Perfect Machine

Not to be confused with The Perfect Machine.

Untitled

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Robert Christgau	C+

Perfect Machine is the thirty-seventh album by jazz pianist Herbie Hancock, and the last with the Rockit Band.

About

The last of the three Rockit band albums an considered the least popular, Perfect Machine was also Hancock's final album for Columbia Records.

The album was released in 1988, following Sound-System, which won Hancock's second Grammy award for Best R&B Instrumental Performance in 1985, and Round Midnight, which won the Academy Award for Best Music, Original Score in 1986.

Even though this album produced a unique music video for "Vibe Alive", it received unfavorable reviews.

Track listing

All songs by Hancock, Laswell, Collins and Bonner, except where noted.

1. "Perfect Machine" (Hancock, Laswell, Skopelitis) - 6:35
2. "Obsession" - 5:20
3. "Vibe Alive" (Hancock, Laswell, Collins, Bonner, Micro Wave) - 5:26
4. "Beat Wise" - 5:52
5. "Maiden Voyage/P. Bop" - 6:34
6. "Chemical Residue" (Hancock) - 6:01
7. "Vibe Alive" (Extended Dance Mix)* - 8:13
8. "Beat Wise" (12-Inch Edit)* - 6:28

• Tracks marked with an asterisk(*) available only on the CD re-issue.

Personnel

• Herbie Hancock – piano, Fairlight CMI Series I & II, Rhodes Chroma, Macintosh Plus, Yamaha DX1, Yamaha DX7 and DX7IIFD, Kurzweil K250, Yamaha TX816, Oberheim Matrix–12, Akai S900, vocoder
• Jeff Bova – synth programming
• Bootsy Collins – bass guitar, vocoder
• Micro Wave – Minimoog bass, talk box, vocoder
• Nicky Skopelitis – Fairlight drums
• Grand Mixer DXT – turntables, sound effects
• Leroy Bonner – vocals

Production

• Herbie Hancock, Bill Laswell, Material – producers
• Tony Meilandt – associate producer
• Martin Bisi, Mike Krowiak, Dave Jerden, Billy Yodelman, Bryan Bell – engineers
• Dave Jerden – mixing
• Howie Weinberg – mastering