Two essentials from Herbie Hancock's Head Hunters LP, on 12" for the first time! "Watermelon Man" is probably the most famous cut on Head Hunters, with the long looped intro and funky breakdown (even made it so far as skate video fame). "Chameleon" is equally head-nodding and carries out some excellent solo goings on with Herbie getting loose all over the synthesizers and arps and rhodes and stuff. I can't imagine what all those post-LSD heads were thinking listening to this shit in 1973. Like... wow man. Both cuts get room to spread out here, with "Chameleon" encompassing the entire A side in all its 16 minute glory, and the comparably brief "Watermelon Man" taking up just 6.5 min on the flip. This is the first time these tracks have been available on the 12" format, and it's not even a bootleg! Classic Columbia center labels and everything; what a time to be alive. Any self-respecting player of jazz and/or funk records needs this in their crate, end of discussion. Recommended.

• 2 standouts from the Head Hunters LP, first time on 12" single
• 33RPM
• music label: Columbia 2018

reviewed by the mgmnt 01/2019