Isaac
Hayes
Where Stax Records are concerned you can always be assured of quality recordings and this latest offering from one of the Memphis label's greatest stars Isaac Hayes, is sure to please his many fans world-wide, as well as casual collectors of mainstream soul music purely on the back of the bonus DVD within this package. Seasoned soul collectors will be the first to remind you that Hayes' career spans back much further than his hit single from the MGM movie 'Shaft' in 1971, where together with David Porter, he co-wrote numerous classic soul recordings for the likes of Otis Redding/Sam & Dave and other artists on the Stax label as far back as 1967.
It was during the late sixties when Stax Records issued his now legendary 'Hot Buttered Soul' LP which treated us to some very unique cover versions of pop classics performed as long drawn out orchestral semi vocal deliveries that became his trademark over the next couple of years, and versions of Burt Bacharach's 'The Look Of Love' and 'Walk On By' are a sheer pleasure to listen to and represent all that's good about we now call chill out music. Check out Hayes' version of Jimmy Webb's 'By The Time I Get To Phoenix' (a hit for country singer Glen Campbell) where Isaac raps a story line before settling into a gentle arrangement of this great song complete with the usual atmospheric orchestral backing which sounds as unique to Stax Records as did The Love Unlimited Orchestra to Barry White. This was released here in the UK as a single, and had it not been such a long song (even after edit) it could easily have made mainstream radio plays at that time.
Hayes seems at home with the pop songs of the day and even found time to record his version of 'Never Can Say Goodbye' a song that found some fame and fortune for the Jackson 5, and during the middle seventies for disco diva Gloria Gaynor. There's no denying that Isaac wasn't the best vocalist in the world but there was something about his style that was so unique, together with a bunch of musicians that must have been the envy of other record companies the end result being an irresistible mix of late night soul to die for.
He found his biggest success world-wide when he composed and performed the music score for 'Shaft' a now legendary blaxploitation movie filmed in New York's Harlem district (which starred the great Richard Roundtree as the lead role as John Shaft), and this was a funky soundtrack that laid down the rules for others to follow and one that Bobby Womack must have had in mind when he composed 'Across 110th Street' in 1973. The theme single was a massive hit world-wide and brought Hayes' name to the mainstream record buying public, and it is worthy of note that the flip side 'Cafe Regio's' is one of the albums highlight's being an instrumental groove, tinged with jazz guitar licks that has yet to be beaten. Sadly, for reasons unknown this song doesn't appear on this set?.
The whole LP was warmly received and even today is looked upon as the definitive work of Isaac Hayes. Other movie themes followed and whilst good, in reality were nowhere as good as the Shaft soundtrack, but Hayes' name was in the public eye and that was to see him enjoy further success down the line. In 1972 he teamed up with former song writing partner David Porter for the US only single on the Enterprise label entitled 'Ain't That Loving You For More Reasons Than One' a jerky uptempo brass laden number aimed at the dancefloors and even today remains a great collectors item.
Disc one includes other selections from the Shaft set including 'Soulsville' and 'Do Your Thing' yet I was surprised to not see the dreamy instrumental 'Ellie's Love Theme' included on the tracklisting. In 1973 we were treated to what I consider to be his finest recording of all time with 'Joy' , whilst not forgetting Bacharach's 'Walk On By' another classic orchestral arrangement with some really soulful backing vocals and funky wah wah guitar for good measure and you can make the tea whilst this is playing running at just over 12 minutes it saves you having to keep reaching for the replay button. The aforementioned 'Joy' is for me the finest song of his career and was issued as a single on Stax in 1973 as parts 1 & 2, and one listen at this and you know where Barry White & Love Unlimited Orchestra found their success formula from. Sheer brilliance!!
There's also a great live version of Luther Ingram's 'If Loving You Is Right' and the reaction of the audience says it all. A powerful song with an equally powerful message although as the 1970's progressed Hayes moved labels and issued singles on Polydor and ABC Dunhill and as credible as they were, they failed to match up to his earlier work at the beginning of the decade. That said, there's an absolutely fabulous semi instrumental version here of Al Green's 'Let's Stay Together' although for me attempts at cashing in the disco market with the likes of 'Chocolate Chip' and 'Disco Connection' did little for his reputation at that time but thankfully it did not lose him any fans.
Now for the real treat - a bonus DVD featuring Isaac's performances at 'Wattstax' in 1972 (15 mins) and that alone is worth the price of this set. Hayes is a master of his craft and this CD set and DVD is a perfect opportunity to experience a master a t work.
Rating 10/10