TAKIN' OFF -HQ/GATEFOLD-

180 PRE VIRGIN VINYL LPs IN GATEFOLD PACKAGING. "TakinAE Off" marked Herbie HancockAEs first album under his own name. All of the compositions are by the leader, who is backed by such stars as Dexter Gordon, Freddie Hubbard, Butch Warren, and Billy Higgins. The album includes one of HancockAEs best known compositions, oWatermelon Mano, which made it to the Top 100 on the pop charts. The tune would become a jazz standard, and would be covered by Mongo Santamaria, among others. Renowned jazz critic Leonard Feather stated the following about the LP: oAs the first solo album by Herbie Hancock, this record will serve for many listeners as an introduction to the talents of a young and unmistakably promising artist who recently signed an exclusive Blue Note contract.o'