The Gear of Classic Herbie Hancock Albums

Feets Don’t Fail Me Now (1979)

Like many other artists in the 1970s, Hancock was feeling the pull of the dance floor, and Feets Don’t Fail Me Now features plenty of DJ-ready vocoder disco jazz. While Hancock’s gear list for Feets was largely the same as Sunlight, one thing that was different was the presence of programmer Gordon Bahary, later of electro group Twilight 22 fame. We spoke with Bahary about his time working with Hancock.

Hancock got in touch with Bahary after his work on Stevie Wonder’s album, The Secret Life Of Plants, and worked with Hancock at Automat Studios in San Francisco. “I created synthesizer sounds so he could play most of the instruments,” Bahary explained. “My focus on this album was more orchestral instruments.”

“Herbie was one of the most adept musicians in terms of innovation,” he continued, “so it was fantastic to bounce ideas off each other. He understood everything I was doing with filters, resonance, envelopes. Most of the other people there did not understand what we were doing at the time. Today it is more understood and common. So we were in our own world speaking our own language. It was great fun.”

When asked what instruments he remembered at the sessions, Bahary confirmed the Oberheim 8-Voice and Sennheiser vocoder. He also brought one of his own: a custom-made, touch sensitive Odyssey built for him by ARP in 1975 upon his request. This can also be heard on “Electric Kingdom,” Twilight 22’s 1983 hip-hop hit.

How was it working with Hancock? “He was a gentleman and very kind to everyone, as well as humble,” remembered Bahary. “I’m still gaining more appreciation today for all that I learned. He was a consummate professional in all areas of the session, including the arrangements he wrote for individual musicians and orchestra, and was respectful to each musician.”

Another example of Hancock knowing what he wanted and working with the right people to achieve his vision.