Herbie Hancock - Steppin' In It

Review by Jim Newsom: Perhaps the funkiest album of Herbie Hancock's early- to mid-'70s jazz/funk/fusion era, Man-Child starts off with the unforgettable "Hang Up Your Hang Ups," and the beat just keeps coming until the album's end. "Sun Touch" and "Bubbles" are slower, but funky nonetheless. Hancock is the star on his arsenal of keyboards, but guitarist Wah Wah Watson's presence is what puts a new sheen on this recording, distinguishing it from its predecessors, Head Hunters and Thrust. Others among the all-star cast of soloists and accompanists include Wayne Shorter on soprano sax, Stevie Wonder on chromatic harmonica, and longtime Hancock cohort Bennie Maupin on an arsenal of woodwinds.

Man-Child Credits: Bass -- Henry Davis, Louis Johnson, Paul Jackson (2)
Drums -- Harvey Mason, James Gadson, Mike Clark (2)
Engineer -- David Rubinson, Fred Catero, Jack Leahy
Guitar -- David T. Walker, Blackbird McKnight*
Guitar, Talkbox [Voice Bag], Synthesizer [Maestro Universal Synthesizer System], Effects [Maestro Sample And Hold Unit], Other [Special Thanks] -- Wah Wah Watson
Harmonica -- Stevie Wonder
Percussion -- Bill Summers
Piano [Acoustic], Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Synthesizer [Arp Odyssey, Pro Soloist, 2600, String Ensemble, Oberheim Polyphonic], Clavinet [Hohner D6] -- Herbie Hancock
Saxophone, Flute -- Ernie Watts, Jim Horn
Soprano Saxophone -- Wayne Shorter
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Saxello, Bass Clarinet, Flute [Bass, Alto] -- Bennie Maupin
Trombone -- Garnett Brown
Trumpet -- Bud Brisbois, Jay DaVersa
Tuba, Trombone [Bass] -- Dick Hyde

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Herbie
• Hancock
• Steppin'
• In
• It

[DoctorEeam]

Herbie Hancock was on such a roll at this time...NVM Its all been said about him, but you know what? Its still works, holds up, and surpasses everything that's out there today..

[aquarianrealm]

@DoctorEeam He's was kickin' out some tunes...for sure

[GidsyWidsy]

chameleon much

[Joneslovestbones]

Yes, love this :-)

[7000ironman]

@perelit damn! man thats too weird at that age i was the only one on the block with that album and i would stick the speakers out the window and play that album and everybody would gather around and talk and stuff...wow!

[jgk381]

this is my new favorite song

[perellit]

i stepped in it and it smelt good

[michaeltgrace]

This is one of the finest albums of the genre. Definitely a "musician's album" for sure, but not too far out of the reach of the casual listener.

[perellit]

at 16 i was blastin this out my bedroom window waiting for the mailman.you know

[inidminstrel]

Wow,one can really see why Herbie was also called the ''Funk Master''. Wow he's truly a genius,

Stevie.....totally blows my mind whenever he plays the harmonica,his tone,feel and interpretation on that instrument is truly amazing.

Big ups you GREAT MEN,your sounds and songs would truly transcend generations.

Musically yours.

[lorioftheforest]

That's so cool..!!!!!!!

[bassandspaceable]

@bassandspaceable Actually one of my favorite albums from this period