Shaft’s success (it charted for 16 months) earned Hayes a second double-LP in 1971: Black Moses (#1 for 7 weeks, with “Never Can Say Goodbye”), whose nickname reluctantly stuck with him for years afterward. A long spell of touring throughout Europe and the U.S. in 1972 introduced many audiences to Hayes for the first time, an imposing figure in his shades and gold chains. It was Isaac Hayes who turned chains – once symbols of slavery and degradation – into ornaments, a decade before Mr. T. and decades before the arrival of bling-bling.

Originally released in 1971, the follow-up to the massive success of Shaft, the double LP Black Moses was a personal favorite of the artist. Black Moses was heavily sampled in the hip-hop community and features some of Hayes’ best cover versions (Jackson 5, Carpenters, Dionne Warwick), and as usual he makes those hits all his own.

“The multi-instrumental singer/songwriter and producer had been a central figure in the Memphis soul music revolution of the mid-1960s. Along with Booker T. and 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.” – Lindsay Planer, allmusic.com

It’s reissued here on 180 gram vinyl and, for the first time, with an exact reproduction of the original custom fold out cover. Classic.

Features:
• 180 Gram Double Vinyl
• Exact Reproduction of the Original Custom Fold Out Cover