me bricked. The drum work on this album is so good. The Sax and keys were slapping.

Chameleon, watermelon man, awesome. Great album

Awesome fucking album

I LOVE “Chameleon.” I used to listen to this one all the time on road trips. It doubles — for me — as toe-tapping easy-listening for reading as well as perfect music for dancing. “Watermelon Man” is funky and features West African percussion instruments — I wonder if this was one of the first times these instruments reached the American mainstream. “Sly” — undoubtedly a tribute to Sly Stone and “Vein Melter” are also great tunes with lives of their own.

You can always trust Herbie Hancock for finding a new groove, and dig gold out of it. Number of albums left to review or just listen to: 873 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 69 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 31 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): 28

This album is absolutely iconic from the very first bass note. I would consider this the best marriage of jazz and funk ever put together. Headhunters would serve as a template for a lot of great improvised music to come after it, especially for jazz artists like Medeski, Martin, and Wood. It's so smooth and yet infinitely groovy and danceable. A song like Watermelon Man shouldn't work as well as it does, but that's the level of skill that Hancock brings to this album, and he makes it look easy. There's lots of points in Herbie Hancock's career that you could point to as the pinnacle. The man played on some of Miles Davis's best albums for christ's sake, but for me this is the absolute best. It's a towering dance album that exists somewhere in the tension between the analogue and digital realms. It's not one to be missed 5/5

yes. love jazz-funk. the intro sound in watermelon man O.o so fun. so good.

tri massa, típico sonzao instrumental pro cara estudar enquanto curte

Muchos estilos en 40 minutos...Funky (Los mejores bajos que se pueden escuchar estan acá) - Jungle Jazz - Disco ( una idea de disco eléctronico, antes de que todo explotara) Mejor canción: Watermelon Man

heyyyyyyyyy, watermelon man!!!!!’ this album is great.

super LP

Pretty much flawless jazz funk. First half is definitely superior, but this entire thing is a staggering work in terms of quality

5/5. Undeniable all-time classic :)

This album was on constant rotation for me back in high school. It is great to dust you off and hear from you again, old friend; you are just as fantastic now as you were back then.

Full of epic and silly music. It's fun, it's funky, and I LIKE IT.

Some smooth funky jazz

An album I already own, and for good reason - rock hard fusion played by some of the best in the biz. Not sure anyone who isn't already on the jazz train will be converted, although this bad boy does a decent job of reaching across the aisle to the funksters

Admittedly, I don't listen to a ton of jazz. But this is one of my favorite jazz albums, one of just a few I actually own. Trippy, funky, sick grooves, front to back. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): Watermelon Man, Chameleon, Vein Melter, Sly

Enjoyed

C'est pour des albums comme ça que je suis ce site Prefs: Chameleon, Watermelon Man, Sly Moins pref: Vein Melter

Irresistible jazz with an electronic edge. Groundbreaking and essential.

God I love music

Jazz Funk Perfection

Its one of the coolest albums ever and needed to be twice as long

Stone cold classic. Loved this album since my teens.

Perfect album

Нетленка Хэрби Хэнкока

Absolute gem.

A classic of the genre. This is such a fun and groundbreaking record and I love it

Watermelon man is a classic. Funk-Jazz fusion at its finest.

Gott grúv. Hressandi stöff

Jazz fusion at its finest, perhaps one of the greatest jazz albums period. Chameleon and the rerecording of Watermelon Man are particular highlights

Jazzy and funky. Got really into some of his other stuff after listening to this.

I actually own this on CD and listened the shit out of it back in the day Classic

One of these albums that everyone knows and that is so clearly 5 star that there is not much to say.

One of the key jazz fusion albums of the early '70s. Love the funky and groovy sound, though I slightly prefer Hancock's older work with albums like Empyrean Isles and Maiden Voyage.

Jazzy and awesome

Good vibes. 9/10

absolute mastapiece

Classic banger

Awesome, this music is exactly what I like. Favorite track is Chameleon.

great oldie music almost brackground music

Have listened to this album countless times - own it on vinyl. Jazz classic. Maybe the most Herbie Hancock of Herbie Hancock albums? Chameleon and Watermelon Man obviously carry the album, but side 2 is still groovy.

muy bueno, me sirvió de soundtrack para limpiar la cocina y también para leer

Great Album. Something new for the '70s. Hancock still a leader for new music.

I listen to this album all the time, not even going to lie—might even be my fave Hancock release. Not just a classic, but let’s face it, a stoner classic—gets one’s head right, as it were. I prefer it to a lot of his more experimental 80s fare, pioneering though that may have been.

One of my favorite jazz albums. I still remember hearing watermelon man for the first time in my history of jazz class. Great stuff.

9/17 Jazz Funk masterpiece.

One of my favorite records, and still probably only the third best Herbie Hancock album imo. I have a poster of this art hanging over my keyboard rig. This actually made me thinking about getting a tattoo of that weird yellow mask thing over Herbie's face

Epicly funky from the first second. This is a goddam masterpiece. Love the jazz fusion, love the balance of experimentation and improvisation against catchiness and hooks.

Incredible Psychadlic Groovy as fuck jazz album masterpiece 9.5/10

Okay, hell yes. Chameleon alone makes this fantastic.

great

Funky and fun

Lots of sonic rewards for listening with headphones.

8/10 Herbie Hancock is just an absolute jazz staple and one of the jazz goats

If someone were to ask my opinion on jazz the answer is easy - I don’t like jazz. This was very cool though.

I'm now 1 for 4 on albums I haven't heard before, which is kind of insane luck. Anyway I already knew I liked this album. It's ripper.

Strong 4/5, maybe 4.5/5. I think with a few more listens this could be a 5/5. Amazing album overall.

422/1001 Herbie Hancock - Head Hunters Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ✅ Perfect for a Sunday morning this. It's equal parts really interesting, yet familiar at the same time. The inclusion of funk into the mix was a welcome addition. I'm sure I'll get more from this as I listen to it more.

Play that funky music, Herbie! "Chameleon" has an insanely catchy hook and, while long (15:45!) is still a pretty sick groove. I was feeling good after that song ended, until track two, "Watermelon Man" started, and I felt as if I was listening to some 4th graders practicing for their recorder concert. Totally ruined the vibe for me. "Sly" was a bit of redemption, as it starts off sort of chill, but definitely cranks up the funky energy midway through."vein Melter" is good - slow start, again, but this time it maintains its sultry, cool, slow feel. "Chameleon " was the standout for me.

Love Watermelon Man

Jazz é sempre uma delícia.

Head Hunters Herbie Hancock 1973 Genres: Jazz, Funk Styles: Jazz Funk 1. Chameleon (★★★★★) -Contexto: Tema instrumental de casi 16 minutos que abre el disco. Nació de una jam de la banda alrededor de un bajo sintetizado (ARP Odyssey, según los créditos, aunque Hancock alguna vez mencionó un Minimoog) tocado por el propio Hancock. El bajista Paul Jackson coescribió el tema. No responde a una historia narrada; es un groove funk hipnótico construido para la improvisación colectiva, en la línea de lo que a Hancock lo había "tocado" al escuchar a Sly & the Family Stone. El título alude a la idea de mutar de forma constante dentro de la misma base rítmica. 2. Watermelon Man (★★★★★) -Contexto: Es una reversión de un tema propio que Hancock ya había grabado casi diez años antes (1962, con Donald Byrd, en su disco Takin' Off). La idea de regrabarlo fue del baterista Harvey Mason. La introducción característica —los sonidos hechos soplando sobre botellas de cerveza— fue una idea del percusionista Bill Summers, inspirada en los cantos y silbidos de los pigmeos Ba-Benzélé de África Central. El tema original hacía referencia, según el propio Hancock, al recuerdo de su infancia en Chicago de un vendedor ambulante de sandías pasando por la calle con su carro. -Fav 3. Sly (★★★★☆) -Contexto: Dedicado a Sly Stone, pero Hancock aclaró explícitamente que no busca imitar su música: "fue dedicado a Sly... pero no fue diseñado para indicar que el tema estaba influenciado por su música o algo así". El propio Hancock contó en una entrevista de 1985 que escuchar "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" de Sly & the Family Stone "le llegó al corazón" y lo empujó a probar suerte con el funk. Musicalmente el tema tiene una estructura muy abierta que prioriza la improvisación libre, algo que Hancock atribuyó a la influencia de Miles Davis en el enfoque general del disco. 4. Vein Melter (★★★★☆) -Contexto: Cierre lento del álbum, dominado por el piano eléctrico Rhodes de Hancock y el clarinete bajo de Bennie Maupin. Hancock señaló que, junto con "Sly", es de los temas donde más se nota la influencia de Miles Davis en cuanto a libertad armónica y rítmica para improvisar. El título ("el que derrite venas") alude al clima denso, caliente y casi narcótico del tema, sin que haya una declaración del artista sobre un significado narrativo más allá de esa atmósfera. -TOTAL = ★★★★⯨ (4,5)

Bridges the gap between jazz, pop and art rock - you can really hear Talking Heads' influences on the four-song tracklist. It's not an album I would listen to again in my own time, given the runtimes of the tracks and it being a bit outside my own taste level, but an essential piece of work.

Enjoyed very much

This album is a journey of funky and smooth jazz as it progresses from the futuristic synths in Chameleon to the jungle sounds of Watermelon Man and the more classically jazz tunes in Sly and Vein Melter. Hancock is very intentional with the arrangement of each instrument, and the percussion frequently claims much of the attention and sets the agenda for the other instruments to follow. This is an excellent album that I enjoy upon each encounter.

Damn, that was fine. 4 "entranced bop" stars.

Artiste connu en particulier avec le morceau ‘watermelon man’, très apprécié. Cette nouvelle version dans cet l’album est très différente de celle que je connaissais, mais est sympa aussi. Les autres morceaux sont intéressants (grooves, excellents chorus, cuivres, morceaux totalement instrumentaux, section rythmique, …). En particulier j’ai bien aimé ‘Sly’, avec sa montée en puissance très réussie pendant les chorus, mais un peu moins ‘Vein Melter’ qui manque de dynamisme. Il va donc rejoindre ma collection, mais pas avec la note max. =>4/5

Really atmospheric and experimental jazz album, fun listen and although I knew the first two songs, I enjoyed my time with the second more

I havent heard much Jazz other than a little Miles Davis and John Coltrane but not their whole discography or something so I am a bit of an unwritten paper when it comes to the genre. Many jazz records are just hard to access for me to be honest but oh man thats where Herbie Hancock plays his magic. The album opener is the funkiest jazz piece I have ever been pleased to hear and it catches you with an irresistible groove that keeps you the whole 15 minutes and works perfect as an opener. The second track is the "weakest point" of the album in my opinion. That being said I dont have bad things to say about it other than I dont really get the groove of the flute. "Sly" is the climax of the whole thing. The bass, the drums, the sax is otherworldly and Herbie himself solos everything out of that e-piano. This one got me really thinking why I have never dived deeper into jazz before but I guess theres a lot to explore in the future. After this energetic climax "Vein Melter" comes in and does a great job being the album closer. The calm groove the beautiful strings everything is just peaceful and relaxed. I dont know if there is some even more accessible jazz out there for people crossing over from rock for example but "Head Hunters" definetly did it for me. This will absolutely be a regular album pull for me. 4,5/5