Directstep

Last updated
Directstep
Directstep.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJanuary 21, 1979
RecordedOctober 1718, 1978
Genre Electronic, jazz fusion
Length30:30
Label CBS/Sony
Producer David Rubinson & Friends, Inc.
Herbie Hancock chronology
An Evening with Herbie Hancock & Chick Corea: In Concert
(1978)
Directstep
(1979)
Feets, Don't Fail Me Now
(1979)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]

Directstep is the twenty-fourth studio album by jazz pianist Herbie Hancock. The record was released exclusively in Japan on January 21, 1979, via the Japanese CBS/Sony label. [2] Participating musicians include saxophonist Bennie Maupin, keyboardist Webster Lewis, bass guitarist Paul Jackson, guitarist Ray Obiedo, percussionist Bill Summers, and drummer Alphonse Mouzon.

Contents

About the album

Directstep, released only in Japan, was one of the earliest albums ever released on CD. Webster Lewis became second keyboardist on this album in order for Hancock to handle the multiple layers of electronic texture that he hoped to achieve. Hancock re-recorded "I Thought It Was You" (originally on Sunlight ), making it even more electronic with his vocoding. "Butterfly" was also re-recorded (originally on Thrust ) making Directstep the second album after the original version (the first being Flood ), to have a rendition of "Butterfly". (The fourth would be Dis Is da Drum and the tune is also featured on Kimiko Kasai's LP, Butterfly, which Herbie plays on.) "Shiftless Shuffle" would later be re-recorded for 1980's Mr. Hands .

Track listing

CBS/Sony – 38DP 39 [3]

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Butterfly" Herbie Hancock, Bennie Maupin 7:53
2."Shiftless Shuffle"Herbie Hancock, Paul Jackson, Harvey Mason, Bill Summers 7:10
3."I Thought It Was You" Jeffrey Cohen, Herbie Hancock, Melvin Ragin 15:27
Total length:30:30

Personnel

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References

  1. "Herbie Hancock – Directstep (Review)". All Music . Retrieved July 18, 2011.
  2. "Herbie Hancock – Directstep (Vinyl, LP, Album)". Discogs . Retrieved October 2, 2017.
  3. "Herbie Hancock – Directstep (CD Album)". Discogs . Retrieved April 7, 2017.