Often I hear people utter, “I can’t believe it” in reaction to a legendary artist’s passing. I think folks need to acknowledge the detail those we consider the architects of modern musical history of are now in their most precarious years- believe it please. In short my advice to you is to see these originators relay their glorious medleys when they decide to stage a live show round your way, as you don’t know if it’s your last chance to experience them. This is said because I sit here with fingertips flittering over this keyboard choked up off the fact I’ll never see Isaac live now, and that’s agonizing when you think how profoundly young men (and women) desire to be in the presence of their heroes; to glimpse greatness.
I won’t post Hayes’ most renowned and easily identifiable work, the iconic ‘Shaft’ soundtrack despite it seminally altering Black music and providing the score to the insurgence of Black-American culture in the early to mid 1970s. No, instead I’m earnestly going to post my favourite LP of his career, the 1970 Stax release ‘To Be Continued’ which is softly overlooked between 1969’s milestone ‘Hot Buttered Soul’ and 1971’s landmark ‘Shaft’. Plus as it’s all too rarely cited, I’ll declare it one of the finest Soul albums of the 20th century. Entirely arranged and orchestrated by Hayes (with instrumental assistance from The Bar Kays and The Memphis Symphony Orchestra), here’s five epic songs that overflow with the some of the most lush, sprawling philharmonics committed to wax. Oh and not forgetting that erotic, god-like gust of a voice.
To my heads that know, remember that feeling first time you heard Hayes’ epic 11 minute re-envisioning of Burt Bacharach’s ‘The Look Of Love’ on here and clocked the identical break later used for Jay-Z’s classic ‘Can I Live’…? Electrifying.
Reside with fellow angels Isaac, you are one of the forefathers of Hip-Hop and arguably the greatest musical composer of the 70s- I’ll try & make everyone aware of that.
[IF YOU WANT THE ABOVE LINK TAKEN DOWN, E-MAIL US DIRECTLY ON ibootleggedyourmum@gmail.com & IT WILL BE DONE AS SOON AS REQUEST IS SEEN.]
01. Monologue Ike’s Rap I
02. Our Day Will Come
03. The Look of Love
04. Medley Monologue/You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin
05. Runnin’ Out of Fools
My stand-out tracks highlighted in Bold Red above.
Video: The Look Of Love
Fantasticunt album rating:
9.5 mums out of 10
[If this artist/group deserves your money, click to buy CD]
Additional:
(Props to UniverSOUL for puttin’ up this list of known performers to sample from this record.)
To Be Continued: (Enterprise 1971)
-“Monologue: Ike’s Rap 1″
Micranots – “Farward”
Nas- A Message To The Feds, Sincerely, We The People
Pete Rock ft Un – “Cake”
-“Our Day Will Come”
Imani Coppola – “It’s All about Me, Me and Me”
Massive Attack – “Exchange”
MF Doom – “Operation Greenbacks”
-“The Look of Love”
3rd Bass – “The Gladiator”
Allure – “You’re Gonna Love Me”
Ashanti – “Rain on Me”
Compton’s Most Wanted – “Niggaz Strugglin’”
II Unorthodox – “Just a Little Flava”
Jay-Z – “Can I Live”
Kim Summerson – “Choices”
LL Cool J – “Hollis to Hollywood”
Lost Boys – “Is this Da Part?”
Mary J. Blige – “I Love You”
Monie Love – “Better Way”
Pressure Drop – “Senorita”
Smif-N-Wessun – “Stand Strong”
Snoop Dogg – “G’z Up, Hoes Down”
Special Ed – “Neva Go Back”
-“Ike’s Mood I/You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’”
Alkaholiks – “Mary Jane”
Beanie Sigel – “Still Got Love for You”
Biz Markie – “Cool V’s Tribute to Scratching”
Biz Markie – “Make the Music”
C-Murder ft Snoop Dogg & Magic – “Down for My Niggas”
Das EFX – “East Coast”
Foxxy Brown – “(Holy Matrimony) Letter to the Firm”
Intelligent Hoodlum – “Grand Groove”
Jeru – “Jungle Music”
JVC Force – “Stylin’ Lyrics”
Kenny Dope – “The Magnificent”
Kurupt ft Daz – “Tha Streetz Iz a Mutha”
LL Cool J – “Six Minutes of Pleasure”
Marley Marl ft Juice Crew – “He Cuts So Fresh”
Mary J. Blige – “I Love You”
Massive Attack – “One Love”
Naughty by Nature – “Knock ‘Em out Da Box”
Peanut Butter Wolf – “I Will Always Love H.E.R.”
Rahzel – “Make the Music 2000″
Ron C – “On and On”
The LOX – “Bitches from Eastwick”
Warren G – “Still Can’t Fade It”
I Bootlegged Your Mum 