Recorded - mid 1971
Released - July 1971 (album), September 1971 (edited single)
#1 for weeks of November 20 and 27, 1971.
Stax Records was known for producing many of the biggest names in soul music. One of those was soul music legend Isaac Hayes. Nowadays most kids and young adults born after 1980 know Isaac best as the voice of "Chef" from South Park. Yet, Isaac was so much more than that, as you'll soon find out...
Isaac joined the Stax label in the early 1960's as a session musician and songwriter. Some of his songwriting credits include such Sam & Dave classics like "Hold On, I'm Commin'" and "Soul Man". Then in 1969, Hayes released his first solo album, Hot Buttered Soul and everything changed.
If you want a perfect example of how to cover a song, not only improving it, but actually adding emotion, then check out Hayes' reworking of Jimmy Webb's "By The Time I Get To Phoenix". This is unquestionably one of the greatest soul ballads of all time. Throughout the next three years, Isaac enjoyed an immense amount of success with his records, but it was his soundtrack album to the 1971 film Shaft that launched his already high career into the stratosphere.
Here we have a rare example where the soundtrack of a film has surpassed the film itself in popularity. If you watch the opening titles of the film and compare that version of "Theme From Shaft" to the album/single version, you'll find they are two different recordings, yet they sound quite similar. Although it is the edited single version that topped the charts, I'm listening to the full album version and I'd highly recommend that this be the version you check out yourself.
Just like "I Want To Hold Your Hand" seven years previous, "Theme From Shaft" could be considered one big hook all the way through. The song opens with drummer Willie Hall's hi-hat drum beats and guitarist Charlie Pitts gives us a funky wah-wah guitar part. Even in the single edit of the song, we have quite a bit of time devoted to building up atmosphere with new instruments being added every few seconds. You could have released just the full intro as the song and it would have been a classic instrumental tune.
Then, we're finally introduced to the unique bass voice of Isaac Hayes. The song's lyrics may pertain to a film, but Isaac was able to make such seemingly unimportant lyrics mean something due to his highly emotive voice. Speaking of the lyrics, they are quite risque, even for 1971. I view this of course as a good thing and a perfect sign that we are progressing with the times.
After the early 1970's, Hayes continued to put out albums, many under his "Hot Buttered Soul" record label. Still, it is the 1969-1972 time period that gave him his biggest chart hits. Even after his death in 2008, people are still discovering some of the many Grade-A soul albums he recorded throughout his career for the first time, thus ensuring his legacy will live on.
Final Verdict - Isaac Hayes' Shaft soundtrack is a top contender for greatest soundtrack album of all time. The title tune itself is musically complex and captivating. Isaac's vocals are gripping and the epitome of soul. Don't overlook this tune just because it was tailor-made for a film. This is a classic, and a well-deserved chart topper.
Coming Up Next - "Family Affair" by Sly & The Family Stone.
Until Next Time..."Who's that Doc as sharp as a bone, with puns so bad they make you groan?...ROCK!"
No comments:
Post a Comment