JDIZZY's 365 # 257: Watermelon Man

Watermelon Man - Herbie Hancock (1973)

And now, the progression of a song from great to masterpiece:

1.) Herbie's original on his debut album Takin' Off from 1963.



2.) Covered by Mongo Santamaria it went into the top 10 in 1964.



3.) Starting and ending with a beer bottle being blown into by percussionist Bill Summers, Herbie reinvents the song and himself in 1973 as a funk masterpiece and master, respectively. Herbie hasn't stopped exploring his muse since, constantly finding new avenues for jazz piano that has lead him down paths of inspiration and accolades, as evidenced by the 2008 Album Of The Year Grammy he received for River: The Joni Letters.



Manfred Mann, ladies and gentlemen! Let's hope they don't slip the word "douche" in there!