# Watermelon Man - Herbie Hancock ## Recording Information **Album:** Takin' Off **Recorded:** May 28, 1962 **Studio:** [[Van Gelder Studio]], Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey **Engineer:** [[Rudy Van Gelder]] **Producer:** Alfred Lion **Label:** Blue Note Records **Personnel:** [[Herbie Hancock]] (piano), Freddie Hubbard (trumpet), Dexter Gordon (tenor sax), [[Butch Warren]] (bass), Billy Higgins (drums)[^1] ## Recording Setup [[Rudy Van Gelder]] captured this 16-bar blues in F using his signature close miking technique with German condensers (Neumann U47s, M49s).[^2] Direct to 2-track stereo tape with live balance—no post-mixing capability.[^3] [[Van Gelder Studio|Van Gelder]] balanced all mic levels live during the performance, combining tracking and mixing into a simultaneous procedure.[^3] **Bass approach:** [[Butch Warren]]'s bass line is considered a classic, featuring chromatic approach notes on beat 4 of each riff.[^4] [[Rudy Van Gelder|Van Gelder]] likely used his pioneering direct-out technique, blending DI signal with mic'd amp for the punchy, present bass tone.[^5] **Drums:** Billy Higgins' groove recorded with [[Rudy Van Gelder|RVG]]'s typical 3-mic setup: kick, overhead between snare/hat, and one on the left side.[^6] The big room at Englewood Cliffs contributed natural ambience. **Panning:** Stereo imaging places horns wide (Hubbard left, Gordon right) with rhythm section centered—typical [[Rudy Van Gelder|Van Gelder]] stereo placement for hard bop.[^7] ## Production Recorded hot with peak limiting and slight tape saturation for immediacy.[^8] No multitrack overdubs—all musicians playing together live. [[Rudy Van Gelder|Van Gelder]] handled complete chain from recording through mastering, achieving his signature low-noise floor despite aggressive levels.[^8] ## Notable Characteristics Hancock wrote "Watermelon Man" as his first composition with commercial intent, inspired by Chicago watermelon vendors whose wagon wheels "beat out the rhythm on the cobblestones."[^1] The tune draws from R&B, soul jazz, and bebop elements.[^1] Mongo Santamaría's 1962 Latin cover became a surprise pop hit (#10), paying Hancock's bills for five years.[^9] The original 1962 recording features a 7-minute performance with eight repetitions of the opening vamp (score calls for four).[^10] Hancock's chordal work draws from gospel tradition while his solo builds on repeated riffs and trilled figures.[^11] ## Footnotes [^1]: [Wikipedia: Watermelon Man](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watermelon_Man_(composition)) - Personnel, composition origin, Chicago watermelon man story [^2]: [RVG Legacy: Microphones](https://rvglegacy.org/microphones/) - Van Gelder's Neumann U47 and M49 usage confirmed for 1962 sessions [^3]: [Flypaper: Rudy Van Gelder Ethos](https://flypaper.soundfly.com/discovery/rudy-van-gelder-optometrist-ethos-record-making/) - Direct to 2-track tape, simultaneous tracking/mixing procedure [^4]: [eBassGuitar: Watermelon Man Bass](https://ebassguitar.com/how-to-play-watermelon-man/) - Butch Warren's chromatic approach note on beat 4 [^5]: [r/Jazz: RVG tribute](https://www.reddit.com/r/Jazz/comments/4zju8r/i_hate_posting_thesebut_absolute_recording_legend/) - Van Gelder pioneered direct-out technique for bass [^6]: [GearSpace: RVG Recording](https://gearspace.com/board/remote-possibilities-in-recording-amp-production/2277-anyone-know-what-rudy-van-gelder-recording.html) - Typical 3-mic drum setup: kick, overhead, left side [^7]: [RVG Legacy: Van Gelder Sound Characteristics](https://rvglegacy.org/characteristics-of-the-van-gelder-sound/) - Close miking, stereo placement techniques [^8]: [RVG Legacy: Van Gelder Sound](https://rvglegacy.org/characteristics-of-the-van-gelder-sound/) - Peak limiting, tape saturation, low-noise floor philosophy [^9]: [Wikipedia: Watermelon Man](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watermelon_Man_(composition)) - Mongo Santamaría cover success, commercial impact [^10]: [MusicalLinks: Watermelon Man Analysis](https://truongmusicallinks.weebly.com/watermelon-man-by-herbie-hancock.html) - Eight vamp repetitions vs. four in score [^11]: [Culture Wiki: Watermelon Man](https://culture.fandom.com/wiki/Watermelon_Man_(composition)) - Gospel chordal work, riff-based solo construction #jazz #hardbop #bluenote #rudyvangelder #herbiehancock