Thrust

Released in September 1974, Thrust is the follow-up to Herbie Hancock's massive crossover hit Head Hunters. While it retains the same core lineup, the addition of drummer Mike Clark brought a more complex, polyrhythmic 'linear funk' sensibility to the group. The album consists of four extended tracks, each exploring a different facet of the fusion sound. 'Actual Proof' is widely regarded as one of the most technically demanding tracks in the fusion canon, originally written for the film 'The Spook Who Sat by the Door'. 'Butterfly' became a jazz-funk standard, later revisited by Hancock in numerous live settings. The album was a commercial success, reaching No. 13 on the Billboard 200, proving that high-level musical complexity could still find a massive audience during the mid-70s. It remains a cornerstone of the genre and a primary influence on modern neo-soul and electronic music production.