1992 digitally remastered edition of one of the best regarded of all the keyboard wizard's solo albums.

One of the most beautiful and unusual albums in Herbie Hancock's vast discography, this 1968 set features a trio with Ron Carter and Mickey Roker supported by an unusual horn section (Thad Jones on fluegelhorn, Peter Phillips on bass trombone and Jerry Dodgion on alto flute) that does not solo but provides inventive Gil Evans-inspired voicings. Miles Davis had recorded two of these tunes ("Riot" and "The Sorcerer") the previous year, but they take on a whole different approach here. Three alternate takes, previously available only in a Hancock box set, are included on the gorgeous Van Gelder remaster.
* bonus tracks, not part of the original LP
Recorded on March 6 (#1-3, 7, 8) and March 9 (#4-6, 9), 1968 at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
THAD JONES, fluegelhorn; PETER PHILLIPS, bass trombone; JERRY DODGION, alto flute; HERBIE HANCOCK, piano; RON CARTER, bass; MICKEY ROKER, drums

FREDDIE HUBBARD,trumpet
DEXTER GORDON,tenor sax
HERBIE HANCOCK,piano
BUTCH WARREN,bass
BILLY HIGGINS,drums

Herbie Hancock's fourth Blue Note album with Freddie Hubbard, Ron Carter and Tony Williams defined the sound that his jazz work would carry to this day: funk, delicate harmonies and experimental improvisation all somehow working together. "One Finger Snap" and, of course, "Cantaloupe Island" have become jazz classics.
Includes two bonus tracks.

Herbie Hancock于1940年4月12日出生于芝加哥的一个音乐之家。
Hancock七岁开始学习钢琴,两年以后就开始他的第一次公开演出.高中和大学时期他在一些半专业的乐团中演奏,偶尔有机会为一些造访的爵士乐手伴奏,其中就有Donald Byrd.1961年,Hancock第一次在纽约演出就是和Donald Byrd合作,后来自己建乐团时也和Donald Byrd合作过. 他声名鹊起获得广泛承认的是他加入Miles Davis的五重奏以后.他与Miles共同呆了五年多,在与Davis合作的后期,乐队开始演奏Jazz-rock的风格,Hancock对这种风格十分适应,1968年他自己组了一个六重奏追求自己的演奏观念.他们演奏Hancock原创的作品,乐队成为70年代早期最受欢迎和最具影响力Jazz-Rock乐队. 从1969年开始,Hancock广泛使用电钢琴和其他电子乐器,包括合成器.1973年迫于经济压力Hancock将他的乐队削减为四重奏,其中包括特色乐手Bennie Maupin.新乐队的风格还是Fusion,但这次更多偏向于Jazz-Funk.Hancock四重奏的首张专辑Head Hunters被刚萌芽的Disco乐界广泛接受而且赢得巨大的销量.整个七十年代其余的时间，Hancock的音乐始终关注于这个领域.期间他也制作了数张传统爵士专辑,其中有与Chick Corea一起的以及他自己乐队V.S.O.P。
Hancock在音乐中展现了一种影响深远的创造性,为流行唱片工业设立了一个标准.音乐在形式上是理性的产物,但其内容却是无法缺少热情的, V.S.O.P.乐队的作品一向以其完整性、强烈的情绪和原创性著称.尽管Hancock最初的兴趣在传统爵士上,但他非常有技巧地将其音乐的探索推向其他的领域,创作出一组激动人心的作品。

VSOP

Herbert Jeffrey Hancock (born April 12 1940 in Chicago, Illinois) is an award winning American jazz pianist and composer. Hancock is one of jazz music's most important and influential pianists and composers. He embraced elements of rock, funk, and soul while adopting freer stylistic elements from jazz.

Originally released in 1975 as a double live album, recorded and initially released only in Japan. Flood admirably documents Hancock's Headhunters-period in a concert setting. The tunes are mostly culled from the recommended studio albums Headhunters, Thrust and Man-Child, with an excellent remodeling of 'Maiden Voyage' opening the program.

FREDDIE HUBBARD,trumpet
GEORGE COLEMAN,tenor sax
HERBIE HANCOCK,piano
RON CARTER,bass
TONY WILLIAMS,drums

赫比 汉考克（Herbie Hancock）是一个真实的爵士乐偶像。本专辑在音乐上的探索超越了种种局限以及风格类型的束缚，同时也保持了其自己独一无二的声音。在原声爵士、电子爵士、R&B每一次发展的过程中，都能看到汉考克的身影。回顾过去30多年，汉考克大胆地进行每一次新的尝试，甚至是冒险，而其动机纯粹是他自己内心强烈的拓展创作空间的愿望。