Long before finding fame as a recording creative person under his own key out, Isaac Hayes had already built an enviable report as effected multi-instrumentalist, session musician, sung dynasty writer and producer for Stax Records - the southern soul label that was the grittier flip side to Motown's sander style. Hayes collaborations with fellow songster David Porter gave the label some of its biggest hits including Soul Man and Hold On - I'm Coming for Sam & Dave, right through to the ground breaking and award victorious film soundtracks like Shaft, forged in the 70s.
In 1969 - after the previous death of Stax fable Otis Redding and the loss of its back catalogue to Atlantic Records - Stax's fortunes were revived by Hayes' indorsement solo album - Hot Buttered Soul, in which Isaac typeset out the template for much of the psyche, funk, disco and hip-hop music that was to come in the future decade and a half: deeply funky and fleshly grooves, all wrapped in a sleeve featuring potent, assertive Afro-American iconography, perfectly in holding with the era of civil rights and black consciousness. Hayes specialised in expanding classic pop tunes into long, sultry explorations and his version of Walk On By - a 12-minute marathon - is a much darker thing than Burt Bacharach could ever have imagined: here string section, fuzz guitar and altered time signatures blend into a barren and individualist reading.
As commercial success and critical acclaim accrued, peculiarly around the Black Moses album, Isaac reached black icon status similar to that of James Brown. His efforts were to be comprehended and intent by everyone from Barry White through to Ice Cube and Tricky. As well as the innovations and charity work - Hayes was one of the artists who helped bring close to the 'super stud of soul' impersonation along with other unstoppable lover work force like Marvin Gaye and the aforementioned Walrus Of Love. Several of the tracks on this digest have suffered a short by association with his cartoon character, 'Chef ' from South Park to post-modern ears, although the resulting telecasting for number one single 'Chocolate Salty Balls' is included on the bonus DVD of this pretty comprehensive compilation. What IS missing is the vertebral column chilling, pilomotor reflex worrying cut Ikes' Rap II for this is the turn heavily sampled by Portishead for their 90s coffee tree table trip-hop anthem, Glory Box. Its omission is a shame as it would have made this compilation fully complete for diehards and sample chasers, as well as more than relevant to those newfangled to the work of this musical and cultural innovator, so soon after his recent untimely death.
Isaac Hayes did it all - terrifically, and this collection draws together most every classic moment from the man's long and genre-forming career in a nice and respectful package.
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