A spare, adventurous quartet date, home to 'Cantaloupe Island'. Inventive and beloved. A Blue Note gem. Their best-placed record on our lists, and a genuine essential.
On vinyl: Originals are widely faked and graded inconsistently — stick with a trusted reissue.
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Tracks from this album on our lists
- Cantaloupe Island on Best Jazz Songs of All Time, Best 1960s Jazz Songs
We don't reproduce full tracklists — only the songs from this record we've featured in our best-of lists.
More from Herbie Hancock — where to go next
If you have Empyrean Isles, these are the Herbie Hancock records worth reaching for next.
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1
Future Shock1983 · JazzStart here
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2
Empyrean Isles1964 · you're viewing this oneClassic
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3
Maiden Voyage1965 · JazzClassic
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4
Speak Like a Child1968 · JazzClassic
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5
Head Hunters1973 · JazzClassic
If you like Empyrean Isles, try
Point of DepartureAndrew Hill
Free for AllArt Blakey and the Jazz Messengers
Out to Lunch!Eric Dolphy
CrescentJohn Coltrane
The SidewinderLee Morgan
Getz/GilbertoStan Getz and João Gilberto