Deep Groove Encyclopedia

Headhunters

Click below for a Headhunters sample:

When Herbie Hancock decided to make his storied transition into jazz-funk, he called upon Mike Clark (drums), Bennie Maupin (saxophone), Bill Summers (percussion) and Paul Jackson, Jr. (bass) to spruce up his sound. With them, the classic funk trilogy of Headhunters, Thrust and Manchild was recorded, securing the previously unknown musicians a place in history. The band was eventually known as the Headhunters, in reference to their breakthrough album.

Towards the end of their association, Hancock helped arrange a separate recording contract for the Headhunters. Their Arista LPs are held in high regard thanks to mammoth jams like "God Made Me Funky." Their reunion album for Verve featured appearances by N'Dea Davenport, Patrice Rushen and Herbie Hancock, with whom they toured to promote the new disc.

Headhunters' Deepest Grooves

Survival Of The Fittest (Arista, 1975)

Straight From the Gate (Arista, 1977)
Vocals take a more prominent role, as evidenced on the sampler's favorite "I Remember I Made You Cry."

Return of the Headhunters (Verve, 1998)