ProJazz.net

Sound-System is the thirtieth album by jazz pianist Herbie Hancock and the second of three albums co-produced by Bill Laswell with the ‘Rockit’ Band. Guest artists include saxophonist Wayne Shorter, guitarist Henry Kaiser, kora player/percussionist Foday Musa Suso and drummer Anton Fier.

Reception

AllMusic review by Richard S. Ginell gave the album 3 stars and write:”In the grand tradition of sequels, Sound-System picks up from where Future Shock left off — if anything, even louder and more bleakly industrial than before (indeed, “Hardrock” is “Rockit” with a heavier rock edge). Yet Hancock’s experiments with techno-pop were leading him in the general direction of Africa, explicitly so with the addition of the Gambian multi-instrumentalist Foday Musa Suso on half of the tracks. “Junku,” written for the 1984 Olympic Games with Suso’s electrified kora in the lead, is the transition track that stands halfway between “Rockit” and Hancock’s mid-’80s Afro-jazz fusions. Also, “Karabali” features an old cohort, the squealing Wayne Shorter on soprano sax. Despite succumbing a bit to the overwhelming demand for more “Rockits,” Hancock’s electric music still retained its adventurous edge.”

Track listing
“Hardrock” (Herbie Hancock, Bill Laswell, Derek Showard) – 6:08
“Metal Beat” (Herbie Hancock, Bill Laswell) – 4:53
“Karabali” (Herbie Hancock, Daniel Poncé) – 5:17
“Junku” (Herbie Hancock, Bill Laswell, Foday Musa Suso, Aiyb Dieng) – 5:30
“People are Changing” (Timmy Thomas) – 6:03
“Sound System” (Herbie Hancock, Bill Laswell, Foday Musa Suso) – 5:51

Bonus track from CD reissue

“Metal Beat (Extended Version)” (Herbie Hancock, Bill Laswell) – 6:44

Personnel
Herbie Hancock – Yamaha DX7 (1, 2, 4, 5, 6), Fairlight CMI (1–4, 6), Rhodes Chroma (1, 4), E-mu 4060 digital keyboard (1), Apple IIe computer (1), acoustic piano (3, 4, 5), Memorymoog (4), clavinet (6)
Will Alexander – Fairlight CMI programming (1, 2, 3, 6)
Rob Stevens – synthesizers (1, 4), programming (4)
D.S.T. – turntables (1, 2, 6), sound effects (1, 2, 6)
Henry Kaiser – guitar (1, 2)
Nicky Skopelitis – guitar (1, 6)
Bill Laswell – electric bass (1, 4, 6), Oberheim DMX (1, 2, 4, 6), tapes (1, 4), shortwave electronics (2)
Anton Fier – Simmons drums (1, 2, 6), percussion (1, 2, 6), cymbals (2), Synare (6), timpani (6)
Daniel Poncé – assorted percussion (1, 3)
Aïyb Dieng – assorted percussion (2, 4, 5, 6), Roland TR-808 (5)
Foday Musa Suso – assorted percussion (2, 6), dusunguni (2, 4), balafon (2), kora (4, 6), kalimba (4), guitar (6)
Hamid Drake – cymbals (3)
Wayne Shorter – lyricon (2), soprano saxophone (3)
Bernard Fowler – voice (2), vocals (3, 5), vocal arrangements (3, 5)
Toshinori Kondo – speaking voice (2), trumpet (6)

__________________

Released: August 20, 1984
Recorded: October–December 1983
Studio: Evergreen Studios (New York City, NY);
Studio: Media (Evanston, IL);
El Dorado Studios and Garage Sale Recording (Los Angeles, CA)
Length: 33:42
Label: Columbia
Producer: Bill Laswell