Isaac Hayes – Black Moses

Album Revolution #4:

For 3 years straight, "Isaac Hayes" Released 4 Classic albums, with 3 of them being HITS ("Hot Buttered Soul", "The Isaac Hayes Movement" & ...To Be Continued")....With that, it gave "Isaac" even MORE incentive to create what he WANTED....With that, "Ike" went into his CREATIVE BAG and besides his Moniker, "Man In Chains", he CREATED another....

Enter the Moniker; "Black Moses".....

There was SOOOO MANY variables going into this, and I'm not even talking about the Music....As expressed up top, the album cover....The fold out went into "Ike's" arms in the form of a Cross...With this also being a 2 LP set, the inside jackets of each record had the Song Titles of each LP on Stone Tablets....That was also on the back cover with the album credits on the Tablets as well...This TRIPPED ME OUT as a Kid!!!!!

The one thing I DIDN'T LIKE though, was how the album was arranged!!!! The 1st Record had, Side 1 and 4, and the 2nd, Side 2 and 3...I have OTHER albums LIKE THIS, like "Stevie Wonder's" 2 LP Set, "Songs In The Key Of Life"...Sorry, but until my DYING day, I will NEVER UNDERSTAND THAT!!!!

Well, anyway, this was also the album that my Moms just DROVE INTO THE GROUND!!!!! When I grew up though, I started to UNDERSTAND WHY!!!! Just like "Ike's" other albums, he has MOSTLY Dreamy Slow Cutz on here, he has just MORE of them belonging here!!!!

He also FINALLY named his "Isaac Hayes Movement" Band....The Band consisted of; "Ronnie Hudson" (Bass), "Gary Jones" (Percussions), "Willie Hall" (who came over from "The Bar-Kays", Drums), "Lester Snell" (Electric Piano), "Charles "Skip" Pitts" (Guitars) and "Sidney Kirk" (with "Isaac" doing various Instruments himself)....On two of the Tracks, he still worked with his Buddies, "The Bar-Kays"....And let's not forget, that ALL OVER THIS ALBUM, "Ike" HAD to HAVE the Vocal assistance of "Hot, Buttered & Soul" ("Pat and Diane Lewis" and "Rose Williams")....

So now, FINALLY getting to the album, it starts with "Ike's" Vision of the "Clifton Davis"/"Jackson 5" Classic, "Never Can Say Goodbye"...Where "The Jackson 5" version is an Airy Soulful Slow Jam, "Ike's" Version is a MOODY SOULFUL T....One thing I noticed on this one, is it has "Isaac" doing Layered Vocals....I believe this was the first time he did this (even though I can't prove it)....

As USUAL, "Ike" has to have a Vision for a "Burt Bacharach"/"Hal David" Composition...This time it was for "(They Long To Be) Close To You"....Starting with those "Isaac Hayes Movement Arrangements", with everything accompanying the Rhythm Section from "The Bar-Kays" (one of the ts they were on), with the Extravaganza of Orchestrations (including Triangles), TOPPED off by the MASTERFUL Background Vocals of "Hot, Buttered & Soul"...The last 3 minutes REALLY took things to the NEXT LEVEL!!!! Having "Hot, Buttered & Soul" being the STARS here with the "AHHHH AHHHH's" in ULTIMATE SONIC Vocals is just PRICELESS!!!!

"Ike's" Vision of "Toussaint McCall's", "Nothing Takes The Place Of You", sounds like a LONG Version of the kind of Songs he was Producing with "David Porter" for "Sam and Dave"....In fact, it kind of puts me in the head space of "When Something Is Wrong with My Baby"....

The Vision "Ike" had for "Curtis Mayfield's" "Man's Temptation", makes me feel like I'm inside the Movie Theater again...Again, those "Isaac Hayes Movement Arrangements", LACED with those "Hot, Buttered & Soul" MASTERFUL Vocals, makes this just as much an "Ike" song, ALMOST as much it is "Mayfield's".....

Next, "Ike" DIGS into the "Kenny Gamble", "Leon Huff", "Jerry Butler" BAG in the form of "Never Gonna Give You Up"....I LOVE Both Brothers Versions!!!! It's just that "Ike's" is just LONGER, that all!!!! I also LOVE the "Ike LAYERED Vocals" Vibe!!!!!

The next Medley starts with the "Ike Rap II" that's just FANTASTIC!!!! The Tapping Drums, that THUMPIN' Bass Line, and "Ike's" Piano Runs (along with his Dialogue) are SO INFECTEOUS, that "Alessia Cara" had to HAVE IT for her BREAK OUT HIT, "Here"!!!!!! Then it BREAKS DOWN in into "Ike's" Vision of the "Tommy Tate" t, "Help Me Love"....Again, "Ike's" ability to make someone else Song HIS is just RIDICULOUS!!!!!! He even BREAKS OUT his Saxophone for good measure....I am starting to believe that "Luther Vandross" studied "Isaac Hayes" way of crafting Classic Songs to make them his own, because he was a MASTER of THAT TOO!!!!

Tapping into "Curtis Mayfield" again, "Need To Belong To Someone" grooms another "Isaac Hayes Movement Arrangement"...This one wasn't too FLASHY, It just sounds GREAT, with "Ike" and "Hot, Buttered & Soul" doing their THANG!!!! That's all....

An "Isaac Hayes Original" (along with "Movement" member "Mickey Gregory"), "Good Love 6-9969" is STRAIGHT UP FUNKY!!!!!! It just makes me SHAKE MY HEAD, because, this is ANOTHER t about a Guy BRAGGING about being a Champion LOVER!!!! "Ike" even talks about being a BETTER LOVER than "Johnnie Taylor's" character "Jodie", and "Jean Knight's", "Mr. Big Stuff"...HILARIOUS!!!!!

The next Medley, houses another HEAVILY SAMPLED "Ike Rap III", again has "Ike" on another "Love Jones Dialogue"....Then "Ike" goes into his "Ray Charles" Bag in the form of "Your Love Is So Doggone Good"....It starts out in "Slow Jam" form, then around 4:30 (with the combination clocking at 9:06), it just BUST OUT in a HEAVILY Percussion "Isaac Hayes Movement Arrangement"....JUST GENIUS!!!!

I don't know who did "Kris Kristofferson's", "For The Good Times" better "Ike" or the "Rev. Al Green"...I tell you what though, BOTH are FANTASTIC, even though MOST Folks give the nod to "Al Green"...As USUAL, I have to go against the GRAIN, because I think they are EQUALLY GREAT!!!!!

"Ike's" Vision on the "Burt Bacharach"/"Hal David" Composition, "I'll Never Fall In Love Again", just makes me LAUGH!!!!! Why? Well, the "Songstress Dionne Warwick's" version sounds BOUNCY and FLUFFY...."Isaac's" Version sounds like he is just BEAT UP by this situation!!!!! He just sounds SUPER SERIOUS about IT!!!! ESPECIALLY with the ending, when the "Isaac Hayes Movement Arrangements" and Subtle "Hot, Buttered & Soul" Vocals KICKS IN!!!! HILARIOUSLY GENIUS!!!!!

"Ike's" Vision on the "Clay Hammond" penned, "Part-Time Love", makes me feel like I am in the Movie Theater again....At times though, especially with the Congas (courtesy of "Gary Jones"), the Song sounds kind of CLUNKY, but it is STILL FUNKY!!!! It also sounds like "Hot, Buttered & Soul" Vocals are trying hard to keep up, but that's just a small thing.....

Another Medley with the "Ike's Rap IV" with the appreciation of his Lady Love, ushers in "Ike's" next "Kenny Gamble", "Leon Huff", "Jerry Butler" BAG, "Brand New Me"....Again, "Ike" and "Hot, Buttered & Soul's" Vocals just GLIDES on another "Isaac Hayes Movement Arrangement"....Again, JUST GREAT!!!!!

FINALLY at the end of the album, we have "Isaac's" rendition of the "Friends Of Distinction's", "Going In Circles"...This sounds so FANTASTIC, that it gives the "Friends Of Distinction" a PURE RUN FOR THEIR MONEY!!!!! I also LOVE how "Ike" takes his Vocals into HIGH HEAVEN!!!! I didn't know a Guy with a Voice THAT DEEP could GO THERE!!!! I STUPIDLY thought this was the Original Version of this t...I tell you what though (and I MIGHT be the ONLY ONE), I just don't know WHICH ONE is BETTER!!!! I REFUSE TO TRY TO FIGURE IT OUT!!!!!

Well, another Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate Crown Jewel album for "Isaac Hayes"....At this point, it seemed like "Isaac's" albums was paying "Stax's" Rent ALMOST by itself...I may be reaching about that, but that's how it FELT!!!!

So, "Ike" again was RIDING HIGH!!!! And it seemed like NO ONE could STOP HIM!!!! And HONESTLY, if you think "Black Moses" was the PINNACLE of his success, STAY TUNED!!!!!!

PS: Ok, I know that was a lot, but there was no way to shorten this one...Thanks for HANGING in there WITH ME!!!!!

PSS: 10/7/2024: Rest In Peace to "Mr. Kris Kristofferson"....A Classic DUDE, and ANOTHER TRAGIC LOSS!!!!!!