ISAAC HAYES-BLACK MOSES.

dereksmusicblog ♦ May 2, 2012 ♦ Leave a comment

ISAAC HAYES-BLACK MOSES.

In a previous article, I wrote about how Isaac Hayes’ solo career was very nearly short-lived. After the commercial failure of 1967s Presenting Isaac Hayes, Isaac was all set to give up his solo career, and concentrate on his songwriting and production duties at Stax. It was lucky he didn’t though, 1969s Hot Buttered Soul reached number eight in the US Billboard 200 and gave Isaac his first number one US R&B album. After this, his next four albums would all reach number one in the US R&B Charts. These were 1970s The Isaac Hayes Movement and …To Be Continued, with 1971s seminal Blaxploitation soundtrack Shaft and Black Moses the last of this quartet of number one US R&B albums. It seemed that Isaac Hayes, or as Stax executive Dino Woodward fondly rechristened him, Black Moses, could no wrong.  This was truly, the hottest period of Issac Hayes career. However, neither did he know that after this, he’d only release three further albums for Stax before the label folded, nor that only two more of his albums would enjoy the same commercial success. To misquote Bob Dylan, the times and music were a changing. Before I tell you about the music on Black Moses, I’ll tell you about the background to the album.

Recording of Black Moses, Isaac Hayes fifth album took place between March and October 1971. This was a busy time for Isaac, with the recording of the soundtrack for Shaft taking place in July 1971. Add to this, his usual songwriting and production duties at Stax and it’s quite an accomplishment to have recorded two albums in 1970 and 1971. Not only had he recorded Shaft, but Black Moses would be a double album. A total of fourteen tracks were recorded, a mixture of eleven cover versions and three that Isaac cowrote. Among the tracks chosen for the album, were songs written by some of the biggest songwriters of all time. Curtis Mayfield, Gamble and Huff and Bacharach and David were just three of the songwriters contributing to Black Moses. Isaac had a similarly impressive band, including The Bar-Kays, bassist Ronald Hudson and drummer Willie Hall. Together they recorded the fourteen songs that made-up the four sides of Black Moses. Would what was Isaac’s fifth album match the success of his previous three albums?

Isaac’s fifth album was entitled Black Moses, after the nickname bestowed upon him by Dino Woodward. This nickname had been popularized by Chester Hayes, in an article he wrote for Jet magazine. The nickname had come about because of the popularity of Isaac’s music on black audiences. For Isaac a devout Christian, he was unsure about the nickname, believing it sacrilegious, but eventually, perceived the nickname as a symbol of black pride. It was Larry Shaw, head of marketing and publicity at Stax who hit on the title Black Moses. This was how the title of Isaac’s fifth album came about. With Bar-Kays member Ron Gordon, he came up with the idea of Black Moses’ gatefold sleeve. When it’s unfolded, it reveals a a poster sized picture of Isaac, dressed in robes like Moses. This design was innovative, for the release of Black Moses in November 1971. Black Moses reached number ten in the US Billboard 200 and number one in the US R&B Charts. Never Can Say Goodbye, previously recorded by The Jackson 5, and later, becoming synonymous with Gloria Gaynor, was released as a single, reaching number twenty-two in the US Billboard 100 and number five in the US R&B Charts. With both Shaft and Black Moses reaching number one in the US R&B album charts in 1971, 1971 would prove to be a landmark year in his career, undoubtably the most successful of his long career. The reason for this is quite simple, the music, and it’s the music on Black Moses that I’ll now tell you about, choosing some of the highlights from the album. 

Opening Side One of Black Moses is Never Can Say Goodbye, written by Clifton Davis and made famous by The Jackson 5 and Gloria Gaynor. Here, Isaac slows the song way down, adding sadness and emotion to his vocal. It’s just The Bar-Keys, keyboards and hugely soulful backing vocalists. The rhythm section play with a subtlety, while Isaac plays Hammond organ and he plays vibes which augment the arrangement. Although the polar opposite of other versions, Isaac’s version transforms the track. He brings out the sadness and regret in the lyrics, with an impassioned vocal and understated, yet effective arrangement.

Bacharach and David cowrote They Long To Be Close To You, which was a huge hit for The Carpenters. Here, Isaac works his magic on the track. Female backing vocalists soulfully and gracefully combine with bursts of rasping horns, while the rhythm section provide the track’s heartbeat. With a flourish of piano, Isaac’s beautiful vocal enters, accompanied by soaring backing vocalists and the lushest of strings. Together with guitars and bursts of horns they bring new meaning to Bacharach and David’s beautiful track on Isaac’s nine minute Magnus Opus. Of all the tracks on Black Moses this isn’t just one of the most beautiful, but one of the best.

Nothing Takes The Place Of You was co-written by Toussaint McColl and Alan Robison and is, quite simply one of the saddest and most moving. It’s a tale of love lost, with Isaac’s vocal full of hurt, heartbroken even. The arrangement is slow, spacious and full of sadness. Keyboards, piano and a subtle rhythm section combine with gospel-tinged backing vocalists, while a heartbroken Isaac lays bare the hurt he’s feeling and experiencing. His delivery is so heartfelt and convincing that you end up feeling and sharing his hurt. That, to me, is something only a great song, like this one, can do.

Gamble and Huff along with Jerry Butler cowrote Never Gonna Give You Up. Jaunty, blazing horns, cascading keyboards and impassioned backing vocalists combine as the track opens. They give way to Isaac’s vocal, which is full of hurt, his partner’s cheating on him, but he’s never gonna give her up. He’s here to stay, in love with her. His passion is reflected by the drama the braying horns, rhythm section and swirling, sweeping strings create. While Isaac’s pride is hurt, is love’s still strong, with his emotion and passion reflecting this. Here, like so many songs on Black Moses, Isaac sings about the problems of relationships, doing so with a realism that’s effective. 

Need Someone To Love has a grand, orchestral sound, with cascading strings, rasping horns and serene backing vocalists combing, before Isaac’s needy vocal enters. A harpsichord plays in the background, before swathes of strings cut in, accompanied by bursts of horns while Isaac lays bare his heart. In doing so, he brings a new meaning to this Curtis Mayfield penned track, mixing drama, emotion and loneliness peerlessly. Much of this is down to his needy vocal, combined with an arrangement that reflects the sadness and emptiness in his life.

Kris Kristofferson wrote For The Good Times, and Isaac’s version is one of the best I’ve heard. Much of this is down to the arrangement, which is one part understated, one part emotion and one part beauty. Lush strings, heartfelt backing vocals and bursts of braying horns combine with the desperation and insecurity in Isaac’s vocal. He realizes his relationship is over, but can’t bare to say goodbye. His vocal is key to the song’s success, with the arrangement playing an emotive, supporting role. Backing singers respond to Isaac’s call, and like the strings, add to the sadness of the song. Together, they create a track drenched in sadness and regret, but one that’s beautiful and a perfect breakup song.

I’ll Never Fall In Love Again is the second Bacharach and David song, with this one of the true classics they cowrote. Although it’s been covered by many artists, nobody has covered it like Isaac does. He slows the song way down, with swathes of strings surrounded his heartbroken vocal. Meanwhile, the rhythm section provide the song’s broken-heartbeat. Bursts of horns and Hammond organ add to the atmospheric, almost dramatic arrangement. However, what makes this such a memorable cover version is Isaac’s vocal, which sounds like he’s lived the song, experiencing the emotion he’s singing about.

My final choice from Black Moses is Going In Circles co-written by Jerry Peters and Anita Poree. Straight away, you realize something impressive is about to unfold. The lengthy introduction slowly builds up the drama and tension, with strings, rhythm section and ethereal backing vocalists combining. Strings add drama and a melancholy sound, while drums add drama before signaling the arrival of Isaac’s vocal. His voice is laden with emotion and sadness, his head spinning in confusion at his problems with his partner. Throughout this epic seven minute track, the rhythm section, backing vocalists and strings combine to create a backdrop that’s full of drama, tension and sadness. Add Isaac’s emotive, heartfelt vocal to this and the result is one of the most moving and beautiful tracks on Black Moses and perfect to close the album.

Of the first five Isaac Hayes albums, Black Moses to me is the finest. To me it’s worthy of being called a Magnus Opus, with fourteen songs spread over two albums. Here, Isaac Hayes transforms many of the tracks on Black Moses, bringing new meaning to each of these songs. This includes Never Can Say Goodbye, They Long To Be Close To You, For The Good Times and I’ll Never Fall In Love Again. Isaac Hayes interpretation of these tracks, and the rest of the songs on Black Moses, brings out the subtleties and nuances of the songs. His arrangements on the album play a big part in the songs success. Swathes of lush strings, rasping horns and The Bar-Kays providing the album’s heartbeat. The backing vocalists soulful, emotive contributions that augment Isaac’s vocals compliment and exemplify the emotion and passion in his vocals. When all this is combined, Black Moses is one of the highlights of Isaac Hayes long and illustrious career. Black Moses was the second important album of 1971, with the seminal Blaxploitation soundtrack Shaft, the other. For anyone For whose yet to discover Isaac Hayes music, then these two albums from 1971 are the place to start. Both Black Moses and Shaft, are albums that I can’t recommend highly enough and belong is any music lover’s collection. After that, then albums like Hot Buttered Soul, The Isaac Hayes Movement and …To Be Continued are other Isaac Hayes albums that I’d recommend. Standout Tracks: Never Can Say Goodbye, They Long To Be Close To You, For The Good Times and I’ll Never Fall In Love Again.

ISAAC HAYES-BLACK MOSES.