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A TAV Essential Listening Album.

Originally released in 1971 as the follow-up to the massively successful 'Shaft', the double LP 'Black Moses' is a personal favorite of soul legend Isaac Hayes and for good reason. Hayes covers hits from the likes of the Jackson 5, Carpenters and Dionne Warwick here, and per usual, makes them all his own. The album would subsequently become heavily sampled in the hip-hop community as well. It’s reissued here on 180g vinyl and, for the first time, comes with an exact reproduction of the original custom fold out 'crucifix' style sleeve courtesy of 4 Men With Beards. A stone cold classic! – Press Release

“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.” – Allmusic

“On one level, musically Black Moses demonstrates that Hayes was partially guilty for soul music’s transition from the syncopated, instrumentally rich tones of Motown and Stax’s 60s classics to the slushy slow jams and melisma-addled overkill of the last few decades. The ballads here are choked with strings and flutes that would be Muzak but for the velvet magic of Hayes’ vocal performance. Never maudlin, Hayes’ voice carries real emotional weight, imbued with touches of reflective sadness and humility. Playing it straight on even the cheeky Bachrach/David composition “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again,” Hayes establishes his point of view beyond mere interpretation. Still, the real fun is on uptempo numbers like horny but spry Hayes original “Good Love.” Collectively, Black Moses shows Hayes from several angles, almost all of which are flattering.” – Paste Magazine

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