Magic Windows is the thirty-second album by jazz pianist Herbie Hancock, released on September 29, 1981, on Columbia. This album continues his collaboration with associate producer Jeffrey Cohen, who co-wrote four of the tracks on the album. Additionally, the track "Satisfied with Love" was co-written by his sister, Jean Hancock. Musicians involved in this album include guitarists Wah-Wah Watson, Ray Parker Jr. and Adrian Belew, vocalist Sylvester and percussionists Sheila E. and Paulinho da Costa.
Track listing
"Magic Number" (David Rubinson, Hancock, Jeffrey Cohen) – 7:24
"Tonight's the Night" (Hancock, Jeffrey Cohen, Ray Parker Jr.) – 6:31
"Everybody's Broke" (Alphonse Mouzon, Gavin Christopher, Hancock, Jeffrey Cohen) – 7:11 "Help Yourself" (David Rubinson, Gavin Christopher, Hancock, Jeffrey Cohen) – 6:43 "Satisfied with Love" (Hancock, Jean Hancock) – 6:31 "The Twilight Clone" (Adrian Belew, Hancock) – 8:19
Synthesisers
Amongst the other synthesizers employed on this album, an Alpha Syntauri (enhanced Apple II computer) was used for some of the tracks.
Liner-notes on the CD version, from "Jazz Originals Series", say "There are no strings, or other orchestral instruments on this album. All of these orchestrations are performed by Herbie Hancock on various synthesizers."
Personnel
Herbie Hancock - E-mu Polyphonic keyboard, E-mu Emulator, clavitar, Minimoog, Prophet 5, Oberheim 8 Voice, Yamaha CS-80, ARP Odyssey, ARP 2600, Hohner clavinet, Rhodes 88 Suitcase piano, Sennheiser, Linn LM-1 drum computer, modified Apple II+ computer, acoustic piano, bass (2), backing vocals (3) Michael Brecker - tenor saxophone (2, 4) Ray Parker Jr. (1-2), George Johnson (3, 6), Al McKay (4), Wah-Wah Watson (5), Adrian Belew (6) - guitar Freddie Washington (1, 5), Louis Johnson (3, 6), Ed Watkins (4) - bass John Robinson (1, 3), Ray Parker Jr. (2), James Gadson (4), Alphonse Mouzon (5) - drums Kwasi Dzidzornu, Kwawu Ladzekpo, Moody Perry III - bells, Ghanaian drums (6) Juan Escovedo, Pete Escovedo, Sheila Escovedo (1), Paulinho da Costa (6) - percussion Sylvester (1), Vicki Randle (2), Gavin Christopher (3-5) - lead vocals Jeanie Tracy (1), Dede Dickerson, Ngoh Spencer and Vicki Randle (2-4), David Bottom and Jeffrey Cohen (3), Julia, Luther, Maxine and Oren Waters (5) - backing vocals