Loading…
Loading…
Description
**Mr. Hands** stands as a curious artifact in Herbie Hancock's discographic evolution, released in October 1980 and occupying a liminal space between the experimental funk of *Feets, Don't Fail Me Now* and the more synth-heavy explorations of *Magic Windows*. Unlike his dance-oriented precursor *Monster*, this collection sprawls across distinct musical territories with a confident eclecticism. The sessions took place across three San Francisco and Los Angeles studios-The Automatt, Filmways/Heider, and The Village Recorder-where Hancock assembled an array of rhythm sections rather than relying on a single cohesive band. This approach allowed for a more imaginative, hands-on performance style reminiscent of the *Head Hunters* era, though with a distinctly 1980s technological sheen.
The album's star turn is undoubtedly Jaco Pastorius, whose fretless bass lines on "4 A.M." remain a masterclass in electric bass articulation. Hancock's own contributions stretch far beyond traditional instrumentation, deploying synthesizers including the ARP 2600 and Minimoog, clavinet, and even an Apple II computer for sequencing-a detail that proves prescient of his long-standing relationship with Apple. Other collaborators include saxophonist Bennie Maupin, percussionist Sheila E., and guitarist Wah Wah Watson, with some tracks featuring the Headhunters original lineup revisiting "Shiftless Shuffle," originally recorded in 1973. Producer David Rubinson and Hancock themselves oversaw the project, capturing Hancock's virtuosic keyboard work and vocal experiments through vocoder on several tracks.
Critically overlooked at the time of release, *Mr. Hands* represents Hancock's final foray into "straight" electric jazz before embracing his R&B-influenced future. While not the commercial powerhouse some might expect, it showcases Hancock's willingness to experiment across genre boundaries-a trait that would define his entire career. The 39-minute runtime feels deceptively sparse, with each track demanding focused attention. For collectors, this album remains a fascinating document of a pivotal moment in electronic music history, capturing Hancock's restless creativity just as synthesizers and drum computers were reshaping the soundscape.
[AllMusic Review](https://www.allmusic.com/album/mr-hands-mw0000312119) • [Wikipedia Entry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Hands_(album))
Please log in to edit this record.