The verdict
Documented Sampling History
Confirmed songwriter of record (Herbie Hancock), no dispute found — its publishing royalties (via Mongo Santamaría’s hit cover) later funded Hancock’s turn to electronic music and “Rockit,” already in this catalog. Hancock’s own personal clearance practice is documented via “Nautilus.”
Quick Facts
Released1962
AlbumTakin' Off
GenreJazz, Hard Bop
LabelBlue Note Records
ProducerAlfred Lion
Recorded atEnglewood Cliffs, NJ
More infoWikipedia → · Discogs →
Who you need to ask
The songwriter of record — Herbie Hancock
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
The current administrator — Not confirmed for this specific song — needs a Songview/Discogs lookup
Unknown · checked Jul 2026
Has it been reused?
Yes — recorded 200+ times; Mongo Santamaría’s Latin cover outsold the original (#10 Hot 100). Its royalties funded Hancock’s later electronic turn — and “Rockit” (already in this catalog).
Do they allow reuse?
No standalone policy found for this song specifically; confirmed songwriter of record and no dispute found.
Related Songs
Same album, answer records, and songs worth knowing about
This song’s royalties funded Hancock’s electronic turn and “Rockit” (already in this catalog)
Same artist (already in this catalog)
Who Owns It
Licenses explained →The two permissions you need, and who holds them
The song itself (the writing)Herbie Hancock
The recording (current administrator)Not confirmed for this song
Receipts
Every public mention of terms, policy, or past deals we've found
The royalties that funded “Rockit”
Rather than resenting being outsold by Mongo Santamaría’s hit cover, Hancock benefited from the publishing royalties — he’s said they paid his bills for five or six years and funded his artistic freedom (he bought an AC Shelby Cobra he reportedly still owns). Songfacts states these same royalties later funded his turn to electronic music, directly resulting in “Rockit” (already in this catalog).
uDiscover Music / Songfacts · read it →
Can You Use It for Free?
How to check PD →Is it public domain?No
Sample History
—
Times sampled
Recorded 200+ times (Mongo Santamaría, Quincy Jones, and more)
Covers
—
First flip
Big names who used itMongo Santamaría · The J.B.’s
Who to Contact
WM
Herbie Hancock
The confirmed songwriter of record
What they'll chargeNobody's shared numbers yet
Don't Want the Hassle?
Sample something pre-cleared insteadCheck Tracklib →
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References
Every source cited on this page — 3 in total
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Page history · 2 updates
Jul 2026Page created — full research (Research Queue Batch 10)
Jul 2026BPM/Key pending the automated GetSongBPM/Deezer pass