Herbie Hancock - Flood (2LP)
Herbie Hancock - keyboards [click here to see more vinyl featuring Herbie Hancock]
Bennie Maupin (sax, cl, fl, perc); Blackbird McKnight (g); Paul Jackson (b); Mike Clark (dr); Bill Summers (cga, perc)
Written by Herbie Hancock (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2, D1), Jean Hancock (C1), Bennie Maupin (C1), Paul Jackson (C2, D1), Blackbird McKnight (C2), Harvey Mason Sr. (C2), Melvin Ragin (D1)
2 LPs, gatefold sleeve, booklet
Original analog Master tape : YES
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : black
Speed : 33 RPM
Size : 12'’
Stereo
Studio
Record Press : Pallas
Label : Speakers Corner
Original Label : Sony Music
Recording: June and July 1975 at Shibuja Kohkaido and Nakano Sun Plaza, Tokyo, by Tomoo Suzuki
Production: David Rubinson
Originally released in 1975
Reissued in 2015
Tracks :
Side A :
1. Introduction & Maiden Voyage
2. Actual Proof
Side B :
1. Spank-A-Lee
2. Watermelon Man
Side C :
1. Butterfly
2. Chameleon
Side D :
1. Hang Up Your Hang Ups
Reviews :
« Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters take to the road in the live double album Flood, recorded and released only in Japan. Contrary to the impression left by his American releases at this time, Hancock was still very much attached to the acoustic piano, as his erudite opening workout on "Maiden Voyage/Actual Proof" with his funk rhythm section makes clear. The electric keyboards, mostly Rhodes piano and clavinet, make their first appearances on side two, where Hancock now becomes more of a funky adjunct to the rhythm section, bumping along with a superb feeling for the groove while Bennie Maupin takes the high road above on a panoply of winds. Except for "Voyage," the tunes come from the Head Hunters, Thrust, and Man-Child albums (another reason why this was not released in the U.S.). "Chameleon" comes with a lengthy outbreak of machine pink noise that attests to Hancock's wide-eyed love of gadgetry. In all, this was a great funk band, not all that danceable because of the rapid complexities of Mike Clark's drumming, and quite often, full of harmonic depth and adventure. » AllMusic Review by Richard S. Ginell
"In the summer of 1975, the Herbie Hancock Sextet made a hugely successful tour of Japan, which made people aware of a 'new' Hancock. The last LP that the keyboard virtuoso had recorded, "Thrust", was already one year old, and the film music for the Charles Bronson classic "Death Wish" was received negatively by his fans. At his concerts in Tokyo, Herbie Hancock reached back to his hits: "Maiden Voyage", "Chameleon", and the famous, soulful "Watermelon Man" made the fans at his concert hall and open-air appearances go wild with enthusiasm.
Forty years later I have the courage to confess that I couldn’t have cared less about this music at the time; in Europe there was enough that was new and exciting to see and listen to. However, this re-release in its original format has given me the opportunity to check out whether this music has withstood the test of time. And I must say: it has passed the test! Just listen to Herbie at his best!" Dr. Michael Frohne
Ratings :
Allmusic : 4 / 5 , Discogs : Rate Your Music :