Isaac Hayes

Isaac is a talented keyboardist and vocalist who began recording an producing in the early 1960's, co-writing "Soul Man". First song to hit it really big was "Theme from Shaft", taken from the Blaxploitation movie of the early 1970's. For many, this song typifies the sound of the 1970's, with its wah-wah guitar and deep soul vocals. It's also highly danceable and was played in discos through to the early 1980's. Early 1970's period was very funky; Hayes went on to record further Blaxploitation film themes, including "Truck Turner", "The Men" and "Tough Guys". "Joy" was also a US hit around this time.

A switch to his own label Hot Buttered Soul (a sub-label of ABC) in 1975 next secured disco dancefloor hits along the lines of "Chocolate Chip", "Disco Connection" (UK top 10), "Groove-a-thon" and "Juicy Fruit (disco freak)". All these last recordings are heavily disco orientated in the Hayes style. The LP's around this time, though, don't contain much more disco material are are more soul-biased. Exceptions are "Disco Shuffle" and "Choppers" from "Disco Connection" LP. His next label change was to Polydor, where he released two albums before bankrupcy. "For The Sake Of Love" included his best disco song of all, "Zeke the Freak" - highly recommended. This album also contains "Shaft II" - his late 1970's remix of "Theme from Shaft". Also from this later period, listen out for "Moonlight lovin' (menage a trois)" - his first US 12" and mixed by Tom Moulton.

The first disco "deep groove" pressing of Shaft on vinyl in the world was the UK 4-track EP issued in 1976 on Stax (see above). Another UK 4-track EP from the same year on ABC brings "Disco connection" to the 12" EP. Also, both "Zeke the freak" and "Shaft II" are available on UK 12" but not US 12" (both are on Polydor).

Isaac Hayes still records and produces today.

Moonlight lovin' (menage a trois) / Stranger in paradise (Polydor 12" PRO 024, 1977) Just the way you are (Polydor 12" PRO 065, 1978) Don't let go / (short) (Polydor 12" PRO 103, 1979) I ain't never (Polydor 12" PRO 132, 1980)

 

  1. Shaft (4 track EP) (Stax 12" [UK] BD 109, 1971) - pressed in 1976
  2. Disco connection (4 track EP) (ABC 12" [UK] ABE 12007, 1977)
  3. Zeke the freak / If we ever needed peace (Polydor 12" [UK] POSPX 23, 1978)
  4. Don't let go (Polydor 12" [UK] STEPX 004, 1979)
  5. I ain't never (3 track EP) (Polydor 12" [UK] 2141 262, 1980) - w/ Shaft II

     

  6. Presenting Isaac Hayes (Stax LP1967)
  7. Hot Buttered Soul (Stax LP, 1969)
  8. The Isaac Hayes Movement (Stax LP, 1970)
  9. To be Continued (Stax LP, 1971)
  10. Shaft (Stax LP, 1971)
  11. Black Moses (Stax LP, 1972)
  12. Live at the Sahara Tahoe (Stax LP, 1973)
  13. Joy (Stax LP, 1973)
  14. Tough Guys (Stax LP, 1974)
  15. Truck Turner (Stax LP, 1974)
  16. Chocolate Chip (Hot Buttered Soul LP, 1975)
  17. Disco Connection (ABC LP, 1975)
  18. Groove-a-thon (HBS LP, 1976)
  19. Juicy Fruit (Disco Freak) (ABC LP, 1976)
  20. New Horizon (Polydor LP, 1977)
  21. For the sake of love (Polydor LP, 1978)
  22. Don't let go (Polydor LP, 1979)
  23. And once again (Polydor LP, 1979)

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