Black Moses

by Isaac Hayes

Overview

The sheer tenacity -- albeit undeniably fitting -- of this double-disc set has made Black Moses (1971) one of Isaac Hayes' most revered and best-known works. The multi-instrumental singer/songwriter and producer had been a central figure in the Memphis soul music revolution of the mid-'60s. Along with Booker T. & the MG's, Hayes wrote and performed on more Stax sides than any other single artist. By the time of this release -- his fifth overall, and first two-record set -- Hayes had firmly established himself as a progressive soul artist. His stretched-out and well-developed R&B jams, as well as his husky-voiced sexy spoken "raps," became key components in his signature sound. Black Moses not only incorporates those leitmotifs, but also reaffirms Hayes abilities as an unmistakably original arranger. Although a majority of the album consists of cover material, all the scores have been reconfigured and adapted in such a fundamental way that, for some listeners, these renditions serve as definitive. This is certainly true of the extended reworkings of Jerry Butler's "Brand New Me" and Esther Phillips' "You're Love Is So Doggone Good" -- both of which are prefaced by the spoken prelude to coitus found in each respective installment of "Ike's Rap." The pair of Curtis Mayfield tunes -- "Man's Temptation" and "Need to Belong to Someone" -- are also worth noting for the layers of tastefully scored orchestration -- from both Hayes and his longtime associate Johnny Allen. The pair's efforts remain fresh and discerning, rather than the dated ersatz strings and horn sections that imitators were glutting the soul and pop charts and airwaves with in the mid-'70s. Hayes' own composition, "Good Love," recalls the upbeat and jive talkin' "Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic" from Hot Buttered Soul (1969), adding some spicy and sexy double-entendre in the chorus. ~ Lindsay Planer

Product Details

Release Date:	11/08/2024
Label:	Universal Import
UPC:	0888072593404

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Isaac Hayes   Primary Artist,Organ,Piano,Vocals,Vibraphone,Lead Vocals,Piano (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Gary Jones   Bongos,Congas
Ronald Hudson   Bass
The Isaac Hayes Movement   Featured Artist
Sidney Kirk   Piano
Bar-Kays   Featured Artist
Lester Snell   Piano (Electric)
Ronnie Hudson   Guitar (Bass)
Charles "Skip" Pitts   Guitar
Willie Hall   Drums,Tambourine

Technical Credits

Leon Huff   Composer
Jerry Livingston   Composer
Jerry Peters   Composer
Mccall   Composer
Aris   Composer
David Purple   Engineer
Al Hoffman   Composer
Tommy Tate   Composer
Willie Dixon   Composer
Dave Purple   Engineer,Audio Engineer
Rudy Love   Composer
Chester Higgins   Liner Notes
Jim Morrison   Composer
Kesselbauer   Composer
Kenny Gamble   Composer
Booker Ervin   Composer
Isaac Hayes   Arranger,Composer,Producer,Audio Production
Perry Robinson   Composer
Jerry Butler   Composer
Larissa Collins   Art Direction
Patrick Robinson   Composer
John Baylor   Composer
David Krieger   Art Direction
Mickey Gregory   Composer
Larry Shaw   Artwork,Creative Director
The Graffiteria   Art Direction
Difosco Ervin   Composer
Dale Warren   Arranger
Alan Robinson   Composer
Bob Fischer   Remastering Engineer
Henry Bush   Engineer,Audio Engineer
Daryl Williams   Editing,Engineer,Audio Engineer
Chris Clough   Compilation Producer
Clay Hammond   Composer
Jimmy Hole   Design
Baylor   Composer
Pat Lewis   Arranger
Curtis Mayfield   Composer
Clifton Davis   Composer
Eddie Marion   Engineer,Audio Engineer
Carl G. Lampl   Composer
Dee Ervin   Composer
Johnny Allen   Arranger
Peters   Composer
Ron Capone   Engineer,Remixing,Audio Engineer
Robby Krieger   Composer
Lonnie Donegan   Composer
Rob Bowman   Liner Notes
Jim Currie   Composer
Les Butler   Composer
Ray Manzarek   Composer
Anita Poree   Composer
Theresa Bell   Composer
Thom Bell   Composer
Burt Bacharach   Composer
William Brown   Engineer,Audio Engineer
Toussaint McCall   Composer
Steve McCall   Composer
Bob Fisher   Remastering
Hal David   Composer
Ingram   Composer
Kris Kristofferson   Composer
Toni Cottura   Composer
Luther Ingram   Composer
John Densmore   Composer