#373 Isaac Hayes, 'Hot Buttered Soul' (1969)

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Isaac Hayes, probably most famous for his ‘Theme From Shaft,’ and in later years as the voice of Chef from ‘South Park, released his sophomore album in 1969. His label, Stax Records, was in a bit of strife; their biggest artist, Otis Redding, had just died and they had lost their entire back catalogue to Atlantic Records. Executive Vice President, Al Bell, called for 27 albums from the various artists on the label. Having suffered a flop of a debut record, Hayes said he would only do it if he had complete creative control. It was agreed and the result was this, an album with only 4 tracks that clocked in at 45 minutes.

Beginning with a 12 minute version of Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s ‘Walk On By,’ the song is almost unrecognisable having been transformed into a lengthy soul jam. Next up is a mouthful of a song title, ‘Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic,’ a song ironically poking fun at people that use big words unnecessarily. Side two is considerably more downbeat than the first featuring the shortest song on the album, ‘One Woman,’ followed by the longest, ‘By The Time I Get To Phoenix,’ an 18 minute cover of a Jimmy Webb song. This album is a landmark record in soul. I’ve never listened to much by Isaac Hayes other than the hits but I really liked this one. Completely different to anything else I’ve listened to.

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