Head Hunters

Super vibes

In my short experience with Jazz music, there have not been many albums that I have found to be as amusing throughout as this one. Great overall record. 9/10 [KEEP]

Stand-out track: Vein Melter Hard to listen to this one just on its own. It works really well as background music or something to relax to, but if you try to listen to it super deeply with intent, I feel it does become a little repetitive. Certain parts of these tracks shine, but others feel like they just drag on.

4 songs - 41 minutes Jazz-funk and Jazz fusion

A top musician blending so many genres it makes your head spin.

First song is great, but then it gets a little too weird and slow

buenisimo disco. se disruto

Leads off with some fart synth. Wow

My tired head wasn't really understanding this album when I listen to it for the first times, but just after getting some rest my first reaction was "Damn, this thing is funky and groovy as hell". This album is super fun. I really love the rhythm section from "Chameleon" and "Sly", the most high spirited songs. They have some incredibly funky bass and jazzy drums, both creating a very energetic, infectious and even hypnotic feeling that has my body in non-stop motion. And what's more, the incredibly playful solos from the electric piano and saxophones on top are not only very tasteful but also help keeping my focus on the music. So basically, these two songs end up being an incredibly cheerful and super frenetic jazz-funk fest. The other two songs are a bit more calmed down, yet very interesting on their own. "Watermelon Man", the second song of the album, has some funky lines and great grooves, just like the aforementioned ones, but the rhythm is slower. It is still very fun, and does have some nice details like the tribal sounds, but it doesn't really excite me as much as the other two. The last song ,"Vein Melter", follows a totally different vibe from the others, being centered in being super relaxing and even dreamy. The rhythm is slow, the instruments super smooth and the added synthesized strings (which can be found in the rest of songs as well) add a wonderful touch, making it a very beautiful ending. So overall, I think this album is fantastic, and I hope it helps me understand and like jazz more, as it seems like a great entry point for the genre.

very 2000s comedy movie ending

Great jazz with added funk. A pleasure to listen to.

Wait do I like jazz now??? As a jazz-hater how much I enjoyed this album has shaken me to my core.

Muy weno. Aunque super distinto a lo otro que tiene el artista wtf

So many reactions ... first, just going to the album and seeing how many significant releases he has, I'm reminded of how shallow my knowledge of Hancock's career is. On Chameleon, where they get the funkiness right, and the band is excellent, I'm thinking about how, even when it's good, I'm not sure fusion is really a good idea. Also, the sax player is great, but Herbie's soloing ideas are oddly pedestrian. Is he better as a composer and supporting player than a lead? I don't know. Watermelon Man is interesting, and a reimagining like this is always fun. I don't think it's great, but it's solid. And then -- Sly, with its great combination of funky rhythm and aggressive avant garde soloing makes it all seem different ... fusion Is a good idea. It Can work. But then ... all optimism is washed away by the irredeemably boring Vein Melter. It makes fusion seem like a very, very bad idea. And I'm reminded of how bad the Electric Piano Mind Virus that swept the 1970s was. It infected A Lot of music. Tickling the ivories is one thing. Tinkling the plastics is quite another. Everyone go to your room and think about, etc. Cool album, but ... decidedly a mixed bag.

This was pretty great. Maybe I was especially happy to hear it post-Korn [insert vomiting emoji] but this record made me happy.

The highest quality background music I've been given on this generator so far

A funky, smooth journey through the early 70s. I was expecting jazz and got something like a jazz-funk hybrid. Very cool.

accessible jazz meets funk . Great Instrumental album but it doees miss the vocals . Somehow the bridge between jazz,funk, disco and early hip hop or at least break beats/electro

Funky fresh

This is real cool easy listening. Just the kind of thing to put on in the background and tune out. I think Watermelon Man was my favorite of the set, but really it's just four long jazzy songs that are cool, and Herbie Hancock is cool too.

Waaay ahead of its time

Funky fresh album. Reminds me a bit of Chick Corea if he leaned more into the funk side of things. Big fan over here in spotty review world.

This album was great.

What a great time. Listened through about 3 times and loved it. I can’t say I understand musical progressions or music theory or anything that might make this that much more enjoyable, but I had a fun time listening. Mid to high 4 Highs: Sly, the album artwork, the song name Vein Melter Lows: none

Canciones largas que no aburren, logran mantener un jazz constante con ritmos funky y soul. Capas que simplemente desarrollan una propuesta interesante.

Excellent album and bonus points for introducing me to something good 4/5

‘’Next stop, Groove Central " You step off the train in a sea of people and watch as the sunlight ricochets off of the glass towers ahead of you in the distance. The station is large and open, ceilings high with vines intertwined with the pipes that run up the walls, above you and right beneath your feet. The train shuts its doors with a few beeps, and glides off as you begin to make your way toward the exit. Outside, the streets are busy and loud with some kind of activity on every corner. You make out people selling things, some in languages you aren't familiar with and brandishing objects you struggle to make out a purpose for. The buildings are large and host a myriad of vegetation on their windowsills and roofs- not glass, but a light grey concrete that feels warm to the touch. Suddenly, clouds begin to gather, and the sky darkens, turning the glass towers from dreamlike mirrors to icy monoliths. People begin to clear the streets, flocking to shop overhangs and crowding restaurants, as at last, it begins to rain. You duck into a sheltered alleyway as the drops hit your skin, sizzling slightly and leaving you itchy. A set of stairs leading downwards catches your attention as you wipe your hands on your coat, and you decide to head downwards. The underground is dingy and warm. There is a hum of electricity that seeps through your body, and the clear pipes adorning every inch of the city are aglow with neon liquid that flows deeper within the tunnels. It smells like earth and that acidic rain, and you look back to see drops trickling quietly down the staircase you came down. It is mostly empty, save for a few people smoking and talking quietly to one another. They are all dressed in dark colours and fashion unfamiliar to you, making you feel out of place, but they simply eye you without much interest as you pass. Most of the shopfronts are shut with metal guards and are covered with faded posters depicting concerts and events that are layered on top of one another. You keep walking until you find a door ajar, leading to a small room with a bar and a few booths, almost empty save for a few people drinking alone. The pipes cast the room in a purple glow, and the bartender looks up at you and nods. You nod back and walk inside. The room is dark and smells strongly like alcohol, though not unpleasantly. You sit at the bar, and the bartender- a person with three eyes and a bemused expression on her face- slides you a dark drink. You smile and pull out some money, but she shakes her head and leans on the bar, beginning to talk to you about where you came from. The hum of electricity is quieter here, you slowly realise as you talk, and the only noise is your two voices, the quiet breathing of an old aquanid in the corner and the trickle of liquid in the pipes running along the walls behind your new friend. The stools are worn down, but comfortable, and you get the idea they are either well used or very, very old. Two other people come in and wave to the bartender, who excuses herself with a smile and wishes of luck, and walks away from you. Remembering the drink in front of you, you raise the dark brown liquid to your lips and take a sip. It is cold and tastes like a mix of fermented apples and sugarcane, bitter and slightly sweet as you swallow it. The bar begins to get more customers slowly, increasing the volume as a plethora of voices start to work their way into the silence the place had shortly before. No one pays any special attention to you, save for a few glances and whispers, but you decide to get up and leave anyway, pushing your glass towards the back of the bar and dropping some money behind it. As you leave, more people enter and look at you strangely, but you head back towards the stairs you came from. The area outside is busy, and the shops are all open, each either glowing with that same purple hue or yellow with crude electric lamps. You hear laughter and the clink of dishes as the nearby restaurant hits you with the smell of meat sizzling on a grill, and some kind of sweet sauce that makes your mouth water and your stomach growl. You keep walking, weaving your way through a busy crowd, and the thud of music begins to reverberate through the tunnel as you hurry up the steps toward the alleyway you came from. It is dark outside, and the rain has ceased, the remnants of which snake their way down the drains that adorn the sides of the street and sit in small diamonds reflecting light on the leaves climbing across the walls of the neighbouring buildings. The pipes here are too aglow, this time with a green neon-liquid that casts a gentle glow on the people shutting their shops and making their way across the streets, but the main light comes from large electric bulbs that, strangely, triangular fruit seem to grow around, hanging above you somewhat precariously. It is quieter here than down there, but still quite busy, and you join the flow of people. The air is colder and a gentle breeze chills you slightly, given that you had gotten used to the warmth of the underground. The streets are still slightly wet and have small puddles of rainwater you try to avoid to save your shoes when you can, but the ones you do step into feel cold as they splash against your trouser leg. Vegetation sprouts from between the pavement cracks and is clustered near the drains, and a few steps ahead of you, a triangular fruit drops to the ground and bursts, much to the misfortune and grumbles of a few standing nearby who get splashed with the soft flesh. A drop lands on your finger, and instead of wiping it on your trousers, you curiously bring it to your nose to smell it. It smells familiar and sweet, and almost instinctively you bring it to your mouth. It tastes like spiced sugarcane- that same taste in the drink the bartender gave you earlier. You smile to yourself and keep on walking as the taste reminds you of her farewell and wishes of fortune. Moonlight settles comfortably on the glass towers in the distance and the city settles into a slow sigh as the night takes over the streets. In some places, the thud of music can be felt through the floor and stairways leading down lay inconspicuously down unassuming alleyways. The lifeblood of flora city still chugged everywhere you went, regardless, glass pipes filled with neon providing light everywhere, and the variety of oversized vegetation adorning every non- mobile surface. The night is young, and your journey is far from complete, so your thoughts still as you lose yourself in the veins of the city, continuing your walk until the finality of your destination.

Herbie puts the 'fun' in 'funky'. 41 minutes for 4 songs is a lot... this record could've been 20 minutes shorter and still would've been amazing.

Actually banging?? I will be listening to this on my own cause it’s acc so good??

You can easily relax to this, but that doesn’t mean the music lacks substance. Great album. The cover is fantastic and immediately made me more interested in what would be on this.

It's amazing that this album is just 4 songs, each one a long jazz jam session. Very invigorating.

Chameleon alone is enough to love this album. It’s synths, jazz, groove, all rolled into one.

Möcket bra!

Fun and funky. Almost always interesting and engaging. Long songs didn’t hurt the album.

Una locura

quente, nos envolve, dá energia, é atemporal. diferente de tudo! 9/10.

I like jazz now??

funky

Enjoyed this album a lot more than I expected. Didn't realize that Watermelon Man was by Herbie Hancock. Really cool jazz pieces and the drummer was fantastic

Savage.

Good stuff

Never really listen to much instrumental jazz (maybe had one other album on here that was alright) although I've had my eye on this album for some time before listening due to how interesting the cover is. Chameleon was an awesome opening track, nice clean percussion and this weird warbly synth that sounds chugs along. Then that piano kicks in and some pure cinema started to unfold and that's only half of the song and my mind is already blown. Drums pick up a it and piano becomes a much calmer but still incredibly smooth sound with bouts of erupting notes, while the bass really takes center stage for me. That finally wrap around to the beginning of the song with even more elements coming to play was so satisfying after the explosion found throughout. Amazing way to open this, enthralling song the entire time the builds as it keeps going. Watermelon Man has such an odd but catchy intro. A simply done technique, blowing into beer bottles, but its done so excellently its going to get stuck in your head. the drums come in and from there the track builds into some smooth ass piano and saxophone. Again just some incredible bass here as well, accents the rest of the instrumental with a beautiful funky sound. Sly comes in immediately strong, and crescendos into a abrupt break before picking up into a fast tempo and infectious groove. The band just kicks into an almost manic playing that is keeping it moving forward at high speed and still finding ways to squeeze in these horns into the mess to create a overwhelmingly fun tune. Again it breaks and flies into a familiar sound with new changes that add further beyond to the past few minutes of playing. Ends on an absolute bang too. None of these tracks get old or drag their runtime, there's always something new coming into the mix. Vein Melter is much more lowkey track that I can still appreciate. Drums continue to march along with some bright synths taking the lead throughout along side great horns once again. Builds a calming atmosphere almost as a cool down from the absolute madness the rest of the record had going on. Overall, I'm so glad I got to hear the incredibly tight compositions here as they all engaged me the entire run time. Every track evolves and never stays too long in a singular sound. I definitely want to revisit this and I can see my self bumping it up from 4 to 5 stars as I return.

This is a jazzy, YouTube meme-ish, laser tag kinda music. But I still liked it.

Awesome, futuristic, exemplary. I didn't love it as much as others seem to but I'm glad to have listened to it.

A fantastic jazz album to just hit play on and you're all set!

Jazz funk fusion? Yes please!

Funky, fun. Maybe today as a good day, because i usually don't like this "jazzy" suggestions, but i really enjoyed this one!

Pretty fun listen

(´ ˘ `ㅅ) bwom bwom bwom bwom (ㅅ´ ˘ `) |chameleon 15:44| would love to be high and laying on the floor with warm lighting while listening to this this would also be good for bass practice bc i am learning bass and have been trying to find funky songs to play to so that i can learn how to improv with my bf ! also feels like something a group of friends would make together when they are just so in the flow and understanding of each other - i can imagine a circle of musicians improving this and just being in the background admiring the beauty of music and how music is truly a language i feel like a creature and it totally makes sense since i'm currently listening to chameleon i feel like i understand creatures now beautiful album cover btw synth appreciation oop you thought it was over nuh uh |watermelon man 06:30| i remember my bf playing this in the car i think YUP pieces like these make me miss playing in ensembles it just gets better what 〜⁠(⁠꒪⁠.⁠꒪⁠)⁠〜 add to my walking playlist, would be so nice in audubon park i miss jazz in the park when we would meet with friends and sit in the grass and talk about random things and also supporting our other friends that were playing in the bands - that was a good time makes me really pay attention to timing/cues |sly 10:21| prob my fav so far :P this would be so cool to hear live in a jazz club we just teleported omg weeeeee INSANE how they can stay together and make this sound so good esp bass i would be so lost if i were them lol this should have been my essay-typing song in college coconut mall for the funky def my fav i cannot imagine how tired that drummer's foot is unless they're using a double pedal it is beyond me how the human mind created something like this it's just so good and creative and unique okay we got teleported back welcome back |vein melter 09:09| okay funky diva omg vein melter and it like a heartbeat get it bc heart and vein get it get it love the smoothness of the sax so far a lovely, calm ending to such an album this is so nice - feels like i have energy but i still choose to slow dance and it makes me appreciate taking my time without having to feel completely slow - idk if that makes sense??? would actually want to learn this on bass out of all of the songs on this album i enjoy the simplicity of the support esp percussion and bass bc it still sounds rich, so easy to sway to okay this is a song to dance ALONE to like swaying by yourself and letting your body just flow in the way it feels to - it's liquidating and freeing |overall| super impressive and makes me appreciate jazz even more in such few songs, but that is where the 1 star got taken - i am greedy i want more

I don’t really understand jazz, especially fusion, but I know I like it. Herbie Hancock creates something special every time he touches a keyboard, and I do understand that. Funky and soulful, this is an excellent choice for this project. 4 stars

the groove is strong with this one. Killer rhythm section and the sounds he gets out of his keyboards are out of this world. Great album

Chameleon and Watermelon Man are the definition of "cool". Jazz is a pretty uncharted territory for me, so this Herbie Hancock album was a pleasant surprise. The B-side is a little less memorable and a little less accessible for me. All in all I must say, I will be back. 3.5/5 - strong

This slaps. A little too weird for me to just absolutely fall in love with it, but I get it's a classic. I prefer Empyrean Isles....but I'm a Bop guy

Undoubtedly the smoothest, funkiest and most approachable jazz fusion record in existence – there’s no question why it sold a gazillion copies, many to people who would have normally never thought of buying a record like this. I wish it had a little more drama, a little more tension (like Miles Davis’ fusion records do) but it’s still fantastic to listen to. Best track: “Chameleon”

This was nice. I enjoyed it. I knew Watermelon Man from Mid 90s I'll give it 4 stars.

8/10

Actual music, good! Even though it’s fusion.

Hard to get funkier than this!

liedjes zijn erg verschillend van elkaar, ik vind het leuk dat ze allemaal zo lang zijn. je hebt gelijk in 4 nummers veel soorten jazz

When I listened to it this morning, I thought to myself that despite several really great moments I just prefer Herbie playing funk infused jazz rather than jazz infused funk but I’ve flipped my shit. I might like it more than a four eventually.

groovy and loved the technological elements and the bass lines 8.9/10

lindo pero medio denso a veces. 3.5 pero queda como 4/5.

album #90 just so unbelievably groovy. there's actually not much to say other than that. it's so effortlessly cool. ꩜ average track rating: 3.7/5 ꩜ favourite track(s): watermelon man, sly ꩜ least favourite track(s): chameleon ꩜ album rating: ★★★★☆ ꩜ number of albums left to review: 999 ꩜ number of albums from the list that i agree with being on the list: 43 (+1 Head Hunters) ꩜ albums from the list that I would consider on my list: 19 (+1 Head Hunters) ꩜ albums from the list I won't include on my list: 71

Classic funky album, over time sounds all the same but one of the best.

Perfect vibes music.

I enjoy a lot of these jazz albums, but I love very few of them. This is good, but it's doesn't give me enough to get 5 stars.

Capital F funky. Loved listening to this and would happy listen to move in the future. The fusion of instruments and genres was great.

delicious beats

groovy

Cool album and cooler album cover, captured my attention before I even pressed play.

Very familiar with Chameleon and Watermelon Man, although I haven’t listened to them in 20 years. Felt somewhat different than I remember so I was a bit unsure at the start, but in its entirety this album grew on me and I listened through a couple times. 3.75/5

so groovy! absolute banger Would I listen again: yes please Deserves to be on this list: yes 4.4

4-

Wicked Jazz record. Like this one a lot.

4 stars

Sooooo incredibly funky. Amazing synth work and amazing horns/saxophone. Also, this album cover is so so cool. I really loved the opening track, “Chameleon”, with its sort of wah-wah bass I guess and I loved how the drumming changed halfway through. The motif of “Watermelon Man” is iconic. But honestly, each of these songs are so smooth and groovy and funky and have such an energy.

Fantastic jazz,funk. Really impressive

Clever, innovative, and fun to listen to. “Chameleon” could go for another 15 minutes and still work.

Very warm and deeply present. A perfect album for a morning coffee and optimistic day. Strong grooves. To fully embrace it one has be fully present in the moment.

this is a fantastic album

Interesting psychedelic jazz, heavy on the impressionism. I liked the scenes Hancock painted with the album. I feel like this is the kind of music people smarter than me listen to. "Watermelon Man" was my favorite track.

Review - I've tried this album a bunch of times and never got on with it, but this time it worked. Maybe it's listening to it during a heatwave just works. A great jazz fusion album. I don't have enough knowledge of fusion so whenever I hear a fusion album I like, the only reference point I have is "ooh this sounds like video game boss music". Which this does at times. In a good way. Score - 8/10 Need to listen? YES

favs: chameleon

130424 9:48 4

Good. Jazz/funk isn't really my thing, but this was a fun listen, despite zoning out at times.

Wonderful amazing beautiful album. So groovy from beginning to end.

Første sang er så banger. 15 minuters fest.

What is this and why do I love it. Really catchy, plays nicely in the background but is also worth being concentrated on. Probably my favorite jazz album ever now. The bass work was out of this world. Anyone saying this is boring has no attention span. du du du du da da, da da da da di di/5

The kind of weird that I like.

Chamelion is amazing.

Finally getting some exposure to this record. Head Hunters' reputation precedes it, and while I was initially expecting my mind to be blown open by this one, I kept myself realistic and realized that jazz fusion just isn't a genre I tend to get a lot of huge enrichment out of. That being said, this is still pretty great. There's a refreshing energy to the improvisation and hearing everyone play off each other.

I've listen to this one before, originally discovering it off of Mid 90's with Watermelon man. This is lowky the most generationally appealing peace of funk ever written, from the beginning it is. The bass lines groovy throughout, almost every instrument has its own solo, herbie prioritises the uniqueness of each instrument

Funky, cool, accessible jazz. I dig it. Experimental enough without ruining the groove. I love the weird little flute loops on Watermelon Man. Drumming is impeccable all around. Sly careens wildly between tempos and styles. Very cool album.

Pleasant surprise. Funky/enjoyable.

I knew I was going to love this album from the first 6 notes of the opening track. What a ridiculously great bass line. The beat that kicks in next had me sold. I love funk tunes where the instruments introduce themselves additively. Over the almost sixteen minutes of “Chameleon” things build up to moments where you can't distinguish between the layers, and then break down again to that single bass line. Several times. What a great song. “Watermelon Man” keeps the quality up. It's incredible the tribal sounds that Bill Summers conjures up with just his voice and a beer bottle. And then, yet another amazing bass line kicks in, followed by a build-up of fantastically funky sounds. It's a song that keeps surprising you as it progresses, and I can't get enough of it. Side one by itself is perfect. I could listen to it on repeat forever and not get bored. Side two can't keep up with those impossible standards though. Not that it's not good. “Sly” is impressive, but too frenzied to properly enjoy. It ends up feeling like a panic attack in song form. “Vein Melter” takes the frenetic energy levels down to a crawl with a cinematic piece of jazz fusion that sounds like it could score a noir detective movie from the 50s. My knowledge of Herbie Hancock before today was pretty much just the song “Rockit”, which I love, but it's very different territory. So this complex exploration of variations on a theme, where jazz meets funk, was a real surprise. 4.5 stars

It was interesting listening to sly and hearing what is surely the inspiration behind Steven Wilson's Raven that Refused to Sing

There's a reason he's the name for a signature. Classic. Banger. Nah but this is kinda the same realm as 2112, and to a lesser extent Maggot Brain, as an album that has one incredible opener and the rest is good but not to the same standard. Big fan of the way Chameleon changes throughout and morphs, plus the way it ebbs and flows. When you think it's done it comes back in just a cool way.

Oh man this is good

DAMN. I'm surprised this came out in 1973. I'm surprised the first person to ever listen to this didn't just start spitting and invent jazz rap on the spot. That beat on Chameleon is tailor-made for a rapper. I wanna hear Lupe Fiasco rhyme over the entirety of Chameleon like he did for his song Mural. I don't think anything else on the record quite reaches that same level of excitement, that head-bobbing fun that the first track does, but I still think Sly kicks ass, I think Watermelon Man is great even if I can't quite wrap my head around its flute loops...is that a guy just yelping in there? Is someone just shouting between the notes? Hancock is also routinely outshined by his drummer all over Head Hunters, but not because Herbie himself is faltering, but that drummer...ohhhh my god. I am listening to Sly right now as I type this. This dude knows how to rock. I'm very surprised this is the only Herbie Hancock album on the list. I mean, you have nine Bowie albums on here. Six Elvis Costello albums. Four Morrissey solo albums. You couldn't make some room for Sextant? No love for Mr. Hands? The album, not the horse fucker.

Oh this is nice. Starting off with a wonderful 15-minute number in Chameleon, it's a beautifully played set of jazzy, funky tracks. I personally kinda wish it had ended with Sly instead of the lower-energy, more thoughtful Vein Melter, but this was still a very enjoyable jazz album.

Miles went electric. It was only a matter of time for Herbie to do the same. Brilliant experimental jazz funk fusion.

Great funky jazz. All the tracks have a great groove to them and the rhythm section is tight. The whole band has incredible skill. The production on this album is very well done. I will say, based on the title, I had all kinds of ideas of what “Vein Melter” will sound like. Is it wild, aggressive, experimental free jazz? Or disgustingly funky enough to melt your veins? The actual song is good, but I was promised melted veins, and my blood is still flowing the same way it was before. 4/5

Listening session: june 4th, while studying Listened to before: no Thoughts: this was a weird music choice for studying but when I listened to it again, I really appreciated the creativity and grooviness Favourite track: Chameleon

Incredible. Herbie is the man. Watermelon Man and Chameleon are staples of my college music experience.

chameleon; liek a 9.75 or 10/10 wow i still dont know what that instrument was, it was probably a synth idek watermelon man was also very good the beer bottle sound wow thats crazy anyway i do think less than chameleon though like 9/10 sly 9.5/10 vein melter: 8.75/10 overrall: strong 9 4.5/5

Clean, balanced, straight, makes no mistakes. Niiiceee

A really solid jazz fusion album, enjoyable all the way through. Couldn’t listen to it daily but I’m really glad I heard it, 4 stars

Chameleon - 4 Watermelon man - 4 Sly - 3 Vein melter - 3

People who know know Herbie Hancock......and more people should know Herbie Hancock. Rarely has there been a better use of 4 songs.

Ok so this is one of the most unique albums I've listened, beautiful jazz combined with electro elements, vibing into funk. Is just so relaxing, like I rinsed my brain of the rot of the day.

Master

I liked this more than I thought I would. Funky and cool.

Influential as hell, and while it doesn’t always work for me (Watermelon Man intro gets a bit grating) this is so innovative and modern sounding for something from 1973. If I could rate this a 4.5, I would.

I love and hate this album. It was a groundbreaker in pulling jazz back into R&B and funk and music that regular people like and it is a flawless groove. Also I like the audacity of synthesizers here (that should be their venery term.) The bad part is, it put a full stop on a lot of musicians. They can never get past this and we are flooded with sub-HH funk forever

Funky and groovy in all the right places, and you can definitely hear echoes of its influence decades later. His version of “Watermelon Man” is good but not my favorite, and the last track falls off the pace somewhat. Also — and this is petty and immaterial — I have never liked this album cover. What is that thing?

I'm not normally a jazz guy but adding some funk to the mix definitely makes one of the more esoteric popular genres accessible to me. Still not quite my cup of tea, but undeniably groovy

Funky, enchanting, relaxing, beautiful.

Groove so strong I can’t believe I’m still standing- Chameleon was the highlight for me.

I love the bass lines but some of the repetitive whistling parts pissed me off

Classic album by Herbie Hancock. Definitely requires focused listening with good speakers or headphones for the best listening experience. Gets absolutely murdered in the car.

To be honest I really enjoyed a lot listening to this album

Herbie is the foundation of a weirdly large portion of what I listen to lately - The Budos Band, The Olympians, Manhattan Street Band, etc. I have a 12hr long Spotify playlist called “Brass Knuckles” (there are a lot of Spotify playlists called Brass Knuckles) that makes great background music for a bbq. I acknowledge that my usual rules wouldn’t reward a “godfather of good background music” album with many stars, but this feels different. This feels like a record that made jazz accessible to a lot of people who otherwise wouldn’t have gotten into it. Zappa is great, but he’s pretty far out there; Herbie has a kind of quiet cool that I appreciate. Fun fact: Herbie was born in April 1940, I was born in April 1986. This year (2026) I turned 40 and he turned 86. Neat

So, Jazz isn't my thing. But this is probably as good as it gets. It doesn't overstay it's welcome at all. Really good album.

41 minutes of Jazz in 4 tracks. Long, sure, but the funk adds a lot. Saved the short track ..

funky! experimental! excellent!

This is an album that's in my rotation. It's a classic.

3.5 - Jazz is nice.

I feel like I'm finally starting to understand jazz

Great funky jazz

Some great sounds and fusion jazz here

Songs were very long but generally very good. Goof didn't like it.

It's Jazz. It's Funk. It sounds like something you'd hear from Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes if Hans Solo hadn't shot the bounty hunter Greedo and ruined the groove.

peak, im thinking like themed picnic during a bit chillier summer day

12/05/26 que capa foda meus amigos o álbum tem 4 músicas, mas juntas elas dão 45 min - cinema esse groove insano no início fire fire vou ouvir alguns álbuns fazendo lição, esse incluso que baixo delícia, que fusão delícia esses synths não são nem um pouco agradáveis a longo prazo já a próxima sessão é bem mais pika pra background cai como uma luva, mas dura demais mds não fica tão entretenimento essa segunda enjoa menos pra background é quase perfeito, sem ser como background (ouvindo atentamente) inova bastante, embora ainda assim canse dou 7/10 / 3.5/5, arredondo para 8 pra avaliar por conta de criatividade sonora, faixa a faixa e visual (papo de melhores capas que eu já vi)

Quite nice i liked it

I appreciate the music, but this kind of jazz just isn't my thing. That said, it was pleasant to do some work to!

Really enjoyed the first 2 funky tracks but the last 2 were too ‘jazzy’ for me.

niggaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Watermelon man sounds like the kinda song the host from Mario party for Nintendo Wii would be rockin while he’s making dinner

Some jazz can get annoying, this jazz leaves you discovering something new on every listen. Loved it.

Very good!!

Chameleon and Watermelon Man are eternal earworms for me so I was pleased to get this one. The pinnacle of early jazz/funk fusion. Great musicianship and minimal production to get in the way of it. An easy 5* except for the fact the second half doesn't go as hard as the first.

Very nice but somehow it didn’t grab me. I added “Watermelon Man” to my playlist.

Are vibe funky la o primă ascultare. Jazz-ul mi-a plăcut )) L-aş asculta cât fac lucrul la univer or any other work. I lowkey enjoyed all the songs :)

My project has only just begun, but it already seems clear that the best albums I haven't heard previously are jazz records. Head Hunters and Jimmy Smith's Back at the Chicken Shack are albums that I will continue to listen to in the future.

This was very funky and nice. I really enjoyed the change of pace. The development of jazz in the 70s is interesting with the integration of the synthesizer. Was definitely surprised by how much I liked this one.

Треки слишком длинные как будто можно было разделить их на более короткие но так прикольно слушать можно

Sounds super clean for a 1973 release. Doesn’t sound muddy whatsoever. Is this a certain kind of jazz? YUP jazz fusion just as suspected! Wow Herbie Hancock has never been on my radar, super cool to read about how influential he’s been in music. I would actually rank these songs in their existing order on the album. Chameleon is so funky. Immediate add to “ya like jazz?” even with its long duration. New info: Learned today that songs like Chameleon with a duration of 10-15 minutes are called long songs or epics! Sick new way to annoy people. True epics are 15+ minutes, and mini-epics are 6-9 minutes! Overall rating: 8.6/10

For fans of the theme to Taxi, but funkier.

To steal a line for George Castanza, These guys are beepboppin and scattin all over me! Love an experimental jazz album that keeps the core tenant of listenability in mind. Good jazz and good experimental music doesn’t have to be hard to listen to and only enjoyable in the abstract just because stuck up music snobs have set that as the expectation. It can be fun, this is fun.

baller

4.5/5

ohhhhh i was funkin HARD

Not really my type of music but its cool

More funk than I personally like, but Herbie Hancock is one of the greats.

Jazz and creativity 3,6⭐️

Herbie Hanchops! But a non-lyric album is hard to be totally my thing. 8/10

Alternative Jazz - Composing. Really cool.

Easily the most interesting jazz album I’ve heard on here so far. Funk basslines really are the special sauce that makes almost any music better.

85

Herbie in his experimental bag was a treat to listen to.

Great fun to listen to. A couple of crazy bits which repeated too much and would drive you crazy but overall definitely one of comeback to

the mayor of funkytown

The synth-y instrumentation hasn’t necessarily held up well—the album is *so* 70s, y’know—but if “Watermelon Man” won’t get you to four stars, what will?

Groovy

Najs funk/jazz

good

que buen jazz

This the shit they were playing on Tom & Jerry

Groove is contagious, not unanimously through the album however

'Sly' around minute 4 hits crazy with headphones on. Solo of idek what instrument, but it's just GOOD. I am such an ignorant that i dont know what genre of music this is. Wikipedia says it's "jazz-funk and jazz fusion". I really liked it, even though I guess it's not the kind of album I'd listen to while riding my bike, nor perhaps the most ususal kind of background music, as it may come across a little too aggressive perhaps, when compared to more "normal" jazz. I really liked it though.

Gets a four just for the grooves on Chameleon and Watermelon Man. I was pretty tired by the second side but overall- super fun jazz funk. FOUR STARS

FTL: This album is like being spawned in a tropical rainforest, not knowing where the fuck you are. Surrounded by exotic bird sounds and trees breathing lively, a talking bonobo shows you the way. Really hearing influences of Miles Davis throughout the record but combined with the synths, flute and sly influences, this really is an amazing record.

Riktigt funky jazz!

8 - first song is great and overall entertaining listen

Great album to put on in the background while playing Slay the Spire. I approve. 4/5

Yes. Just excellent and fun.

I thought i wouldn't enjoyed it, but I was completely wrong. I even wished it was longer. The sounds were really satisfying to hear,

Great grooves, a bit long at times.

Four songs and the first is already on my playlist. Looking forward to this. This was a trip! Enjoyed the first half a bit more. But this was great. Must be incredible on psychedelics. 4/5

4/5 - Would give 3.5 if I could. All of it was really solid but I'm not a fan of the intro/outro of Watermelon Man (possibly a hot take)

Lively and funky jazz that demands you give it the attention it deserves.

Best Jazz/funk fusion on the list imo. Herbie pours his heart and soul in every creation

Lo escuché muchas veces.

The groove is unreal! 8/10

Funky as hell, with a good bit of jazz mixed in. This combo can occasionally become annoying.

This is a completely new album to me. I had no clue what to expect. It's easy to jam along to and is groovy, uplifting, and a good background track. I could definitely see myself studying to this. The sound of Head Hunters makes me realize how unserious and easygoing life can be. An easygoing track. Could def see myself getting high to this as well lol.

All of these were absolute bangers. Very groovy, very upbeat, reminded me of the movie Soul/Whiplash. While it is not something that I would seek out to put on, I would not be in a rush to turn it off either.

Fantastic Jazz-Funk album, possibly the most famous of the subgenre. Initially I didn't think much of it, but then it hit me and it hit me hard. Kudos do Hancock to constantly reinvent himself and try new sounds. Starting out as a Thelonous Monk-type Hard Bop pianist, then adopting this style of Funk in the 70's, later turning to Electro in the 80's and Breakbeat in the 90's. A Swiss-Army Knive of Jazz! Key tracks: Chameleon Watermelon Man

Wow, was not expecting to enjoy an instrumental jazz album this much. The 4 songs are different but cohesive and the flutes/pipes in Watermelon Man are great.

Eclectic, very groovy. Experimental and completely catchy!!! My two faves watermelon man and chameleon.

Is it funky jazz or jazzy funk? I'll go with the former, as the genius of Herbie Hancock makes jazz approachable for me. First introduced to Hancock in the 80s with "Rockit," I'm learning that throughout his amazing and still ongoing career, he's proven equally adept at blending multiple genres and making music for the masses.

hit

This was fantastic

Dobar i veoma zanimljiv za striktno instrumentalni album, sviđa mi se vajb i atmosfera i sve.

Maybe I do not fear all jazz because that was delightful

i fuck with this

It's actually amazing to me that in 1973, Hancock was already putting out his twelfth studio album. He's such a genius and amazing composer and musician. While this is definitely one of those albums that you would tend to play as background music rather than sit and listen to, it's still a truly great album. This is album where Hancock started adding more funk to his music than jazz. When you listen closely, it's amazing all the different sounds he incorporates into the songs. Another one definitely worthy of the list!

9/10 - yes give me more jazz please

Gear: Focalman Cleardara Artwork: 🛢️🎹🪘 Production: 🎧😘🤌 Music: 🎷📚🕺 Rating: 🍉🍉🍉🍉(🍉)/5

Primera vez que lo escucho. Está música tiene un ritmo que te lleva por distintos estados.

Really good album, alternative sounds but super interesting.

4 - great album

Many innovative sounds and quite suprisingly a very easy listen.

22/03/2026 1. chameleon - ooo loving the start! drums are niiice! sax is great!! looove the bassline almost eight mins in <3 horns and synth are great! lovely :) *2. watermelon man - bass and drums are great!! very jazzy... love the sax! 3. sly - ooo the start is great! very smooth. two minutes in wow!! loving it! *4. vein melter - slower start.. really love the strings? synths? great anyways!! really love the ending! have vaguely heard of herbie hancock before but knew literally nothing about him, so was tentatively excited for this album! the cover is also reallly nice as well.

I dug alot of this, but not as much as Coltrain, Davis, Gordon, Bird...

This album really, truly surprised me. A 4-track album with tracks reaching upwards of 15 minutes, yet not a dull moment, never a point of thinking 'how long is left?'. This is a mix of jazz and funk, done in a way that keeps you intrigued. This was the first ever Jazz record to go platinum, and you can see why. The impact this album had was huge, influencing both pop and hip-hop later on. Before listening to this record, I didn't think it would be something that I would want to come back to again, but I have even added 1 or 2 of the tracks onto my own playlist. And Chameleon... what an opening track. It really sets the mood of the genre right from the start. Favourite Track: Chameleon (I wish I could pick multiple, but with it being a 4-track record, I am going to only choose the one).

Incredible.

8/10 – Very Good

This took a few listens to get through- wildly interesting

This was fun as hell! 4/5

Great rhythm and bounce, for me it's a good background album to put maybe on blast maybe on a lower volume even, listen to its energy and flow with it around what I have to do. at the same time it could also be a good one to listen on the beach (but only with certain people haha)

Hancock and his band of hotshot players weave some startling melody lines over complex grooves on this jazz fusion record from 1973. Production is clear as a bell, also. Special kudos go to drummer Harvey Mason whose dynamic and intricate playing provides the essential pulse driving these tracks.

Distinctive, instrumental, and swinging (and a well-known name besides)

(83/100)

Low-key a vibe. GREAT to study with

estupendo para tener de fondo mientras trabajas, me parece súper adelantado a su generación!!

A great vibey album to set a mood.

The mixing is absolutely perfect even in its original version and the keyboard synths sound incredible throughout the record. It manages to showcase many different styles of the same genre in just forty minutes and while it did not fully reach that top-tier spark it remains an outstanding technical achievement.

Un álbum genial y con buena onda para crear el ambiente perfecto.

jazzy funk or funky jazz?

Deux classique qu'il fait du bien de ré entendre

Fun. Unfortunately I listened to it on a train ride, otherwise I would have been boogying around the kitchen.

Já tinha ouvido

3.5 Starts An album that moves back and forth between two themes - what seems to be akin to a cocaine frenzy and a cool, laid-back funk. I prefer the funk but the frenetic portions are intriguing. Favorite track: Watermelon Man

2026.03.06-07

was viibing with this one all the way through

I wonder what head hunters even are. I don’t find the point in listing why this album is one of the best representations of funk music, but I will try my best anyways (since that’s kind of the point of music reviews). There are several occasions on this album where the splendor and creativity of the music forced me to pause and think about it for a long while, which is impressive since I’ll literally kill anyone who pauses my music midway through. I’m guessing that a common criticism of this album would be that it’s too simple, but I would argue that it’s because literally everything on here is completely intentional; every decision deserves itself, which is why it may sound bare. This project truly is the perfect mix of some classic jazz-funk and a bit of musical wittiness (and maybe insanity). Genuinely, how can you get bored of this? I know this review reads like a nothing burger, but I really don’t have anything that interesting to say about this album; it’s simply fantastic. Anyways, great album, would recommend.

Funky jazz fusion from the early 70s, it's accessible even for those who don't like jazz that much.

Mi è piaciuto nonostante sia più fan di un jazz tradizionale e meno sperimentale

Super funky, very groovy, would listen again.

Jazzfunkkia, tosi smoothia, maukasta, ja coolia. Siistii. Fuusiojazzin kaaoksessa on jotain mistä tykkään. Parhaat: Chameleon, Spy

Really solid stuff, but Vein Melter was way too repetitive for me to close out the album

Chameleon has lived in my head long before I listened to it because of band camp, and it's also because of band that I just can't say no to jam tracks. Favourite track: Chameleon

Loved it, great and jazzy

C'est tellement fort, certains samples sont moins écoutables que d'autres mais son aspect répétitif est extrêmement bien réalisé et installe une ambiance immersive pour l'auditeur

4/5

Immaculate funk

pretty interesting funky jazzy album, i enjoyed quite a bit of this one. it’s refreshing to get some jazz you can really groove to.

Chameleon

This album is so good. I’ve listened to it at least 4 times. It wasn’t my first listen, but damn Herbie Hancock got that shit on. Only 4 tracks, but each of them takes you on a little journey. I love what he does, he does it wonderfully. Solid 8.5 for me

Nice jazz

Interesante

Listened to 1 song only, sounded promising

Look. It's super good, and I love it, but it's just not quite there for me. Funk without being funky. Jazz without being jazzy. Idk. I want more fun and fresh and dancy. Oooorrrr more jazz and technical and complex. It's just....not quite there for me and I can't explain why. Maybe I just think Herbie is better than this.

4 because Chameleon is fantastic

Very quirky. A little bit chaotic and then a little bit chill. Jazz yet electronic vibes and funk elements. Crazy that this was made over 50 years ago. It sounds like someone would make something like this now. Only four tracks, instrumental - must have been very interesting at the time. Still is very interesting.

I like the music and the feel of the album. Not something I would revisit all the time, but an enjoyable listen.

MUCH better than I was expecting. Only ever heard his 80s weak soul electronica but this is like Eumir Deodato. Some of it is quite bearable.

8/10

3/5

Very good, end part of track 1 and middle of track 2 would fit perfectly in a coffee shop or a chill soundtrack

Good Porn Groove

I'd never listened to the whole album, quite enjoyed it. Watermelon Man was great, I've enjoyed that one for years. Overall very good, the third song felt a little frantic, would have made Brenda unbearably nervous. Songs like these are great to lose your virginity to because you can really settle in and take your time. The Ramones or the Dead Kennedys are the worst, it is just rushed and over before you know it.

Great album, very enjoyable.

Now there’s an album cover! This is fun and interesting jazz, pretty easy listening. I like it!

Really nice jazz funk, playful and a little bit weird, and what an absolutely amazing album cover! This is really enjoyable and uplifting, really fun to just get lost in while I get on with my day, to add a bit of a funky sheen to it all. Very nice well done Herbie!

A trip, flirts with noodles, always pulls you back, you never quite know where it’s headed. I would always listen to it … but I’m not sure I would necessarily reach for it on the shelf. It’s a 4.5 rounded down.

Já tinha ouvido várias vezes antes. Gosto muito da estética do álbum

Very funky, very fresh, very fun

Chameleon and Watermelon Man are practically flawless. Sly is an underrated banger. Vein Melter is just fine; it's not on the same level as the other songs. I love Herbie and I agree this might objectively be a perfect jazz album, but to me nearly quarter of the album is just fine.

I really like this album, it is a fun version of a Jazz album 4/5

The first track is probably my most favourite of all jazz tracks. Watermelon man is pretty good too. Enough for 4 stars!

Jazz meets disco? Iconic

One of the best jazz albums ever, amazing instrumentation and very funky. Watermelon Man and Chameleon are all-timers.

Really funky, heard TTC in this

Herbie Hancock is the name of someone who should play blues but he sure can play jazz.

A really smooth listen that demonstrates a different take on jazz. It’s funky, it’s bold, and it holds up until the very end. The whole record sounds timeless, and the lack of guitar is an interesting creative choice.

0 lüürikat, aga see muusika ikka kuidagi suudab rääkida mu hingega. Herbie Hancock mulle väga istub, see plaat ka. Lood pole just kuidagi ühendatud ja raske on leida neile mingit ühist alust, aga tervikuna on teda ikka hea kuulata. 3.9/5

Weird but kinda jazzy and souly

Great jazz-funk record that I will definitely return too. The mix of synthetic and classic instrumentals is amazing to listen to to this day. Only reason that it's not a 5 is that I'm not the biggest fan of the last track, which I don't thi know builds on the sound Hancock creates throughout the rest of the album. But still, an amazing record.

Really enjoyed this one. Interesting to see how influenced subsequent music.

Funky grooves that melt into the next movement - what more could you ask for?!

La última canción mehhhhh, había partes que sonaba muy padre pero otras que no tanto. Me gustó la combinación del jazz con lo eléctrico.

I thought the last album I had was short. This is 4 songs! 4 funky songs, that kicks off in a real nice groove. Totally something I could put on in the background while I work. Or drive around to. Real cool sound I have to say. Reminds me of things I used to listen to in my friend’s car way back when. This is the reason I do this, I never would have listened to this album otherwise. This is one I’ll come back to when I’m in the right mood.

Classic jazz album

Funky and jazzy AF, good shit!

SUCH A VIBE Watermelon Man is giving tropical jungle energy Edit Mar 27 2026: 5 --> 4. I haven't played this album *as* much. Maybe if I play it more in the future I will bump it up more

So funky I like it.

don’t love jazz but this was great

at first I found it a bit weird. then it gets enjoyable. not a big jazz fan so I cannot fully appreciate it.

ALBUM #1 🎉 01/02/26 i definitely rock with the songs, theyre my vibe but a bit too long for me to be able to actually play on a walk to school funky in a good way, Vein Melter takes numero uno for best song on the album imo

This kind of album is the template for pretty much all of the Jazz fusion that came afterwards. The music that Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, Donald Byrd, and other such musicians at the time were making still has relevancy and still sounds exciting over fifty years later. There are only four songs here, but each one has its own unique flavor and style. I never get tired of listening to this one.

Funky jazz

First time I heard this. Quite good.

Funky

Never considered Jazz as a music genre before listening to this album today. Smooth, crisp and enjoyable.

Very smooth and exciting, great album of fusion, and make justice to the name, as it mix different sounds with such harmony and groove.

Exceptional

Гарний альбом, якось вдалося зловити такий вайб поїздки в метро. Єдине мені не дуже сподобалася остання композиція, на мій смак якось занадто нецікаво, особливо після попередніх.

I really enjoyed the first half of this, to the point where I was asking myself if I was going to give five stars to an album I'd never heard before. I mean that's the dream right, that's why I'm here. But unfortunately the second half was nowhere near as good. I'm not even sure if the first half was on relisten. Who knows, but it did make me feel something and for that I am thankful.

Favorite Track: Watermelon Man

The tracks on this album are sprawling and funky. Probably the best instrumental album I've come across on this list so far. 3.75/5.

incredible funky jazz almost rock instrumental album

Herbie is The Man on the Keyboard!!!

Funky

When Jazz ruled the world what an era for music herbie Hancock at his finest on this Chameleon is a classic , straight away your into that stank groove on the keys and from then on your transported into some serious groove sections , thought this was Mike Clark on drums turns out it’s Harvey mason , providing some serious funky displaced feels on this locking in with the bass player Love how it doesn’t fall off in terms of musical interest like some jazz does , always admired herbies ability to come up with great chapters in a song which keeps the listener engaged through a 15 minute epic like this Watermelon man reminds me of a classic meters track pure funk loved it Sly really pricked my ears up straight off the bat a great accented motif that displaces occasionally love the Jam in the middle Harvey giving it the old buddy rich fast ride peppering the song along nicely and then back to the original motif at the end a really well structured tune probably my fave of the album Vein melter great track felt like it needed sly to be the finisher though thoroughly enjoyed this one

Fun but not my vibe

One more song would have made it 5

This had some great funky bits, fairly experimental in a lot of places with sound choice which made it part interesting and part silly. But I didn't mind that. The tracks were all pretty long and sadly they were long because most of them contained some big nonsense improvements bit that I didn't really care for and drifted off during until the great riffs came back in. Maybe on more listens when I am able to concentrate better on the self indulgent parts it would make more sense. It was pretty fun though. Maybe 4 is generous but I'm feeling generous.