OST
'Shaft' (Expanded Edition)
Universal/Concorde Music
UK Release Date: 15th March 2010
Format:
CD and Digital Download
Cat No. 7231751
If there
was one black music soundtrack that set the standards for all others
during the 1970's then Isaac Hayes' brilliantly crafted set of songs
for the now legendary 'Shaft' movie of 1971 was clearly the one that
defined the term blaxploitation thereafter. This new digitally
remastered version of the original LP on Stax Records appears on the
face of it to be a straight reissue with just one added bonus 2009
reworking of the title track - other than which I can't see whats
different. As Motown would say it's what's in the groove that counts.
As a musician/producer and arranger during the 1960's where Hayes wrote
and produced many of the hits for Sam & Dave and a number of other
notable artists on the Atlantic/Stax labels and this project catapulted
him into orbit as a major name in the music business.
To fully appreciate the music contained within this soundtrack you need
to have seen the film. It's ironic that prior to receiving our promo
copy of this release I had picked up the DVD in our local Tesco store
for just £2.00. The music was clearly written after the making of
the movie which was shot primarily in Harlem and mid town New York. The
title track was a smash hit worldwide upon release and was regarded as
the funkiest piece of guitar playing ever heard on record but it's the
wonderful horn section that makes this a masterpiece together with the
now familiar hi-hat drum pattern. During this period of soul music in
the early 1970's record companies would regularly issue singles with an
equally strong flip side and 'Shaft' was no exception with the
inclusion of the fabulously piano led 'Cafe Regio's' with a guitar line
so reminiscent of George Benson's style a few years later.
If I remember correctly the title track was the only one to appear on a
UK 45 although the sexy 'Ellie's Love Theme' did appear on import
copies across the world and this track is one of my favourite from the
album as I just love the xylophone work that became a trademark of the
Salsoul label and Vincent Montana Jr. 'Soulsville' was a moody affair
with Hayes telling it how it was back then in downtown Harlem with some
stark comments about the state of the neighbourhood including crime,
poverty, and social deprivation often associated with that part of New
York. If you own the movie Wattstax you can see Hayes perform this very
song with flashes of Harlem interspersed along the way. What makes this
particular song so special to me is that on a trip to Harlem last year
I trod the very turf upon which this movie was shot and the impact that
the movie and soundtrack now has on me is stronger than ever before.
Need a tune to totally unwind to after a hard days work then look no
further than the lazy 'Early Sunday Morning' featuring a gentle trumpet
led laid back jazzy tune interspersed with some neat orchestral backing
that Barry White would have been proud of. The other tunes featured on
the album are centered around the different scenes within the movie but
one thing I did pick up on and that was that the movie score on the DVD
is in places different versions to the ones featured here and whilst
not taking anything away from the movie score these one's on the CD are
quite simply the best. 'Be Yourself' appears to be a multi musician jam
session with a slight hint of a throwback to earlier Stax hit records
and this track alone is a stark reminder that this is a Stax records
production - Right On'
Buy the DVD and invest in some musical history along the way as 'Shaft'
again hits the streets as perhaps the most influential black music
soundtrack of all time and of which today's hip-hop music stars must
surely have been inspired by, is is worth the cash - 'Your Damn Right'
Rating 10/10
PS Don't forget Wattstax on DVD to see Hayes in action performing some
of these songs in 1972.