Magic Windows

1981 studio album by Herbie Hancock

Magic Windows

Studio album by

Herbie Hancock

Released

September 29, 1981

Recorded

1981

Studio

The Automatt, San Francisco. Additional recording at Kendun Recording; Village Recorders; Ameraycan Studios, L.A.

Genre

Jazz-funk, jazz fusion, R&B

Length

42:39

Label

Columbia

Producer

Herbie Hancock, David Rubinson

Herbie Hancock chronology

Mr. Hands
(1981)

Magic Windows
(1981)

Herbie Hancock Trio
(1982)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings	^[2]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide	^[3]

Magic Windows is the twenty-fifth album by jazz pianist Herbie Hancock, released on September 29, 1981, on Columbia. This album continues his collaboration with associate producer Jeffrey Cohen, who co-wrote four of the tracks on the album. Additionally, the track "Satisfied with Love" was co-written by his sister, Jean Hancock. Musicians involved in this album include guitarists Wah-Wah Watson, Ray Parker Jr. and Adrian Belew, vocalist Sylvester and percussionists Sheila E. and Paulinho da Costa.

Track listing

"Magic Number" (David Rubinson, Hancock, Jeffrey Cohen) – 7:24
"Tonight's the Night" (Hancock, Jeffrey Cohen, Ray Parker Jr.) – 6:31
"Everybody's Broke" (Alphonse Mouzon, Gavin Christopher, Hancock, Jeffrey Cohen) – 7:11
"Help Yourself" (David Rubinson, Gavin Christopher, Hancock, Jeffrey Cohen) – 6:43
"Satisfied with Love" (Hancock, Jean Hancock) – 6:31
"The Twilight Clone" (Adrian Belew, Hancock) – 8:19

Synthesisers

Amongst the other synthesizers employed on this album, an Alpha Syntauri (enhanced Apple II computer) was used for some of the tracks.

Liner-notes on the CD version, from "Jazz Originals Series", say "There are no strings, or other orchestral instruments on this album. All of these orchestrations are performed by Herbie Hancock on various synthesizers."

Personnel

Herbie Hancock - E-mu Polyphonic keyboard, E-mu Emulator, clavitar, Minimoog, Prophet 5, Oberheim 8 Voice, Yamaha CS-80, ARP Odyssey, ARP 2600, Hohner clavinet, Rhodes 88 Suitcase piano, Sennheiser, Linn LM-1 drum computer, modified Apple II+ computer, acoustic piano, bass (2), backing vocals (3)
Michael Brecker - tenor saxophone (2, 4)
Ray Parker Jr. (1-2), George Johnson (3, 6), Al McKay (4), Wah-Wah Watson (5), Adrian Belew (6) - guitar
Freddie Washington (1, 5), Louis Johnson (3, 6), Ed Watkins (4) - bass
John Robinson (1, 3), Ray Parker Jr. (2), James Gadson (4), Alphonse Mouzon (5) - drums
Kwasi Dzidzornu, Kwawu Ladzekpo, Moody Perry III - bells, Ghanaian drums (6)
Juan Escovedo, Pete Escovedo, Sheila Escovedo (1), Paulinho da Costa (6) - percussion
Sylvester (1), Vicki Randle (2), Gavin Christopher (3-5) - lead vocals
Jeanie Tracy (1), Dede Dickerson, Ngoh Spencer and Vicki Randle (2-4), David Bottom and Jeffrey Cohen (3), Julia, Luther, Maxine and Oren Waters (5) - backing vocals

References

^ Ginell, Richard S. (2011). "Magic Windows - Herbie Hancock | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
^ Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 644. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
^ Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 94. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.