Search - Isaac Hayes :: Black Moses (Dlx) (Dig) (Rpkg)

Another Early 70's Issac Hayes Masterpiece Wonderfully Remas

MUZIK4THAPEOPLE!! | Orlando, FL | 07/13/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a very close second (in my book) only to his

classic & iconic 1969 breakthrough "Hot Buttered Soul" in

the great Issac Hayes catalogue of 1969-1973 brilliant

soul/funk masterworks which were highly influential game-changers

in the scope and production of black music of that time.

Of course their influence goes beyond just black music or

the times in which they were produced.

Issac Hayes was pure genius at taking songs which were popular

in their day by other artists and totally transforming them into

something that was uniquely his own creation!

Just like "Hot Buttered Soul", this amazing 2-disc set abounds

with epic & lush orchestration, raw & flat-footed funky rhythm

arrangements that will have you making the "funk face", bobbin'

your head and haunchin' your shoulders along to the groove!

Also, there is the deep sensuality & longing that Issac's music

was known for and he communicated so well through his silky

but resonant baritone with that southern drawl that drove the

black women of that time wild!--The black men of that time

admired him for what he represented.



Issac Hayes--from his "look" with that bald head,

the gold chains which symbolized the new post-civil rights

black man & woman breaking free of the chains that had once

bound their ancestors and "washing them gold" if you will,

with a new spirit of expansiveness, upward mobility, education,

pride, self-motivation, fully utilizing the freedoms &

opportunities which were then newly available to them!

That is what that generation of young blacks were about,

and he seemed to be the living & breathing embodiment of

that for them! Many felt he was like a beacon to them of

what could be possible for you if you were young, gifted,

black, proud and self-determined!

Hence the nickname that was bestowed on him, which became

the title of this seminal album....BLACK MOSES!!

Issac Hayes was indeed a MOVEMENT, a STATE OF MIND in the early 70's!



Just like the preceeding albums from this period, Issac Hayes

shows how adept he is as a producer, arranger and vocalist

who had the ability to not only transform the music works of

others, but he could create his own original musical statements

as well which had similar impact of his listeners.

Brother Ike was known for his long verbal tales (or "Raps")

which set up the theme of a particular song, building it to a

climax of brilliant musicianship, peppy horn lines, lush strings,

lilting woodwinds, and afro & dashiki-wearing female vocal sirens

which supplied the harmonic oohs and ahhhs or call & response

to what the Black Moses was puttin' down! (-:

This whole album is amazing from start to finish and contrary

to what some of the other reviewers have said, the new remastering

and repackaging is fantastic! I don't know what kind of system

they're listening to it on, but on my BOSE WAVE Surround Sound System

in my home, as well as the system in my cars, this sounds amazing!

As far as the repackaging, they were able to recreate (in miniature)

the 4-sleeve cross-like opening jacket with Black Moses standing

there, with his arms extended outward, wearing sparkling sunglasses

and a biblical-looking robe as he led the children & grandchildren of

former slaves and sharecroppers to a new "promised land" of

black upward mobility in the 70's and beyond!!---Yes, I know it's

a grandiose, somewhat knaive and ego-driven vision to 2010 sensibilities,

but you have to consider...this was 1971.

The future indeed seemed bright and limitless for black america

at that time!--Blacks were on TV more than in any previous decade,

they were owning their own companies, breaking down barriers

culturally and otherwise and being portrayed in a positive light

for a change, instead of as mammies, butlers, bug-eyed fools,

criminals, etc., and people like Don Cornelius, Quincy Jones,

Issac Hayes, Stevie Wonder, Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye and others

were showing & proving that there was indeed a place for us at the

big table where the American pie was being divided up and we could

have our share too! (-:



Bottomline, this is an amazing album filled with classic material,

and if you weren't hip to it before, then this your chance to

get hip now! Issac Hayes was a bad kat in the world of music

and broke down many doors in entertainment long before he became

known as "CHEF" to the Southpark Generation! (-:



The highlights are: "Never Can Say Goodbye", "Ike's Rap II /

Help Me Love", "Never Gonna Give You Up", "Nothing Takes The

Place Of You", "Man's Temptation", "Your Love Is So Doggone Good"

"(They Long To Be) Close To You" and others.



Rest In Peace Issac Hayes aka The Black Moses (1942-2008)"

Isaac Hayes - Black Moses

Ka Isaac | Johannesburg, South Africa | 06/07/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I am amazed with your speedy delivery, I was sceptic at first but must say the CD is of world class and your service out of this world. Thank you, may you keep the good work up.Black Moses"

Black Moses A Religious Experience

Brian J. Flax | Oakland Ca | 07/02/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The 1st time i heard this album was on a 8-track.. My Mother had given me some 8-track albums cause she didnt want them anymore and i just happened to pick up the Black Moses LP



My aunt had a 8-track player in her car so i listened and from the first notes i was sold.



Most Artist's are lucky to get 1 album to go #1 But by 1971 After not to long ago releasing The Shaft Soundtrack(which was still on the charts) Isaac was at #1 on the R&B charts again with "Black Moses" 2 albums going #1 in the same year.



Every song on the album has hit potential where as some albums today have 1 or 2 songs that are hits and the rest are fillers.



Its hard to choose a favorite because Ike makes every song his own but if i had to choose id say



The Burt Bacharach/Hal David Classic "Close To You" to Jerry Butlers "Never Gonna Give You Up" ... from the Curtis Mayfield Written "A Mans Temtation" Originally a hit for Chicago Soul Singer Gene Chandler to Kris Kristofferson's Country Classic "For The Good Times" which became Country Soul In Isaac's Hands.



Then there is "Never Can Say Goodbye" which was a previously released single without an album home until The Black Moses LP came along. and the original "Good Love" writen by Ike and one of his trumpet players Mickey Gregory.





Long before Luther made his classic rendition of "Going In Circles" Originally a hit for "The Friends Of Distinction" Isaac took his shot at it and passed with flying colors.



This song shows a rare occurance of Isaac rising into his falsetto range with ease.



Although he had established himself as a deep throated baritone..quit as it was kept Ike had a peircing falsetto that was out of this world. for further reference to this fact you can listen to his self written song The 11 min "Im Gonna Make It With Out You" from his hit album "Joy".. as the song is fading out Ike repeats the phrase " Im Gonna Make It" 3 times before blowing you away with his falsetto on the 4th time.



This album shows a top artist in top form and verified Ike as a well rounded artist.



Not only could he make hits with his self created material as he previously did on the Shaft Soundtrack and as he would do again 2 years later in 1973 with the relase of his album "Joy" and once again in 1975 with the Relase of his album "Chocolate Chip"





But he could dig deep into the songs of others and make their songs his own and make them hits.





THIS ALBUM IS THE BEST OF THE BEST.. DONT EVEN THINK ABOUT CALLING YOURSELF A TRUE TO THE CORE ISAAC HAYES FAN UNLESS YOU OWN IT :)



IM A ISAAC HAYES DICIPLE :)

"