This set provides an accurate overview of the {|Stax|} era recordings of the only man fit to be called The Black Moses Of Soul -- {|Isaac Hayes|}. Prior to becoming a solo artist, {|Hayes|} and partner {|David Porter|} were collectively responsible f... Read more

This set provides an accurate overview of the {|Stax|} era recordings of the only man fit to be called The Black Moses Of Soul -- {|Isaac Hayes|}. Prior to becoming a solo artist, {|Hayes|} and partner {|David Porter|} were collectively responsible for well over 200 sides -- including the genre defining {|When Something Is Wrong With My Baby,|} {|Soul Man,|} {|B-A-B-Y,|} {| Hold On, I'm Comin',|} and {|I Had a Dream.|} {|Hayes|} then redefined the role of the long player with his inimitably smooth narrative style of covering classic {|pop|} and {|R&B|} tracks, many of which would spiral well over ten minutes. Thanks to the extended play time available on CDs, {|Man!: The Ultimate Isaac Hayes 1969-1977|} (2001) is able to include several of those sidelong cuts such as {|Walk On By,|} {|By The Time I Get To Phoenix,|} and the {|Look Of Love.|} Oddly, compilers opted for the single edit of {|I Stand Accused,|} rather than the version found on the {|Isaac Hayes Movement|} (1970). Otherwise, this collection gathers 21 sides from {|Hayes|}' dozen solo platters for the Memphis-based {|R&B|} {|Stax|} label and the subsidiary {|Enterprise Records|}. No ultimate collection could be so without a fair sampling from {|Hayes|}' seminal {|blaxploitation soundtracks|} to {|Shaft|} (1971) and {|Truck Turner|}, the latter of which also featured the musician in the lead role. In addition to featuring the obvious theme songs, also included is the hard-to-find theme to the short-lived television show {|The Men|} -- which was issued as a single, although it also popped up on the highly recommended {|Live at the Sahara Tahoe|} (1973) set. Notably represented are some later sides such as the four/four funk of {|Disco Connection|}, and the aggressive and greasy funk of {|Chocolate Chip|}. Inevitably, it would be impossible to include all of the possible inclusions, and as such, tracks such as the {|psychedelic|} {|Hyperbolicsyallabicsesquedalymistic|} from {|Hot Buttered Soul|} (1969), or either of the epic renderings of {|Ain't No Sunshine,|} from either the {|Wattstax|} (1973) {|soundtrack|} or the previously mentioned {|Live At The Sahara Tahoe|}. Those minor complaints aside, enthusiasts of all degrees of interest won't go wrong with {|Man!: The Ultimate Isaac Hayes 1969-1977|}. ~ Lindsay Planer Less