Is Butterfly a good place to start with Herbie Hancock?

Yes, Butterfly is recommended as a starting point for new Herbie Hancock listeners. A seamless blend of jazz-funk grooves and ethereal melodies that encapsulate the spirit of late '70s musical experimentation. Released in 1979, 'Butterfly' marks a significant moment in Herbie Hancock's career as he was transitioning from his groundbreaking work with electronic instruments. This album followed the success of 'Head Hunters' and showcased Hancock's continued exploration of jazz fusion, featuring collaborations with notable artists like vocalist Kimiko Kasai.

Who is Butterfly for?

Butterfly works well if you're into lush auditory landscapes to explore, wave-like pacing encourages reflection and soulful melodies for relaxed evenings.

How many songs are on Butterfly?

Butterfly has 8 tracks, running approximately 47 minutes.

Butterfly

Herbie Hancock · 1979

47 min · 8 tracks · classical music

A seamless blend of jazz-funk grooves and ethereal melodies that encapsulate the spirit of late '70s musical experimentation.

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Top tracks — play these first

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I Thought It Was You Start here — This track opens the album with a captivating groove that perfectly blends Hancock's jazz roots with pop sensibilities, showcasing his innovative use of synthesizers.
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Tell Me a Bedtime Story — Featuring lush vocals by Kimiko Kasai, this track stands out for its dreamy ambiance and complex harmonies, highlighting Hancock's ability to fuse jazz with popular music elements.
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Butterfly — The title track encapsulates the album's essence with its fluid melodies and intricate arrangements, demonstrating Hancock's mastery in blending genres while maintaining emotional depth.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

63 /100

Treeline

Higher than 74% of albums we've rated

The album showcases innovative synth use and smooth transitions, marking a notable shift in Hancock's style.

What we noticed

The album features a consistent use of synthesizers throughout, creating a lush soundscape that blends jazz-funk with ethereal melodies.
Several pieces incorporate vocal arrangements that are harmonically rich but serve more as instrumental textures than traditional singing.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 8/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

lush auditory landscapes to explore
wave-like pacing encourages reflection
soulful melodies for relaxed evenings
dynamic themes that invite curiosity

Maybe skip if you

seeking instant gratification tracks
prefer straightforward, upbeat compositions

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Experimental — Represents a shift into jazz-funk, blending styles in a way that diverges from earlier works.
Themes: jazz-funk evolution· ethereal soundscapes· 1970s musical experimentation
Moods: Chill· Dreamy
Career context: Released in 1979, 'Butterfly' marks a significant moment in Herbie Hancock's career as he was transitioning from his groundbreaking work with electronic instruments. This album followed the success of 'Head Hunters' and showcased Hancock's continued exploration of jazz fusion, featuring collaborations with notable artists like vocalist Kimiko Kasai.
Stylistic neighbors: Chick Corea· Weather Report· Miles Davis