Isaac Hayes
The Best Of The Polydor Years

THE REVIEW

THE MUSIC OF THE SOUL OF THE BLACK MOSES

Isaac Hayes, born in Tennessee in 1942, better known by the nickname 'The Black Moses', is one of the greatest exponents of American black soul music.

This album is a collection; the songs contained here all date back to the late '70s and early '80s. He is a very well-known figure in the States, partly due to his past as an actor and partly because he authored the beautiful and famous soundtrack of the police film "Shaft", which was hugely successful in the '70s. Huge, statuesque, and imposing physique, bald head, and thick black beard, gaze concealed behind enormous black glasses, just glance at him for two seconds to realize you're facing a monumental figure in 'Soul.' We often find him at the electric keyboard (his primary instrument), although in some pieces, he also dabbles in the xylophone, marimba, and alto sax.

The twelve tracks on the album are pure compositions in perfect black music style, ranging from the sweetest and slow ballads to the most rhythmic and powerful soul tracks; all magnificently accompanied by the warm, deep, profound, and unmistakable voice of the artist. All twelve tracks are splendid, 'Soul' velvety, powerful, and refined at the same time, always extremely effective.

However, particularly noteworthy: "Moonlight Lovin' (Menage A Trois)" endless (10 minutes) and very rhythmic in full black style, the rich brass and the notes of the electric piano (which here more than ever are reminiscent of some tracks by Stevie Wonder) of the legendary "Don't Let Go", then the slowest and soft ballads "What Does It Take" and especially "Wherever You Are"; finally, the enchanting and dreamy closing track "It's Heaven To Me", whispered and not sung by the author. For the composition of this last song, Hayes had as a muse an announcer of a commercial television, never actually known to the author. But to compose the love song, he pinned her poster on the wall of his hotel room opposite the keyboard, and the magical notes emerged by themselves.

An immense album, extraordinary, little known in our country, much more famous in the States. I highly recommend it to all those who appreciate soul music, as it truly represents one of its highest expressions.