Takin' Off
Herbie Hancock · 1962
57 min · 9 tracks · classical music
A vibrant mix of hard bop rhythms and catchy melodies, showcasing Hancock's innovative approach to jazz.
Top tracks — play these first
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Watermelon Man Start here — This track features a catchy melody that blends rhythmic complexity with accessibility, making it one of Hancock's most recognizable works.
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Three Bags Full — An engaging composition that showcases Hancock's inventive piano work and his ability to create intricate yet danceable grooves.
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Empty Pockets — The song's emotive themes are expressed through rich harmonies and engaging improvisation, highlighting Hancock's prowess as a composer.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
InstrumentalHancock's debut blends hard bop with inventive grooves but loses cohesion with alternate takes disrupting the flow.
What we noticed
- Each of the first five tracks maintains a distinct groove, with varying tempos and improvisational sections that showcase Hancock's piano skills.
- The last three tracks are alternate takes of earlier songs, which disrupts the flow and cohesion of the original compositions.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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4/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. 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
- steady groove for focused listening
- catchy melodies to hum along
- vibrant rhythms for afternoon energy
- explorative takes on familiar tunes
Maybe skip if you
- prefer fast-paced, instant gratification
- seek brief, standalone tracks
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — Debut album that established Hancock's presence in the jazz scene and features a hit single.
- Themes
- jazz improvisation· vibrant grooves
- Moods
- Introspective· Energetic
- Career context
- Released in 1962, Takin' Off was Herbie Hancock's debut album as a bandleader after his tenure with the Miles Davis Quintet. At this point in his career, Hancock was transitioning from sideman to a prominent figure in the jazz scene, eager to showcase his own compositions and musical vision.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Chick Corea· Weather Report· Miles Davis
Tracklist
- 1 Watermelon Man Start here 7:07
- 2 Three Bags Full 5:25
- 3 Empty Pockets 6:10
- 4 The Maze 6:47
- 5 Driftin’ 6:55
- 6 Alone and I 6:27
- 7 Watermelon Man (alternate take) 6:34
- 8 Three Bags Full (alternate take) 5:32
- 9 Empty Pockets (alternate take) 6:27
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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