“Watermelon Man” is the piece that kicks off Herbie Hancock’s career as a solo artist. Originally released in 1962 as the opening track of his debut album “Takin’ Off” in a bluesy hard bop style, and reworked in 1973 for the album “Head Hunters” with a completely different funk style arrangement by drummer Harvey Mason. Here are both versions of the tune from a 2019 reissue of “Takin’ Off” on the Blue Note label, and a 2×45 RPM 2020 reissue of “Head Hunters” by Analogue Productions.

(00:00) Video intro

(00:21) 01. Watermelon Man (1962 – from “Takin’ Off”)
(07:41) 02. Watermelon Man (1973 – from “Head Hunters”)

Numark TTXUSB turntable – Nagaoka MP-500 phono cartridge – ART DJPRE II phono stage preamp – Vinyl record vinilo LP