The late, great Isaac Hayes, best known for the “Theme from Shaft” and his role as “Chef” on South Park, produced some innovative albums in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Hot Butter Soul from 1969 only has four songs in it:
1 Walk on By 12:03
2 Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic 9:38
3 One Woman 5:10
4 By the Time I Get to Phoenix 18:42
You’ll notice the timings on those songs are loooooooong. But, that’s where the soul comes in. Backed by The Bar-Keys, Isaac Hayes croons his way through these lush arrangements. The first time I heard “Walk On By” done this way, so different from the Dionne Warwick version, I was stunned. If you’re in a soulful mood, or you want to be in one, listen to Hot Buttered Soul.”
My favorite album in any genre. I never get tired of it.
Isaac Hayes perfected his “long form” approach to songs, Craig. It was ground-breaking back then and sounds great now!
Yes indeed–one of the classics. I love Isaac Hayes, even his late 1970s period where he recorded things like “Don’t Let Go” with an unmistakable disco vibe. Of course, I am a former disco dolly, so perhaps it’s understandable.
After HOT BUTTERED SOUL, Deb, I went on to buy all of Isaac Hayes’ albums. I liked the “disco-flavored” ones, too!
It ate my comment. I hate when that happens.
Anyway, I had the original album of this. I haven’t listened to it in a long, long time.
HOT BUTTERED SOUL is still available, Jeff. Well worth revisiting! I bought my copy from DAEDELUS for $5.98 (salebooks.com).
Once he became a Scientologist I washed my hands of him.
That happened long after Isaac Hayes abandoned his music career, Bob.
a pretty darn good album.
HOT BUTTERED SOUL is one of Isaac Hayes best albums, Rick. Some listeners prefer his GREATEST HITS CD.
Lovely voice.
Isaac Hayes and Barry White, Patti, are two of the most soulful singers I can thnk of.
So?
George, I think they were called The Bar-Kays.
You’re right, Drongo! This wrist support causes a lot of typos.
I hope your wrist gets better.
I had a second cortisone shot and my carpel tunnel problem is almost gone, Drongo. But I’m still wearing the wrist support for another week or so just to be safe. It makes me clumsy when typing though.
Cap’n Bob’s comment about Hayes being a Scientologist reminds me of a Mardi Gras “throw” I caught at a parade a few years ago: A Scientology booklet called THE WAY TO HAPPINESS written (soi disant) by Isaac Hayes! At the time, I didn’t know he was a Scientologist, but that was less shocking to me than the fact that someone was throwing booklets from a Mardi Gras float. I felt like Ralphie when he decodes the Little Orphan Annie message and discovers it’s an Ovaltine commercial. A booklet about Scientology on Mardi Gras? Where were the cheap plastic beads, fuzzy stuffed animals, and plastic fleurs-de-lis????
That Isaac Hayes booklet could be a collector’s item now, Deb.
Deb, to get the non-Scientology goodies, you have to lift your shirt.
Drongo: Oh, now you tell me!
They must be getting desperate for new suckers if they’re resorting to tossing tracts into drunken mobs.