Shaft

Music by Isaac Hayes

 

 

 

 

 

More than a hit, Shaft´s theme is the symbol of an era and had its social significance (along with the film) as the famous James Brown´s black pride songs.

Today the theme is recognized as a precursor disco music, due to the insistent rhythm and electronic effects. Originally available in double LP, the CD brings new recordings of the original track heard on the movie (lots of soundtracks did that on the time). Richly varied the album contains straight pop numbers as Cafe Regio, Be Yourself and Bumpy's Blues in arrangements that give ot the sets of strings and electronics the same importance as to the usual soul music instrumentation. Therefore, basses, strings, keyboards and woodwinds sum up in an incredibly cohesive virtuosity. Hayes was very effective in this orientation as can be checked in the powerful No Name Bar and Be Yourself. The irresistible ballads also display creative arrangements and the expansion of Hayes work to what could be named soul-jazz-symphonic. On that way, the tracks A Friendly Place and Early Sunday Morning are highlights. The notorious booming voice of the composer could not be absent and marks presence in the carefree Soulsville and Do Your Thing, this last a psychedelic soul suite that closes the album with its 19 minutes!

Shaft 1971

Isaac Hayes

69 min

Stax Records