Reviews (page 3 of 14)
By The Time I Got To Phoenix is almost hypnotic. What a cool listen. I enjoyed it a lot on headphones and feel like there's more here than I got in my listen. The instrumentals seemed fun every time I gave them extra focus.
This is cool. A different kind of album for sure. Sounded good in the car, nice cruising music. Some of the tracks might not be a daily listen, but a solid album great for chilling.
Genuinely surprising, great working and background music
Ok
1. I have never heard the 12-minute version of ‘Walk on By.’ I’ve always loved it but this extended OG version is supreme music. I worked a show dedicated to one of the writers of this song, Burt Bacharach and discovered that this guy wrote classic songs I LOVE. He don’t miss.
Wow. Masterpiece.
What an album cover LOL! I'd leave this album at the music sampler at Barnes & Noble. I remember getting lice from those shared headphones, I guess I wouldn't have gotten lice if I would have followed Isaac Hayes example. 2/10 I've heard much worse but this music is just not enjoyable.
Best of Album: - Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic - One Women
Had no idea what to expect with this but it was excellent
I had listened to this album a few times in the past. I originally discovered it while looking into some of the inspirations behind The Last Shadow Puppets. The album consists of only four songs. I really like the first two tracks, but I hardly care about the last one, which unfortunately makes up almost half of the runtime. Despite that, it remains a solid and soulful record with plenty of style. More than anything, it feels cinematic and layered. Unfortunately, that final track could have benefited from being split up or at least significantly abridged. My favorite songs are "Walk on By" and "Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic".
buttered my soul
Very cool we got to listen to a father and son back-to-back. Liked the son's more though. This was just okay for me.
While I can appreciate it, this wasn’t my cup of tea. It all sounded the same after a while.
It was okay. Pretty much exactly how I anticipated it would be.
More like hot buttered loins now, am I right?
Særs chill, hørtes ut akkurat som æ forventa, en viss mulighet for at æ blei gravid underveis av pur soulbegeistring. Verdt det.
Oh hell yeah. The title of the album could not be more correct. Scale wise it is epic and intimate. I needed this today. ‘You know when they said love makes the world go round…that’s the truth.’ He is right and he should say it. Really enjoyed the long spoken word build up to the last track. A teeny bit misogynistic right at the last moment - a shame - but mostly sweet. My instinct is that this man loves women too much - but I’m going to look that up. Aye - four wives and eleven kids. Oh and he did the Shaft music! Shame about the Scientology but that was well after he recorded this smooth slice of hot buttered soul.
By the time he got to Pheonix, she'd divorced him and married his cousin! Isaac Hayes takes the long way round and it's a bit boring at times but when he gets there it's worth it.
Sto maledetto ci ha messo dentro una canzone di 20 minuti, album tranquillo da poltrona, se potessi metterei 3,5, ma non potendo arrotondo per eccesso che cavolo Isacco qui ci sta mettendo il cuore e l'anima
was okay, got boring after a while (not my style)
Good stuff. I'd really only known the Shaft soundtrack, but this is way less ironic. The earnestness of One Woman and Phoenix doesn't really land for me, but I like the soul psychedelia of the other two songs a lot.
Amazing meandering soul album. Much better than Shaft. Yeah, the tracks are long. Let him cook. It's wonderful. That voice is velvety and sweet. My Rating: 5/5
Can definitely see why this is on the list. Very good album; hard to get over Chef singing though. I guess it shows my age.
Enjoying hearing all the originals tracks MF DOOM sampled, ha. Side one is easily my favourite. Side two was a little more mixed. I could do with the longer tracks being cut down more, and looking at the information for this one it seems they were indeed cut down for singles.
one of my favorite albums ever, walk on by may be the greatest soul track oat
A bit different
8/10
Has made me want to listen to more soul for sure
A soulful and epic journey from Chef. Favorite track: Walk On By
VERY MEH! I WANTED SOME SALTY CHOCOLATE BALLS!!!
Nice, chill music. Definitely worth another listen!
That Isaac Hayes sure can cook. The songs are insanely long, but after a bit you really settle into them. Could have been a 5 without the 8.5 minute spoken word intro to the last song.
erm bald hed het was wel leuk het warenalleen beejte te lagne liedjes
een lied van 18 minuten is in 2026 toch wel diabolical ... maar dit s wel echt GROOOVYYY FUNKYYYY STYLEEE
I liked the funky soul sound and he has a great voice. I thought the extended songs were a bit monotonous. I did not care for his interpretation of Glen Campbell's song.
Pretty sure I'm pregnant now and I'm a dude. This should eb the national anthem for countries with low birth rates! I thought this was so good, the production and performances are outrageously good and the mastering has so much headroom that you can really feel it when the volume ramp[s in and out at then end of walk on by. Really glad I listened to this, now I'm gonna go take a cold shower
I should hate this. Slow jam soul, and two songs over 12 minutes long?? But, it's Isaac Hayes...and he just knows how to keep your attention. I absolutely loved this. "One Woman" brought me to a new level of existence. Hot Buttered Soul is the most accurate album title of all time.
Really good album and it’s exactly what i’ve been listening to recently.
pffff muy top, a woman la mejor
Wow wow wow. This was incredible. The ONLY downside to this is I thought the last track just went in a bit too long, especially with that spoken word story.
These are some long songs... but very classy. Could've done without all the talking in the last one.
Beautiful buttery soulful jams. Great instrumental sections and sexy vocals.
"Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic" is my jam. I've covered it a few times with a local group and it's always so fun. As for the other three tracks, they are all solid in their own right; I don't believe I'll ever be the biggest fan of the huge string arrangements or backing vocalists, but Isaac's voice and the killer guitar/keys work are enough to keep me mostly onboard. 3.5/5
Mr. Hayes I was familiar with your game but I did not realize it extended beyond the Shaft soundtrack
One of the best soul albums ever. Complex longform songwriting, production that still sounds gorgeous nearly sixty years later, and that voice. Undeniable.
very enjoyable!
Isaac Hayes I mostly know as one of the most sampled artists of all time, mostly for his song Ike's Rap II. He was one of the most prominent figures in 70s soul, alongside Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye, and this was released slightly prior to this era. What sets him apart is his orchestration as well as his focus on longer songs, with three out of the ten songs being over (or at least close to) 10 minutes. These songs are generally pretty repetitive but soul and funk are genres I could never really get bored of. Isaac here has a very good ear for instrumentation, especially with the very thick basslines. He provides great vocals, which fit in rather perfectly with the instrumentation. The orchestration here is often very powerful in combination with all the other elements. I recognize Hyperbolics as having a part that was sampled in Racionais MC's' Rapaz Comum, which isn't the only time he was sampled in their work. The aforementioned Ike's Rap II was also sampled on the same albums opening track. This is a great album to throw on in the summertime, having the same warm textures you would find in most other albums from this era of soul/funk. The only part I would take out would be Isaac's rather unnecessary monologue at the start of By The Time I Get To Phoenix, which lasts for a good 8 minutes. My favourite song here for sure is the intro, Walk On By.
Strong bit of soul first track carried the album
4/5. This album is all about the slow burn, the songs take their time slowly building up and up until they reach major instrumental/emotional climaxes. Which is best shown through album closer and my favorite song here “By the Time I get to Phoenix” which is nearly 19 minutes long, starting with just a droning organ and Issac Hayes sing-speaking, but then you start getting some drums and reeds, then horns, then he starts singing more intensely and it all leads to a great emotional finish. Something similar also happens on opener “walk on by.” At 46 minutes with only 4 songs this is far from your standard soul album, but it is great.
incredible. each song is its own world. walk on by might be the greatest soul song of all time
- OOOOuuuuh this one give me the alligator jiggling fever - me and sweetie fox thinking about our life issues while doing blunt rotation - reminds of movie ending music hits
It was chilll
Like Marvin Gaye but deeper and on herion instead of Coke
holy... first impression is I have never heard anything like this before. The distorted funk of the guitar blessing my eardrums so hard. Reminds me of the gay hotel where me and Sean kissed for the first time. Its so sensual, funky, soul. Idek but this first track is making my brain just buss everywhere. 5:14 on Walk on by tingled my brain so hard my eyes rolled to the back of my head. My brain bro my brain bro my brain bro my brain bro my brain bro my brain bro my brain bro my brain bro my brain bro my brain bro my brain bro my brain bro my brain bro my brain bro my brain bro my brain bro my brain bro my brain bro my brain bro my brain bro my brain bro my brain bro my brain bro my brain bro my brain bro my brain... so funky hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedelymistic HITSSSSS SO HARD. its tingling in all the right ways, the funky bass. I think im too excited over this album. Switching the drum tempos is sick too. Piano solo can never go wrong bro this is a perfect song. ONE WOMAN IM CUMING IM CUMING IM CUMING ITS ACTUALLY SO GOOD. SEAN HOLD MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE. That was actually the most beautiful song ive ever heard in my whole life bro that was amazing. Last song is full of sadness and heartbreak, with amazing delivery coming down from the love surge of one girl. It shows himself evolving in this relationship, and slowly getting better and recovery from heartbreak. BEAUTIFUL AHH ALBUM IM IN LOVE. MY FIRST 5 STAR.
Sexy, oily, sweaty, druggy and chocolate-covered soul music drenched in psychedelia. Beautiful.
The monologue was not my fave. But his voice is smooth and funky. He was definitely ahead of his time. Just wish the album was longer.
Normally I'm down for 10+ minute songs, but a couple of these dragged on just a bit for me
Isaac Hayes has a sort of mellow sophisticated soulfulness, not jazzy, and not poppy. He’s political, he employs some classical music devices, he’s cerebral, but still soulful. Sui generis in that genre. 4.5
This was a great album. Only complaint is that the last song took a little long in the intro.
Hot buttered Soul is another one that I already owned. It's just this masterpiece of funk/soul that makes you feel good the entire listen. The orchestration mixed with that guitar riff on Walk on By is such a cool juxtaposition that makes the opener song stand out. Whole album is filled with interesting sound combos and of course tied to that deep and soulful voice of Isaac Hayes. Great record.
Weird talking song but this hit otherwise
Sexo puro
Starts with the source of the Wu Tang sample, so immediately like. Four interesting songs, maybe too long! But easy to get into the songs. 3.5 rounded up Heard before? No Owned: No 75/302 (24%) Will I get: Maybe
great voice. a record id enjoy hearing at a record store, but probably not one that i would actively look for. 3.5
This album seemed a bit gratuitous for me. The first and last tracks could've been cut off SO much sooner than they were. Definitely not worthy of being 12 and 17 minutes. The second and third tracks, though, were EXCELLENT. They didn't seem dragged out for too long or cut off too short. I really do love the R&B/Soul meets Rock and Roll sound that Isaac Hayes has and his voice is beautiful, but I feel like those tracks could've been cut down to 7-10 minutes each.
Review - wow this is a great album. Amazing it came out in the late '60s, sounds a lot more modern, would expect late '70s. Even the fact it's just 4 really long songs - not something that really happened back then. Every song has a bit that I recognise from being sampled. Just a really great album. Score - 8.5/10 Need to listen? YES
Its a good album songs are unique and the flow super stylish. Too bad the last song that os 18 minutes long is boring and talkover. Sucked pretty bad
soul irgendwas. es fällt mir so schwer mich bei so langen liedern zu konzentrieren und richtig zuzuhören. is anscheinend full creativity von isaac hayes gwesen dieses album und es gfallt ma gut zum chillen.
Not my cup of tea
Too much waiting for too little pay off. When the instrument sections of the first two tracks go off - especially "Hyperbolic..." - things get real - and real interesting. But even those tracks never quite reach the heights i hoped they would - they break down without truly breaking loose. By the Time I Get to Phoenix provides all the foreplay you could ask for without quite enough action. When it does eventually reach it's final altitude I'm all in but would have preferred to just hear that song.
mtttttt boa experiência pqp.
First half was great, second half not so much.
Shaft soundtrack is what I've heard from him before so I knew what kind of vibe this album might have. And damn, it's really good! The last track was a bit boring to me but other than that it's a fantastic music 3/5
I usually like r&b/soul albums but there is too much talking, the songs are too long, and the instrumental parts comes off as annoying sometimes in this album
Great album and it definitely deserved a spot on the list unfortunately I don’t think I’d ever listen to it again
My soul got buttered
Rating: 4.8/5 Short Review: Luxurious, emotional, and completely unhurried. Every song stretches out like it knows it deserves your full attention. Confident, intimate, and deeply soulful without ever feeling rushed. Favorite Track: “Walk On By.” Turns heartbreak into this massive hypnotic emotional landscape. The orchestration just keeps unfolding.
Mike- Josie- 6/10 nice vibe but songs too long
Man he was cooking.
Haven't listened to many albums like this, but I enjoyed it.
it's never woman putting out a 20 min song, the audacity of men, boy calm down
The tracks where he was just talking were kinda odd, otherwise very good jazz album. The only issue is he was talking 3/4 of the time
Bueno, lo disfruté. Debo decir que lo tuve un poco de fondo. No es el tipo de disco que pondría salvo quizas para justamente algo que me pida tener música de fondo. Sería un 3.5 Queda guardado por lo pronto, creo que no va a durar mucho
First Isaac Hayes album I've ever listened to, and it blew me away. An absolute masterpiece.
Lowkey BANGER album. I was not expecting to like this one as it's not my usual genre. Unfortunately can not give it more then 4 stars because that unnecessary 8 minute intro on the last song annoyed me too much. Would be interested in listening to more of his discography if it's on the list. Top Song: Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic Rating: 3.5/5 rounded to 4 stars
Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic
eigentlich okay, aber dann doch super lame
This album is the definition of smooth. Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic is the standout track with the extended keyboard jam. The album as a whole works really well. I need to dive deeper into his catalog. This is a vibe.
Hayes is smooth but not my bag
It was pretty good but a lot of the songs ran REALLY long. At a soft 2:30 I wouldve said 4/5.
That’s a clear 5.
Not what I was expecting - but in a bad way.
Starts strong and buttery, but I lost interesting quickly. Not my thing!
This is true soul! Amazing album and i really like the commentary!
crazy good opening track. sort of a combo between ennio morricone and justice. this is exactly the kind of thing i was hoping for when starting this. the latter parts trailed off a little bit but the general vibe is so magnificent i can't fault it for that really. immediately went back to listen to the start of it after finishing it. i think my appreciation for this kind of thing comes from hearing so much motown growing up. had never heard the name isaac hayes before this but i sure hope i remember it
Side 1 is so great. Heavy funk, incredible version of Walk On By. Side 2 explores the romantic elements of r&b beautiful string arrangements and horns. 4.5
Quite good, but I wish it was a little funkier Fav track: Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic
Schon ganz cool, groovy, souly, hat mich aber nicht so gehooked. Bisschen zu mellow fand ich. Tracks sind auch einfach zu lang und developen langsam
297/1089 the trumpet outro of By The Time is pretty great. This was a good soul album, i’ve heard soul that grabs me more but it was a good listen faves: Walk on by, Hyperbolic… 67/100
The century’s high point of hyper-obsessive studio arrangement on an R&B record. A jaw-dropping experience. This is to most other records of its type as Dark Side of the Moon is to most other rock records, that is, conceptual and arrangement-wise. Listen to “Walk On By” at max volume and never be the same again. Best track: “Walk On By”
first song was mid big turnoff but I liked the 2nd track
Small number of very long tracks. It's a bit too much of a slow burn for me, never quite reaching a point of grabbing my attention
Disfrute mucho de este soul album. La musicalidad es impresionante y de primera escucha se disfruta mucho de canciones largas y las ideas musicales exploradas en ellas. Me parecio interesante la ingenieria de sonido y el pan intensional de los instrumentos colocandote dentro de la musica. 4/5
I just don't get extending songs to twelve minutes and nineteen minutes long, come on.....the song reaches a point of ridiculousness for me when they are dragged on for so long. I actually like his voice. I like his singing, I just wish he would end the song. If I was attending one of his concerts, I would have left the building before this last song ended....
I wanted to like this more than I did, and it should fit sort of the Stax-centric 60s soul aesthetic that I love, but most of this just didn't super click for me. Track 2 is awesome though, super cool groove and bass line, but elsewhere it's just a little bit slow, plodding, and meandering. Track length is long, the extended instrumental sections don't quite hit. The last song is sort of a cool build by the end but takes a WHILE to get there. Filed under "just ok" as a whole.
Isaac Hayes is possibly the smoothest mf that ever lived. That Walk on By arrangement is so damn cold, and I guarantee someone reading this is only alive to do so bc of One Woman. I don't mind the tracks being a million years long mostly, the grooves are good enough that they can go on like that and be fine if you're in the zone. Wish they'd evolve them more in the time they clearly had, but honestly shit is so cool it doesn't need it as much as some jam bands I can think of. It's so cool in fact I feel like the 3.5 I was gonna give it should be a 4.
Have heard this before but really excited to give it a proper relisten given the challenge! Would give 4.5 if I could!
This one felt kind of nostalgic remembering when you could hear this kind of stuff playing on the radio. 3.5/5
Apologies Mister Hayes, for I only knew you as Chef from South Park and thus was not remotely familiar with how excellent your game is.
Brilliant stuff.
I’m gonna moan now. mmmmmmmmmmMMMMMMMMM.
Never listened to this guy consciously before. Totally blew me away from the start of the first track. Great vocal command, loads of great musical ideas to keep the long tracks interesting, even a flute at the big jam at the end.
Just okay for me
Funky soul goodness from Memphis's (Covington) finest.
Enjoyable album sampled by so many.
muito forte
Dig it. Cool to hear this type of music in superlongform version. Would like to better understand the historical context of this album.
I was digging it up until the big talking track (by the time I get to Phoenix… Jesus it’s 18 minutes long) Totally a 4 star for me if I take out the last track, which is nearly half the runtime. Rating a day late: I was going to give it 3, but I keep coming back and listening to those opening 3 tracks and love it. Almost considering it could have been a 5 without that talking track.
The master of taking a 3 minute song and making it llllaaaaasssssstttt…. I did get into the grove and enjoyed all 4 tracks.
Peak soul
It’s an experience, a vibe, a journey and more things I could say without talking about the actual music. I guess it’s groovy, funky etc. and Hayes gets us all fully involved with his stories presented as extended song jams. It’s quality listening by every metric you care to measure it by. Long songs though so you’d better be into them or it’ll be a hell of a drag. I am.
Isaac Hayes is possibly the coolest black man I know. I remember the shock I felt when I found out he was Chef on South Park. The guy who made Shaft? Awesome. Anyways, this record is good but too bloated for me to think YEAH MASTERPIECE. A groove can be set up but then it keeps running and running and eventually I get too used to it. There's no doubt there's great instrumentation on this record (as is Stax quality) but that's about it. I don't get much out of this besides it's generally good and it's Isaac Hayes (7/10, 3/5 on this scale)
Smooth af, but I'm not that hot on 18 minute tracks.
My attention span does not cope well with songs over 8+ minutes sorry! Then an interview at the end? I’m ok thanks - I’m sure he’s very good at what he does!
This one was pretty great. Hayes takes pop and R&B standards, infuses them with psychedelic flair and stretches them all to epic lengths to marvellous results. I love the string arrangement on the Bacharach/David classic "Walk On By", and of course the long prelude to Jimmy Webb's "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" makes the song hit that much harder. Key tracks: Walk On By
Fun listen! I really like the album cover too
Soooo smooooooth. Excellent chill soul.
Strong with waffle.
1969 hot and buttered, Memphis soul legend drops this 4-track 45-minute record, changing the game for R&B and Soul with long spoken words as sermons accompanied by smooth string and brass arrangements which slowly unveil the stretched groove and funk of Hayes, like melted butter
Not unpleasant, but honestly didn't move me or pique my interest in any major way. Certainly was interesting to listen to at least, and the soul involved (pun intended) is respectable, earnest. 2.5 in my head, even though I respect it, it just wasn't particularly fun for me.
Well it was certainly good. Warm, comforting. There's some great instrumentation here that's interestingly used, like I heard something like a rock guitar in the first track. Isaac Hayes kills with vocals but I was expecting that considering what I know from South Park (I'm part of that generation that knows about Isaac Hayes). All this said though, sadly I am a straight man so Hayes' seductive charm falls a bit flat for me. I'll tell you what though, if I was a woman, he'd probably make me forget that he's singing about cheating in One Woman, despite the song title.
I find it hard to put this into words. THoughtful, funky, soulful and sexy; I am so glad to hear this before I die. I added this to my library about two minutes into the first track.
I prefer to eat my buttered bread cold, because I eat it with very high quality butter, and melting it makes it less flavourful. Anyways that's probably why I couldn't get into this album. It was fine.
I enjoyed this from start to finish.
Great vibes the whole way through
I wish I didn't listen to this boring ass music. 1/5
++*: Walk On By ++: Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic, One Woman, By the Time I Get to Phoenix 9,7/10
Rustig hoor
Very good
Góð fløga, síðsti sangurin/dialogurin passaði ikki inn
Long
Weirdly much better than i expected
Absolute madness - these songs are hilariously overlong. Isaac obviously thought quantity should outweigh quality which is a bit of a shame because most of them would be great if they were a normal length.
Interesting album to listen through, unexpected that this musician is also a voice actor in South Park. Good Soul album
4 songs only and about 45 mins long. Not gonna lie ... while this could be daunting to some I was looking forward to this as 'Walk on By' is a stellar track and Isaac Hayes' voice is so smooooth. The first 3 tracks are majestic and beautiful and two of them are long, but they never meander. This was heading for 5 stars but I'm afraid that last track @ 18 minutes long wasn't for me and pulls this back down to 4 stars.
What a great listen! I went through a whole journey
I really enjoyed this, I was daunted by how long each track was initially but they didn’t sound like they went on forever through the listen Playlist add: "Walk On By"
Honestly... WTF was the point of this? More than half the album is the same song twice and an interview? Stupid.
I don’t know why I’m getting a cluster of funk/soul, but I’m really enjoying it. This was a more relaxed, chill record with just the four tracks. I liked the minimalism of it, the vocals, and just getting caught up in it. Not absolutely amazing, but enjoyable and smooth.
What's for lunch today Chef? Well children, today we’re gonna be serving up some hot buttered soul. This is a real slow burner, slow-roasted to perfection. The best chefs don't rush. As long as these songs are, they never feel it. Intensity builds up slowly over as much as 12 or 18 minutes of runtime, and properly take-off towards the end of the song. They turn into proper jam sessions, at times feeling a bit like the soul version of a Patti Smith song. I loved everything. Especially the incredible guitar solos throughout “Walk On By”. It serves as texture rather than taking the limelight (even though it absolutely deserves to be front-and-center). Isaac's voice is smooth as gravy, even if in my mind it's always Chef. Beautiful orchestration and impressive musicianship are thrown into the mixer to make everything feel cinematic and epic. I'd never listened to Isaac Hayes outside of the world of South Park. Chef set me up to expect a sort of sex-crazed Barry White type. I didn't expect this serving of hot buttered soul. What's for dessert? 4.5 stars
Walk on by is a great song. Isaac Hayes has a good voice. These statements are unquestionably true, but i do not need a 12 minute version of the song. I enjoyed the funk of the second track, but even its title is too long even if the first track has made me see 10 minutes as a short track. It just doesn't go anywhere, i can see it being an enjoyable groove high on life (or more likely other substances) in a live environment, but on record it feels like s good case for radio edits. Around the 7 minute mark where we go into a piano and bass break it is just too much and thats before it becomes apparent this is playing the song out. One woman is a far more sedate soulful affair. However it is just too schmaltzy for me and at times i just catch myself picturing the image of chef singing the song. It’s a shame that the more acceptable length song is actually the one i like least. The last track comes on i glance at its length and begin praying for a hidden track rather than a near 19 minute track, but the fact its past three minutes before any singing is even vaguely a possibility and even then it’s only a suggestion, kills all hope. Just shy of the 9 minute mark actually singing breaks out! Unfortunately it’s the schmaltz of track 3. The last few minutes when the organ, horns and drums kick in are a joy, but a short lived one. With some proper editing this is a good ep, without it is self indulgent pap. A good artist either decent material, but ruined by length.
Absolutely fucking horrendous, cringe worthy, and vomit inducing.
I had never heard this version of Walk On By. It gets full marks for trying something so different, though I'm not sure anything could beat Dionne Warwick. And while I enjoyed it, I didn't need 12 minutes of it. The follow up track that I'm never going to successfully pronounce, was probably my favourite. However, the moment he said "Your sweet phalanges know how to squeeze" all I could picture in my brain was Chef taking about his chocolate salty balls. Also it's again too long. But it did have a rare occurrence of the instrumentation fading between left and right which I enjoyed rather than it making me feel seasick. One Woman. Normal song length: yay! Schmaltzy nonsense: boo! And finally, the track that broke me. 9 minutes of chatting before finally getting to another 9 minutes of actual song should be considered a crime. It's so hard for me to mark this as parts are a 5 and parts are a 1.... Possibly more 1 than 5 though, so I'm plumping for: 2/5
Not much to say about this album. It's nice. It's somewhat interesting even with such long songs. There's a 18 minute track that has talking for the first 8 minutes, which I feel is too extensive.
No opinion about it, but it is the kind of music my dad’s like 😀
Classic, but loses a star because each song is juuuuust a bit too long
Some super cool, chilled out soul. I liked it but it wasn't something I'd go back to of my own accord. Maybe a bit 21st century of me but I wanted more songs with more direction and less meandering. Enjoyed
Production is great for 1969. Felt the closing track dragged a bit but the extended version of Walk On By is a highlight. A good listen
I enjoyed this one much more than I expected. It's not my favourite type of music, but this will get at least 4 stars. I really liked "Walk on By" and "By the time I got to Phoenix".
not as good as Joni Mitchell’s Blue
5/10 Poor. I thought that Spotify was missing most of the album, but no, there are only 4 very long rambling tracks. There are bursts of interesting bits, but mainly it faded into the forgettable
Okay but not my thing.
The guitar work and instrumentals are soooo good, but there's something about it that just doesn't sit right with me. I can't quite put my finger on it.
Nice
Coolness factor: 100 With all the coolness associated with Isaac Hayes — the voice behind the Blaxploitation classic Shaft — it’s easy to forget that he was also a musical innovator. At a time when progressive rock bands in Britain were primarily embracing the long song format, he released Hot Buttered Soul, an album featuring only four tracks, two of which are well over 10 minutes long (the opener 'Walk on by' and the closer 'By the Time I Get to Phoenix'), one just under that length ('Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic', 9:10 minutes) and one at 'just' 5:10 minutes ('One Woman'). It should have been commercial suicide, even in the world of soul music. Instead of flopping, however, Hayes's first masterpiece expanded the genre and opened up new avenues for it in the coming decade. Ironically, it was this unusual album that made him a star of black music, and skilfully edited singles then ensured commercial success in the charts. A milestone from a giant of soul music.
Absolutely not chefs kiss
Not too sure on the lenght of the tunes but soulmaxxing to the limits
This was nice .
got me all horned up at 8am, no need for that. alright I suppose, no massive substance to it. Issac certainly had a voice
Starts strong. Didn't need storytime at the end. Some recognizable pieces. Always wonder how I would have reacted if I were listening to this right after it came out.
RATING: 7/10 HIGHLIGHT: Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic LOWLIGHT: By the Time I Get to Phoenix
An excellent slab of Soul from Mr. Hayes. 4
The only things I'm really familiar with by Isaac Hayes are the soundtrack from Shaft and his work as the voice of Chef on South Park, so this album was all new to me. Hayes is just the definition of coolness - his music is so smooth and groovy - and I can see why people consider this to be an important album in soul music. The songs are all quite long, however, there is a definite build up in each one so they don't seem to be long just to be long. The songs are all "going somewhere". Quite a contrast in albums the last couple of days having a hardcore punk album that was 15 songs and lasted only 15 minutes, and this soul album that's 4 songs lasting about 40 minutes.
135. ok
4 long and groovy songs, i think the last 2 songs aren't as good as the first 2, but I kinda like how the last song is so long.
Ok is the best way to describe it. I was expecting something as ground breaking as Marvin Gaye What's Going On but this ain't that
I was so nervous when I saw this was a 45 minute 4-song album but holy shit. I loved this. Shoutout to the first track for inspiring a song on Lemonade. I’d give this 4.5 if I could.
It's only not a 5 because there was a lot of padding (fine padding, but padding nonetheless). I want more of Hayes' voice! It sure does what it promises though - hot buttered soul.
Excellent. I've been playing it on repeat. Walk on by is genius
Love it! Especially the first 2 tracks. Walk On By is that song that was sampled by Hooverphonic (back then Hoover) for their single 2 Wicky. Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic is one hell of a song. By the Time I Get to Phoenix is a really fine lenghty track. Least favorite track is One Woman. 4 out of 5 stars for me.
🔥🧈👣
I went ahead and listened to the singles version as well and by god that is 1000x better. Really don’t want to rate this one so low but I don’t want a 16 minute song to be 8 minutes of dialogue. Not a fan of this at all. Go listen to these songs without the extra bullshit
Great soul album, and the story with the last song is very entertaining. Good all around
Upon listening to the tracks' single edits after the respective album versions, the music on the album sounds like a satirical caricature of itself. The songs really are too long and don't derive much value from the extra length aside from giving Hayes opportunities to moan and announce that he's doing so. This aside, the music was groovy and the vocals told soulful and dramatic stories that I did enjoy. Further, the individual instruments stand out throughout the tracks, whether it be the flare of the oboe or the chiming rhythm of the cymbals, providing variety and emphasis to Hayes vocals. This is a good album for devoting one's time and attention, but not worth as much time as it demands.
Me ya gustado muchísimo, tenía algunas canciones guardadas pero con esto descubrí aún más
Love that he loves Bacharach, love the first 3 cuts, but can't stand what he does with Jimmy Webb's gorgeous By the Time I Get to Phoenix and keeps flogging it without mercy for 18 minutes.
Hot Buttered Soul is a great album title. That's a vibe I think I need to capture in my life a bit more. This is a cool album. It has a sweet groove and smooth vocals. By the time I get to Phoenix, Isaac Hayes will probably still be finishing his long-ass intro to that song, which is probably the least enjoyable part of the album. It's otherwise great though!
Not a very focused listen to Hot Buttered so tbh. My review is subject to change.
The song with the long name was a standout, Im too lazy to go back and type out its name.. song number 2 lol. Wasn't a fan of the 8 minute monologue, but other than that pretty solid. Good funky vibes. 7.5 shiny bald heads / 10 shiny bald heads
Album 30/1001. Listened 4/16/2026. Definitely not my usual play, but I would listen again. There's some great rhythms and riffs.
Four songs in 45 minutes, Hot Buttered Soul was a turning point for soul and R&B, and ushered in a whole new approach to the genre(s). For me, the standout is the opener, the 12 minute “Walk On By”. Hayes’ vocal performance is pure soul, and his band – with added strings - keep it taut and funky. 8/10
So smooth. The 18-minute version of “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” is a little much, with far too much talking, but the rest of the album is outstanding. 3.5?
Crazy amount of aura, skill, and cohesive vision on this one. The last song is unfortunately a bit of a drag, but the other three are tight, I'm gonna want to listen to it a lot this next month I think.
Just OK. The two pop covers don’t really work. The long story before the last track falls flat.
Still not used to 12-minute long songs, but they're great.
mellow. chill. talking.
Oh my god. WOW. I had never heard of this album before, I didn't know who Isaac Hayes was, and I was unsure what to expect. I'm really not familiar with soul, outside of a couple other albums from this list I've already heard. This is MAGICAL. Absolutely beautiful. Hayes' singing is gorgeous, the production is immaculate, the placement of the strings and electric guitar could not have worked out better. I literally did not know that soul music could sound like this. Having an 18-minute song as the closer to your soul record was certainly bold for the time, but imagine the period that this album came from. You didn't have a phone to scroll through, no video games to play, no one to text while you were listening to tell them how boring the song was. All you could do was lay back, close your eyes and listen to Mr. Hayes sing-talk you a story. It's an incredible listen, and that track isn't even my favorite on here. This is fucking awesome.
The songs are a little long to incorporate into my daily listening but absolutely masterful
I spent this album thinking about the secret garden on ASU's Tempe campus and drafting up a romantic poem. While the Shaft soundtrack was certainly deserving of its spot on this list, I'm also glad that we got to experience an actual original Isaac Hayes album, separate of some other bigger project. Hut Buttered Soul is an incredible album, taking Hayes' usual soul sound and cranking up the orchestral and cinematic sound. These sprawling instrumental journeys constantly find new movements and steps forward while staying funky and soulful, all complimented by a voice like sweet honey. I'm also a sucker for a spoken word interlude section, so the entire near-ten-minute buildup on By The Time I Get To Phoenix kept me completely captivated; it's connection to Injury Reserve's final album only makes it more of a standout in my mind. Highlights: Walk On By, Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic, One Woman, By The Time I Get To Phoenix
Exceptional
Not usually a fan of longer songs, but i think there's something special about a 4 song 45 minute album I really like this album's sound, I don't think I'd put any songs from it on a playlist individually but I would listen to the whole album again
I think it's funny that in a 45 minute album with 4 songs my favourite is the one that lasts 5 minutes and the only one that starts to drag is the 9 minute one.
this i like
This was pretty good, Isaac has a great voice makes it easy to forget how long some of the tracks are. Someone pointed out he’s chef from South Park and that only made the album better.
he went sicko mode on the 1st song
It‘ an album that has ben with me since my adolescence
Was really fucking w the first half on my drive to work but then that second half low kirkenuinely blows
Not really my thing but it was solid. Was tempted to deduct a star because he used an overpowered mental shortcut of “hot butter” in the album title and the album didn’t really deliver a hot butter feeling but whatever bro
- Although, as many others have noted, the monologue for "By the Time I Get To Phoenix" is too long and does not really go anywhere, this album still gets 5 stars just for Mr. Hayes' gold chain vest .... look it up. -
First two tracks are really good. Funky, jazzy, cool. The second two tracks are Barry White type soul. Less fun
THIS WAS MADE IN 1969???? This would also be as impressive and amazing if it was made this year, but damn that album is so ahead of its time.
This sounds both very old school, and yet super fresh. Truly a trailblazer.
Must say this is the first 40+ minute album with only 4 songs I’ve encountered. Tgat being the case, “Walk On By” is very good. Music drew me in. I figure it’s an entire album on a date night thing. (Despite first 10 minutes in song devoted to person who broke Isaac’s heart.) I didn’t even realize the song was that long, so that took a lot of skill. So, points for album title and being able to record songs and last one (By the Time I Get to Phoenix). Deduction for nearly 20 minutes of “By the Time I Get to Phoenix.”
Good listen, I appreciate am artist who does more with fewer tracks. That being said, when a track has an 8 minute spoken word section, it is no longer a long track, its a boring regular length track. Overall the album is solid but not life-changing. 3.5/5
It felt more bluesy than soulsy but it's all a blur anyways.
Another Isaac Hayes album from here. Liked the stretched out songs and is pretty good for late 60s.
Hot Buttered Soul indeed!
Dan, this was darn good! I've heard Isaac Hayes before but not in-depth. So glad to have this in my pocket!
I would have given this a five if it wasn't for the long monologue before the final track. It killed the pace of the album, although it made it more satisfying when the track properly started. Edging? Also I have never watched South Park and, while reading his wikipedia, I was surprised to discover this was actually the 1969 album of a South Park voice actor.
Overall, a pleasant experience. Too much spoken narration to bear repeat listening, at least for me.
First three tracks honestly really good, easily the best soul music I’ve had so far. Probably high 4, low 5. The last track is good, but it’s just Isaac Hayes telling a story for most of it, so not much replay value. Overall, enjoyed this way way more than expected!
Chill
some very long songs but pretty enjoyable. Maybe a bit forgettable
I had never heard of Isaac Hayes before, and I'm quite ashamed that was the case. Bloke is the epitome of smooth. Would not be surprised if he invented that word too. Highlight of the album was easily One Woman. What a fucking song that is holy shit. The album loves to meander though. I was thinking about giving it a 3 because of the extent of the meandering. That 8+ minute intro to the final song was also too excessive. However, I think because of how smooth it is and how good the non-meandery bits were I can give it a 4. There will be times where I can play this in the background.
3/5
Amazing! One of my fav voices and a cool blend of blues and soul
This is a four-track album. FOUR. It does not feel like a four-track album at all. This is partially due to the run-time of 45 minutes, but it's also a credit to Hayes' songwriting abilities. The tracks are varied and dynamic, and I never once found myself bored while listening. This all culminated in the last track, By The Time I Get To Phoenix, which has an eight-minute introduction but still goes on to deliver a beautiful soul track after.
songs are entirely too long
Me ha encantado!
too long somehow. too much speaking
A blend of gritty funk and smooth soul. Isaac Hayes strikes a dramatic tone — and his voice is beautiful. With only 4 songs on the album, the music stretches out with long intros and some nice solos. It’s great music to immerse yourself in. “One Woman” is a great song too. I like that it misleads you, letting you think it’s gonna be a purely romantic song before revealing that he’s having an affair and is torn between the two women.
Great soul record with some really nice moments that has a few extra long tracks that somehow don't wear out their welcome. I listened full through and really enjoyed it. I dig the grooves from the band too, it really doesn't feel like this is a record where the singer is a separate entity from the band. Great cohesion. RIP Chef.
A little uneven, but the great stuff is great.
It was okay
Not so much a cover, but more of a reimagining of Dionne Warwick's "Walk on By", Hayes' take did an incredible track of really making it his own; it makes me think of St. Etienne's "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" as they did a great job with Neil Young's song; Hayes' voice just oozes cool and that intro is emotional as it gets without lyrics. "Hyperbolicsyllablecsesquedalymistic" is groovy as all hell; I've come to have a taste for music like this through the journey starting with Curtis Mayfield that I fell in love with instantly, the bass, the wah wah guitars, drums... it all comes together in the smoothest way. "One Woman" gets similar praise. "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" however... Leaves me in a difficult spot. A reimagining of another song, this time Glen Campbell's - original being some 3 minutes long - song, it was deeply heart felt, as if Hayes' lyrics were his own, with the instruments additionally coming together for something even epic at times, but damn, an 18+ minute song is hard to bear for a first time listen. Despite this, I know I may be a hypocrite in time, as Pink Floyd's all parts of Shine On You Crazy Diamond comes in at some 25+ minutes.
I kind of liked it. It has a lot of experimental sounds and not that many lyrics, so it’s not really my type of music, but i still enjoyed it. It’s pretty short, and it makes really good company, like something nice to have on in the background.
As a huge hip hop fan, I recognize a ton of samples taken from this album. The A side is perfect. Classic stuff. 8/10
Jam soul. It was so jammy. Did not expect Chef to have that much goin on
Great funk/soul album from Isaac Hayes
Incredible. Cinematic. Whole-Hearted. Isaac Hayes bares his very existence on Hot Buttered Soul. He *IS* the Hot Buttered Soul "Walk On By" is an odyssey. It left me in awe. The orchestral score and guitar gave me the distinct impression that, if it were a movie, it would be shot in sepia tone, like a western. Hayes uses the long lengths of the songs to explore some tasty grooves, much to his advantage and my enjoyment. There is DRAMA on this record. And Isaac's gonna tell you all about it. "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" is an experience. An organ hums while Hayes narrates a tale of love and heartbreak. Hayes creative ambitions are palpable throughout this record. I put off rating and reviewing this record for a long time, and I'm so glad I did. I already liked it a lot, but I've grown to love it. Though it's a shame he was a Scientologist, it is undeniable that Isaac Hayes was a powerful voice and incredible talent.
That's some incredible music. The rendition of Walk On By (one of my all times favorites) is massive. It contains huge vocals, incredible rithem section and one of the best arrangements I've heard. 2 track (long name) is great aswell. A heavy song with prominent drums and bass. The song at its structure is less impressive but all works here. Great piano solo. One woman is a ballad. You can call it a super-power-ballad. The singing, of both the lead and backing vocalists, is breathtaking . A very much needed song in this track list. The last track is quit magical. It starts as a speech, a long one, before it turns into a song. And than it grows and grows and grows and grows. Beautiful arrangement aswell with an edition of Hammond towards the end. Lovely piano touches. I almost gave it a 5, but a re-Listen revealed that track 2 is not as strong as a track as the rest of the bunch. And, after the first listen, the 4 track speech may be a bit long. But every praise I gave stands aswell, strong. A huge album and a high 4
Not up my alley, but I do get it
très chaud le gars est chaud gg a lui
Tasty.
was listening to the first song while preparing dinner and it was hittinggg. like the soul, album as a whole feels quite sultry. like this!!!
Quite drawn out
Good
hot buttery and pretty good to listen to
album #24 hot buttered bangers! lyrics are sick as hell and isaac hayes has a magnificient voice :-) ꩜ favourite track(s): one woman, walk on by ꩜ least favourite track(s): no least favourites! ꩜ album rating: ★★★★☆ ꩜ number of albums left to review: 1,065 ꩜ number of albums from the list that i agree with being on the list: 11 (+1 Hot Buttered Soul) ꩜ albums from the list that I would consider on my list: 4 (+1 Hot Buttered Soul) ꩜ albums from the list I won't include on my list: 20
groovy experimental
de fondo para cocinar
oh yeahhhhh
Enjoyable. More so than most stuff in this genre that I've heard.
This album is a tour-de-force. (Whatever that means.)
4/10 I like the sound but I despise how this album is structured. Maybe I'm not built correctly but I don't need an 18 minute song
Ou jea! Toinen hyvä löytö putkeen. Isaac Hayesin biisejä olen kuullut muutamissa blaxploitaatio-elokuvissa, mutta nyt vasta tutustuin paremmin hänen levytyksiinsä. Kyseessä on oikein hyvä levy, vaikka viimeinen 18-minuuttinen raita ei ihan täysin iskenyt.
Perfection.
Straight soulful jazz vibes. Saved a banger of a song but hot and buttered is how my soul felt afterwards
3.75 much better than anticipated.
Una bofetada a la falta de creatividad contemporánea. Mientras la industria actual se conforma con fragmentos de 2 minutos, Hayes se atreve a expandir el alma en piezas largas y complejas. "Walk on By" es una catedral sonora: el órgano marca un ritmo casi ritual, mientras que los vientos y cuerdas elevan la pieza a un nivel cinematográfico. Su voz grave le da una profundidad que el soul rara vez alcanza, moviéndose con maestría entre el funk más terrenal y una sofisticación orquestal absoluta. Es música para detenerse y escuchar, no para consumir de paso.
Chef's Kiss
sexy as fuck
4,5
His ass was NOT lying, that was a hot buttered soul!
Experimental, but good for once.
Relaxing 8/10
Worth a relisten. I felt cool listening to this.
Almost didn’t believe this one was from the 60s. Guy was ahead of his time, and clearly had a big influence. Majority of the album didn’t hit me real hard but still solid
Out of sight
Album Review 100 Hot Buttered Soul by Isaac Hayes (1969) Rating: 4/5 Hot Buttered Soul sounds exactly as described: sumptuous, indulgent, and velvety smooth. Across four expansive tracks, Hayes delivers high-end studio production and lush orchestration, anchored by one of the most soulful voices in music. While some of the song choices themselves are unexpected, he completely makes them his own; particularly his transformative takes on Walk on By and By the Time I Get to Phoenix. The album's peak, Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic, is almost nasty in how deep it finds the groove.
Perhaps a little tedious in its slow and sometimes-monotonous building and stagnating through the tracks, but it also compensates for that by sounding pretty unique, fresh, and awesome for its time. At least, I started listening to the album for a minute or two and then I checked the year and it managed to take me by surprise It earns its respect
good jazz shi innit
Started off strong, then got reaaaal weird with it. The first song is great, the other songs are varying degrees of strange and off putting lyrics. The musicianship is appreciated, and even the music itself is great. But it could’ve been edited down or broken up a bit more.
The first track is really good, then it just kinda peters out, with random spoken word stories. Still, pretty impressive for 1969.
Sublime
This still sounds fresh in 2026! I can see how Hayes ultimately influenced classic 90s/00s R&B - but also hear resonances with the styles of newer postmillenial fusion-y artists like Hiatus Kaiyote and Snarky Puppy.
(6/7) bold and soulful, but the spoken word section really slowed the momentum on my run
Класний альбом, сам не очікував) Соул, фанково-блюзовий)
Сборник из нескольких очень больших треков. Мне всё же такого подхода видимо не понять, особенно когда сама песня например как в последнем треке начинается только к 8 минуте. Плох ли альбом? Нет, но зацепится мне не за что
I knew nothing of this. I have, of course, heard of Isaac Hayes, but this album was a complete surprise. When I heard Walk On By I immediately thought of Portishead. The dozens of times I watched Heat and didn't know Vincent's line while he is browbeating his informant, "When I get to Phoenix, she'll be risin'..." was from a song. It just sounded like something Al Pacino improvised, which he probably did; I just didn't know he was improvising a song lyric. Clearly, this album has had tremendous influence. There's an awful lot packed into these few songs.
Funky and fun
For an album that approaching 60 years old, you can see why it is still relevant.
Chef from South Park made music??
It wad good. I didn't expect such long tracks.
This album is really good. I found it pretty interesting at parts, and even the last song was quite peculiar. I liked the idea. However, even if most of this album is pure good taste and great music, some executions haven't convinced me completely. But, for sure, it's an album that flows so well and quickly, and that feels very enjoyable.
Well that bored the shit out of me. 2
Wanted to love this so much, as soul is right up my street. But the story of the last song drags and drags, even if it does eventually get somewhere worth going. Otherwise, there's some irrepressible grooves here that hit perfectly, but there's just not enough to elevate it as an album.
good
Muy bueno!!!! Me encantó, muy para momentos soft
Ok
1:09 minutes and like 6 songs hell yea. Disappointing to realise only like 40 of those minutes were the actual album but still and enjoyable if not necessarily enthralling experience. The opening tracks in particular i loved but i did struggle a bit with the chattier ones if only coz i wasn’t really listening. Sorry Isaac.
Hot Buttered Soul yes please!
4 x 10+ min songs? Hell yeah. Equal parts fun and funky, smooth and sexy, and just a touch of silly. The first three were more my speed but I’ll be coming back to Hot Buttered Soul for sure.
File under: songs that are long and don’t justify their length. I see a 4-track album that’s 46 minutes long and we’re already starting from a tough spot, and this didn’t really convince me. I loved some of the piano around the 5 minute mark of hyperbolic.. which felt like maybe it was sampled somewhere?? as a whole not too bad but not that exciting
I think that more albums should follow this general pattern of making sure it sounds really sick and then releasing it.
a couple of songs that I liked, but did not care for the rest of the album
Great album that doesn’t sound that dated
Really great album. With the exception of the last track, you really dont feel how long each song is...it just flies on by. And you can definitely hear the influence on later hip hop through its sampling of this. Just a great soul record.
Some of the smoothies, sexiest soul music ever recorded. Every song here absolutely earns its runtime, and Isaac Hayes' voice never sounded better than it did on this record. A masterclass for how to make funk and soul music.
Tasty, but not sure I’ll come back to.