The “best” of a soul master’s career on remastered vinyl…
Isaac Hayes – The Best of Isaac Hayes – Stax Records/ Craft Recordings #CR00894 – Remastered vinyl – ****
Isaac Hayes has a distinguished pantheon position in soul music, with his prime period being with Stax Records for more than a full decade starting in 1963. His career included writing songs for the Stax roster, recording classic issues of his own, and also composing film scores. To top it off, Hayes also had an acting career in both films and television. His stature, and bald head during the period of Afro hair styles, made him stand out even more.
Isaac is also known for using full orchestration, with horns and strings up front in the mix, while his velvety smooth voice drove crowds wild. His unique baritone voice also led him to a recurring role in the hit TV show, South Park.
Craft Recordings, as part of their prime re-issue program, is issuing The Best of Isaac Hayes, in vinyl, hi-res digital, and Dolby Atmos. The ten tracks have been remastered by Grammy winning engineer, Paul Blakemore.
Nearly all of the Stax Records hits for Hayes are included here. It doesn’t get much better to hear the “Theme for Shaft,” “Walk on By,” “Never Can Say Goodbye,” “By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” and “Do Your Thing,” just to name five of the iconic tracks that we all knew and cherished. Whether it’s the memorable opening to “Shaft,” or the gospel read that Hayes gives Burt Bacharach’s “Walk on By,” or even the opening eight minute monologue leading into Jimmy Webb’s “By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” Issac Hayes was not just a superb soul singer, he was a musical visionary.
If you already have a worn out vinyl version of these soul classics, it’s time to hear them again in their remastered glory. “Can you dig it, I knew you would..”
—Jeff Krow
The Best of Isaac Hayes
Tracklist:
Side One:
Theme from Shaft
Walk on By
Never Can Say Goodbye
The Look of Love
Theme from The Men
Side Two:
By the Time I Get to Phoenix
Joy (Pt. 1)
Do Your Thing
I Stand Accused
Wonderful
