Discord & Rhyme: An Album Podcast

Discord and Rhyme is a podcast where we discuss the albums we love, song by song.

161: Herbie Hancock - Head Hunters (1973)

May 27, 2025  /  Amanda Rodgers

“What was determining the value of my music before? Was it valuable? And I realized that the effect that it has on the lives of the people is what makes it valuable. If it makes a positive effect on their lives, it is valuable. If nobody hears it, I don't care how great it could be, it ain't great until it has an effect.”

—Herbie Hancock

Whether you’re a fan of ‘60s jazz, ‘70s funk, ‘80s electro, or things inspired by any of the above (or you just watched a lot of Sesame Street growing up), the music of Herbie Hancock has probably affected your life in some way. So Mike thought it was time to take us all on a good old fashioned head hunt. 1973’s Head Hunters redefined the course of Hancock’s career, was enormously influential on music as a whole, became the first jazz album to ever go platinum, and to this day remains a blast to listen to. If you’re a rock fan who’s long been intimidated by jazz, this warm, funky, colorful album just might be the one that captures your head.

Miscellany

  • John’s crack about Sextant not being an album you put on at a party appears literally to have been the case. Herbie Hancock himself once remarked that everyone seemed to own a copy of Sextant but no one ever listened to it.

  • The influence of Sly Stone on this album was possibly understated in the episode, as Sly and the Family Stone’s 1969 hit “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” was specifically the song that inspired Hancock to take his music in a funkier direction.

  • The synthesizer used to create the famous bass line for “Chameleon” is the subject of some confusion. According to the album credits, it’s an ARP Odyssey, but Hancock has said in an interview that it was a Minimoog. Mike took his word for it, but can also confirm that the same sound can be dialed in on the Odyssey and is fun to play.

Other links 

Discord & Rhyme Roll Call 

  • Mike DeFabio (host)

  • John McFerrin (moderator)

  • Dan Watkins 

Head Hunters tracklist 

  1. Chameleon

  2. Watermelon Man

  3. Sly

  4. Vein Melter 

Other clips used 

Herbie Hancock:

  • Rockit

  • Cantaloupe Island

  • Watermelon Man (Takin' Off version)

  • Rain Dance

  • Cantelope Island 

  • Introduction/Maiden Voyage (Live in Tokyo)

  • Actual Proof (Live in Tokyo)

  • Palm Grease

  • Hornets

  • Maiden Voyage

  • Metal Beat 

Others:

  • Donald Byrd - Requiem

  • Miles Davis - Orbits

  • Frank Zappa - The Adventures of Greggary Peccary

  • Organized Konfusion - Open Your Eyes

  • 2Pac - Words of Wisdom

  • Spoonie Gee - Did You Come to Party?

  • The Upsetters - Lizard Stick

  • Beck - Cellphone's Dead

  • Biz Markie - Me Versus Me

  • Frank Zappa - Echidna's Arf (Of You)

  • Frank Zappa - Don't You Ever Wash That Thing?

  • George Benson - Breezin'

  • The Ba-Benzélé Pygmies - Hindewhu (Whistle Solo)

  • Madonna - Sanctuary

  • Digable Planets - Escapism (Gettin' Free)

  • The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy - Famous and Dandy (Like Amos 'n' Andy)

  • Massive Attack feat. Roots Manuva - Dead Editors

  • Del the Funky Homosapien - Stress the World

  • 808 State - Headhunters

  • Miles Davis - Black Satin

  • Nas - You Can't Kill Me

  • Keith Murray - Media

  • E-Z Rollers - Hang On

  • Marc Pharaoh - My Body Is Strong

  • Up, Bustle & Out - Clandestine Operation

  • Saukrates - Hate Runs Deep (Remix)

  • Pigeondust - 1995

  • Endemic Void - Serious Intent

  • Suprême NTM - Old Skool

  • Billy Cobham - Spectrum

Band/album personnel 

  • Herbie Hancock – Fender Rhodes electric piano, Hohner D6 Clavinet, ARP Odyssey & ARP Pro Soloist synthesizers, production

  • Bennie Maupin – tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, saxello, bass clarinet, alto flute

  • Paul Jackson – bass guitar, marímbula

  • Harvey Mason – drums, arrangement (2)

  • Bill Summers – agogô, balafon, cabasa, congas, gankogui, log drum, shekere, surdo, tambourine, beer bottle (2)

  • David Rubinson – production

  • Fred Catero – engineer

  • Jeremy Zatkin – engineer

  • Dane Butcher – engineer

  • John Vieira – engineer

Credits 

“Discord & Rhyme (theme),” composed by the Other Leading Brand, contains elements of: 

  • Duran Duran - Hungry Like the Wolf

  • Amon Düül II - Dehypnotized Toothpaste

  • The Dukes of Stratosphear - What in the World?? ...

  • Faith No More - Midlife Crisis

  • Herbie Hancock - Hornets

  • Kraftwerk - Autobahn

  • Talking Heads - Seen and Not Seen

  • Herbie Hancock - Watermelon Man (this episode only) 

You can buy or stream Head Hunters and other albums by Herbie Hancock at your local record store, or the usual suspects such as Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and Amazon. Follow Discord & Rhyme on Instagram, Threads, and BlueSky @DiscordPod for news, updates, and other random stuff. Editing is by Rich Bunnell, and special thanks to our own Mike DeFabio, the Other Leading Brand, for production and original music. See you next album, and keep as cool as you can.

tags / Mike DeFabio

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