Description
Herbie Hancock – Flood – Gatefold Double Vinyl Records
RSD 2018 Black Friday release.
Gatefold double vinyl first vinyl reissue since its Japan only 1975 release
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic
Released exclusively in Japan in 1975, Flood is a live double album that captures Herbie Hancock and The Headhunters at the peak of their funk-fusion powers. Recorded during their Japanese tour, the album showcases Hancock’s post-Headhunters era, blending jazz, funk, rock, and experimental electronic sounds into a mesmerizing and high-energy performance.
By this point, Herbie Hancock had reinvented himself multiple times — from his days with Miles Davis’ Second Great Quintet in the 1960s to his groundbreaking work as a leader in jazz-funk fusion with Headhunters (1973). Flood captures Hancock’s electric period in full flight, documenting the boundary-pushing, groove-heavy sound that would influence generations of jazz, hip-hop, and electronic musicians.
Since Flood was recorded for a Japanese audience, the sound quality is fantastic — this isn’t a bootleg-style live album, but a rich, professional capture of a band firing on all cylinders. The energy of the audience, combined with the spontaneity of live improvisation, gives the album an infectious, celebratory vibe.
Originally released only in Japan, Flood became a holy grail for Herbie Hancock fans outside Japan, especially during the pre-internet era. It took decades for the album to get wider recognition, but it has since been reissued internationally, and many fans consider it the definitive document of Herbie Hancock’s live prowess during the fusion years.
Flood serves as a time capsule of 1970s fusion at its absolute peak, capturing the earthy funk grooves, cosmic jazz explorations, and cutting-edge electronic experimentation that defined the era. It also highlights why Hancock and The Headhunters were not just fusion stars but a bridge between jazz, funk, and the nascent sounds of hip-hop and electronic music.
If you want to hear jazz-funk at its most electrifying, with virtuosic musicianship, infectious grooves, and boundary-pushing sonic textures, Flood is essential listening. Whether you’re a longtime jazz head, a crate-digging funk fan, or someone tracing the roots of electronic music, this album offers a masterclass in rhythmic invention and sonic exploration.
Track Listing
Introduction & Maiden Voyage
Actual Proof
Spank-A-Lee
Watermelon Man
Butterfly
Chameleon
Hang Up Your Hang Ups
