Isaac Hayes

Isaac Hayes has died. The picture above is the cover of his breakout "Hot Buttered Soul" LP, recorded on 1969.

Unlike most pop albums of the day, Hot Buttered Soul featured only four songs. the shortest being only 5 minutes. The two longest songs were "By the time I get to Phoenix" at 18:40 and Burt Bacharach's "Walk On By" at 18:40.

It's interesting that this songwriter featured interpretations of other artist's songs on his breakout album. Furthermore, at a time when albums typically featured 3 minute songs designed for radio airplay, this one didn't.

In my opinion, the intro to the theme from Shaft (specifically the opening 16th note drum beats on a high-hat cymbal) define one of the most memorable hooks from songs of that era.