Reviews (page 4 of 13)
5 star except for last track
Hier kan ik wel goed naar luisteren, maar eerlijk: dat komt ook wel door de lange instrumentale delen. Juist zijn stem is toch zijn handelsmerk. Maar die kan toch wat saai worden. Zeker als hij nog een heel verhaal gaat afsteken. Tijdens de lange nummers op het album, werkt het juist andersom. De stem breekt weer even de muziek en voorkomt daarmee juist de verveling. Bij One Woman mis ik dat wel. En: nog steeds had dat lange verhaal niet gehoeven. Kant A: een dikke vier sterren Kant B: een krappe 3 sterren
I like Isaac Hayes he makes some interesting sounding music, the instrumentation is so good and this album is him at his peak it's a classic
The reputation of this album of having one perfect side and one only medium good side is well founded. First two tracks are perfect. Second two are fine, just fine.
Would be 5 but I really did not enjoy that last song. Amazing opener.
Strong album. 4/5
fire
(Omg, se mi je zdel znano ime... Chef iz South Parka!) Tole je kr amazing ("Walk On By"). "Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic" isto (a je ta naslov ful 60s, a se men sam zdi?) Potem je balada, "One Woman", k mi je ok? Pač balada. Not my fave. "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" se začne z govorom o ljubezni. Ok. (Uf, komad je skor 19 minut. Kok minut bo samo bluzil od ljubezni? ... Pri šestih minutah pikico zapoje! Aaa, spet govori. 8 minut in 40 sekund!) Komad zj je pa kul! Extremely.
Soul is Good
Strong title, strong cover and strong opener and I'm thinking its a definite 5. Sadly it flags a little esp on By the time I get to Phoenix, but still a groovy & funky 4.
you are the baldest person ever!! no way this is chef on south park bruh
Makes me feel like I'm in too deep on a case my wife advised me not to take but in all seriousness the voice is very sultry even tho the lyrical content is not being suggestive or anything of the sort, walk on by is pretty good I don't usually listen to this genre, The electric guitar is beautiful like the way it's being played is really engaging and keeps me focused, very good complete album I wonder why I've never heard of this person before Issac Hayes is quite and enjoyable artist with a concise project on display here, I'll revisit this a lot but it's not really my vibe so I won't delve into the style and deeper but good nonetheless, one woman is my favorite
7/10
I do love abit of soul and this fill the needs
Isaac Hayes och the bar-kays, det kan inte bli dåligt. Vilken dunderskiva! Varför ha tio korta låtar när man kan ha tre skitlånga och en halvlång? Riktigt nära 5an.
Förstklassig järnkuksballad, ett tal om kärlek. Mycket kul album!
It's exactly what I would have imagined from the guy that voiced chef
My first Isaac Hayes album. This was dripping with cool. I love hearing the OF songs where samples have been lifted.
I'd put this on while making dinner for a hot date night. Love a short album that runs long Highlights: "Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic" "One Woman"
per me troppo bello anche 4,5
3.5. It’s weird that like 30 years after this album, Isaac Hayes was probably more known as the guy who voiced Chef on South Park than he was a singer. I think we need to get back to 4 track, 50 minute albums.
3.5 - This started off real strong, but a few moments like the 14 minute closing song hurt the rating a bit.
Long, fun, groovy songs.
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.
Had no idea what to expect with this but it was excellent
buttered my soul
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.
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
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.
8/10
Has made me want to listen to more soul for sure
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.
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
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.
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.
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
Buen album pero se me hizo largo el final
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
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
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.
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.
Man he was cooking.
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
This is true soul! Amazing album and i really like the commentary!
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
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
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!
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.
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.
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.
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 enjoyed this from start to finish.
Great vibes the whole way through
Very good
Góð fløga, síðsti sangurin/dialogurin passaði ikki inn
Weirdly much better than i expected
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
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
Classic, but loses a star because each song is juuuuust a bit too long
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".
An excellent slab of Soul from Mr. Hayes. 4
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.
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.
Great soul album, and the story with the last song is very entertaining. Good all around
Me ya gustado muchísimo, tenía algunas canciones guardadas pero con esto descubrí aún más
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!
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
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.
Still not used to 12-minute long songs, but they're great.
The songs are a little long to incorporate into my daily listening but absolutely masterful
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.
First two tracks are really good. Funky, jazzy, cool. The second two tracks are Barry White type soul. Less fun
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.”
It felt more bluesy than soulsy but it's all a blur anyways.
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.
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!
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.
Me ha encantado!
A little uneven, but the great stuff is great.
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.
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
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
très chaud le gars est chaud gg a lui
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!!!
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
This album is a tour-de-force. (Whatever that means.)
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.
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.
sexy as fuck
4,5
Experimental, but good for once.
Relaxing 8/10
Worth a relisten. I felt cool listening to this.
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
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
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.
For an album that approaching 60 years old, you can see why it is still relevant.
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.
Muy bueno!!!! Me encantó, muy para momentos soft
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.
I think that more albums should follow this general pattern of making sure it sounds really sick and then releasing it.
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.
😉 salted, whipped motherfucker
Very apt album title. Smooth and sexy. That butter was scalding hot, pissing out of my pikelets and dribbling all down my chin! Last song maybe let it down, even though it had Andre3000 SpottieOttie vibes.
Give a brother a shot! Hes succulent and outta sight man!
Right up my fucking street, this. Blew Gabrielle's Walk On By out the water. Feels luke he joins in when he feels like it. On his terms. You wanna leave it 2 minutes before you say a word, thats alllllriiiight. This album itself cant get a 5, but might have to seek out more isaac. Dippy egg and soldiers. The egg's so dippy its outrageous.
Nb nb. Prefer the Dionne Warwick walk on by but maybe that’s just me
A classic. Always preferred the first half mind, just too damn good.
What a band. What a singer. What a record.
Fantastic! What a great soul album. The spoken word part of the last track dragged on a little too long but an otherwise stellar album!
I went into this album thinking it was going to be boring. 4 songs at 45 minutes? Yeah, no thanks. Man, was I wrong. Every second was enjoyable! Good vibes, great singing from Isaac Hayes, and that rendition of 'By The Time I Get to Phoenix' was amazing! Definitely a new favorite of mine!
A great but uneven album, with a stellar A-side and a less satisfying B-side. First couple of tracks are absolute monsters - funky, juicy psychedelic soul oozing with smoothness, aided and abbeted by insane beats, gorgeous piano solos and guitars that moan so sensually they could be arrested for public indecency. At a time when soul tracks were usually 4-5 minutes long to allow radio use, Isaac Hayes just went his own way and pounded us with songs so long and so sexy they were probably responsible for a significant number of unplanned pregnancies. Halfway through the album, I was sure I was going to give this a 5*... But the 9-minutes monologue on B-side really killed the mood, especially since the remainder of the song was a bit too slow and dragged-out even by Isaac Hayes standards. Kind of an anticlimactic ending in my opinion. Too bad, it was almost perfect. But three amazing songs out of four is still a very good ratio, and no one can deny the gigantic influence this album had on soul, funk and hip-hop. Hard choice between a 4 and a 5*, I'll have to give it another try in a few days. 8/10
Очень непривычно для меня, но для томного богатого вечера очень подходит
I loved this and will be listening to it at least 2 more times
Isaac Hayes – Hot Buttered Soul (1969) On Day 86, I’m settling on a 4/5 for Hot Buttered Soul. The technical ability is great, and the overall production is a landmark in soul music, but it struggles with immersion due to its pacing. "One Woman" was the standout for me, it’s a great example of the soulful musicianship I’m looking for without the bloat. On the other hand, "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" is visibly longer than it needs to be. While the baritone rap and orchestral swells are technically impressive, the sheer length of the tracks sometimes pulls you out of the experience. It’s a strong project, but the lack of focus on certain tracks keeps it from a perfect score.
Sensual, smooth-loving soul
Isaac mate. Sit down, grab a cuppa and let's chat. Those first 3 tracks. Stone cold classics. But even so, you can't just bang on about Jimmy Webb for 9 minutes before you bother singing a note. People will dock you a star. 4*
This feels very far ahead of its time; a really fresh and modern mix of big orchestral sounds, synthesizers, soul, jazz and funk. A very enjoyable listen!
Smooth, moody, & soulful.
I loved all of it except the spoken word part
I am a soul girl! Yes to every track.
Aw yeah, this is my shit. These grooves have pockets so deep you could lose your whole damn mind. This album was short but loooong, you know? You can feel the band really stretching out on some of these tracks, and it turns from regular music into more of an atmosphere, and I love it. I'm gonna go 4, I could have used 2 or 3 more tracks that give me that feeling.
I get a laugh out of wondering if Issac Hayes eventually disavowed the term “soul music” and instead insisted that he played Thetan Music. The first three tracks are a perfect album, at times it makes you feel like you’re fucking ascending. Last song is kinda boring I’m sorry.
Erikoinen setti. Pari hyvää biisiä, mutta kokonaisuuden puolesta ansaitsisi kolmosen. Oman haastattelun julkaisu levyllä on niin härski muuvi että nostaa neloseen
So my first impression of getting this album was: "woah, this album is 45 minutes and the track listing is only 4 songs!". I think this is the short track listing I've experienced so far. The lack of tracks does not mean there's a lack of content. This album reminded me a bit of Bat Out of Hell by Meatloaf. I know that sounds like a weird comparison and of course the two albums stylistically are completely different. But the songs on both albums take you on a journey, complete with twists and turns. Although the songs on Hot Buttered Soul were long, I was invested in the music the whole time. Great funky grooves.
Good but not perfect
Liked the sound of the music even though the songs were long. The Glen Cambel song was a Suprise.
Soundtrack
I just threw this one without noticing it was just four songs and was just rocking with it the whole time.
*Chef's kiss*
Last song a bit of a slog but otherwise banger album
Iconic an influential sound. Funk, with orchestral arrangements that make everything sound like a movie soundtrack. But unless you are the one being seduced, Hayes’s voice is not all that — too much talking and not enough actual singing, for me. Still, the sound and vibe are fantastic. Could be a 3, but I would listen to this again (probably not “again and again,” though). A 4.
Walk on By By the Time I Get to Phoenix
would’ve been a 5 if not for the 9 minute spoken word intro to ‘by the time i get to phoenix’
Last track is really a bummer for me, takes up like a third of the run time, detracts from the rest.
So smooth and resonant, Isaac Hayes defined cool. These songs are long, but you kind of get lost in them and don't mind. Even the long storytelling of By the Time I Get to Phoenix is cool.
I think thsi raises the question about why there are not more albums that just have 4 10min plus songs with a very close up of a bald head for the album cover it seems like to me this must be a successful format?
Didn't listen lol. Actually okay funky
“I'm talkin' about the power of love now I'm gonna tell you what love can do You know when they say love makes the world go 'round That's the truth” This was very much what I had expected from Isaac Hayes. I will confess I am one of many who will have heard of him largely through his role as Chef in South Park, but I was aware he was a very well thought of musician. As the title implies the album is incredibly smooth but it is also well performed with a lot of room for creativity especially due to the extended nature of many of the tracks. It was a really relaxing and enjoyable listening experience and I will almost certainly revisit it.
Excellent soul record. #johnsvinyl
Unexpectedly goo
Sehr Intressaante Musik, eine Mischung aus Backsänerinen und Lead. Grovig und ässt mitsummen
As someone who grew up listening to 80’s and 90’s hip hop I’m most familiar with the songs from this album, like “Walk son By” and “Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic” from them being sampled by my favorite artists. And I’m probably most aware of Isaac Hayes as playing Chef of South Park.
it was good
aprendí a decir hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic
I never imagined Soul Music would had such long songs as on this album. But then I discovered there's this thing, I mean, subgenre called Progressive Soul and I might dig a bit deeper to find out more about it. The song ”Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic" is my favourite, maybe because it has a The Doors vibe.
Psicodélico pero encantador.
No me gusta el estilo
kinda fun
Det är knappast Lätt&lagom vi snackar här, snarare dansk majornäs (hittade en en gång som hade fetthalt 97%). Jag är oerhört svag för Isaac Hayes maratonsoul, när den liksom bara får pågå i en mindre evighet. Jag spelar ofta Isaac när jag lagar mat av nån outgrundlig anledning, kanske är det fetthalten jag vill åt, allt blir ju godare med smör. Skit i all sex, guldkedjor, märkliga utstyrslar och Black Moses snack för en stund. Lyssna istället verkligen för en gångs skull på det perfekta sofistikerade hantverket i "Walk on by". Precis allt är fulländat med den låten, den känns för kort trots sina 12 minuter. Stabila 4 till South Park kocken
Tre av fyra spår klockar in på 9 till 17 minuter, ändå vill man aldrig att de ska ta slut. Det är kraftfullt och vackert. Nära gränsen till femma. Det är nog One woman som drar ner det lite. Det är en bra soulballad, men inte lika enastående som resten.
Hayes vet sannerligen hur man marinerar sin själ i drypande smör. Svulstigt, storslaget och ack så ljuvligt. Groovet, det tålmodiga byggandet mot ett klimax (inte minst i avslutande Phoenix). Sen kan det förstås vara så, precis som med en bra semla, man orkar inte med hur många som helst. Bra där att den gode Hayes nöjer sig med fyra spår. Ett album att spela max en eller två gånger åt gången, annars går det som för Adolf Fredrik å semlorna.
Walk on by i Hayes version är mästerlig. Introt får håren på armarna att resa sig. Hayes kanske inte är den största soulrösten men för walk on by är den perfekt. Övriga låtar är når inte upp till samma klass. Jag gillar de långa låtarna som får tid på sig att byggas upp, men det blir några minuter för många av släpig dialog i …Phoenix. Som helhet är ändå Hot Buttered Soul riktigt bra. Det går så klart att argumentera för att det är en lång EP snarare än ett album.
The song lengths make this difficult to put into casual rotation, but I did really enjoy it.
Should've had it in my playlist already
Really surprised by how great this one was.
Wow! Did not expect to like it that much. One of the best Soul record I've ever heard.
When progressive and smooth soul dance together in the best way. Beautiful and heartfelt album!
8.5/10
Prog soul? Solid 3.5, rounded up to a 4.
Not too shabby.
4/5 exactly as the title says
Great laid back soul.
I liked this but man some of these tracks are long. High 3
I went into this album expecting it to be just more soul music, but from the very first song I realized that Hot Buttered Soul had its own unique sound. This album was a good discovery, and I will be listening to it again even if the songs are long.
I ❤️ Stax Records
High praise for this one. Definitely worth bookmarking and coming back to. Incredibly fresh and soulful ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plenty to like here. Isaac Hayes is kind of "the king" of this style right? I don't love love love this and I won't reach for it often but man when you want that smooth low-baritone this is a good choice.
Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic!!
Great album but for once I actually wish it was longer so he could show off more stuff!!
Hard to hear as anything but parody, yet it still sounds cool.
a 12 minute song, a 10 minute song, and an 18 minute song are on this album and I wasn't bored once.
wow. This album made me do all my chores in a blink. Very good.
God yes. Since I got the Shaft soundtrack (haha ‘got the shaft’), I’ve been really looking forward to getting this one. Hot Buttered Soul is an even better record than Shaft was in large part due to Isaac Hayes’ singing being more prevalent. The singing is smooth and filled with swagger. The instrumentation upholds the same qualities, but is even more lush and gorgeous. I really loved this one.
Enjoyed it. They were long tracks, but didn't feel like it.
Epic and funky!
Um bom album Soul, Isaac Hayes constroi muito bem todos os arranjos, tem muita identidade. 8/10
This Soul music is really great. I will definitly be diving into this album and more of this genre in the future
Incredible soul album, one woman is the highlight
Incredible. Brave to put out an album with 4 long songs. So ahead. Wish more people would experiment with album format in this way
Smoothhh
A classic! Another ive not listened to for a while so am happily going through Issacs oeuvre! Again!
Walk On By is fantastic, Hyberbolicsyallbicsesquedalymstic and One Woman are very solid. By the Time I Get to Phoenix would've been better without the 8 minute narration at the beginning.
This was a slow burn for me. I was listening to it in the background today and I felt it fall short, later on I realized that's because this isn't meant for the background. Sit down and use your ears real good for this one. This is soul fundamentals, and it's fresh. His vocals are an instrument of their own, the man has a beautiful voice, and his energy is eternal. That first track sets the perfect tone. It reshapes a popular song into something so full of emotion that it distorts. It lays a badass undertone to start things off, rocking out with the Bar-Kays, who merit way more visible credit for this effort. It's then drawn out, experimented with, played and displayed. You can feel that dynamic on the four tracks that make this record. It's playful, it's sensual, it's intense, it's a beautifully executed project. I feel like I might possibly love this more in the future. My rating expresses a single day of exposure to this gem, where I find this as something I highly appreciate but not necessarily a project I'd listen to frequently. I would still buy it. 4.3/5
I know Isaac Hayes best from "Theme from Shaft," which I've always loved since hearing it on the radio when it was a hit in the early 70s. Plus the wikipedia article says that this is one of Henry Rollins' favorite records. So hey, let's go. This is everything that I liked about "Shaft" but stretched out, sometimes with an almost improv kind of feeling. I did not expect these instrumental bits! The crazy long end of "Hyperbolicsyllablecsesquedalymistic" reminded me of Can. (Or maybe better to say that the bass on "Tago Mago" reminds me of "Hyperbolicsyllablecsesquedalymistic," since this came out 3 years earlier.) What interested me most when I first saw the tracklist was this 18-minute-long version of "By the Time I Get to Phoenix." What? I didn't know what to expect with this, an 18-minute soul version of what I remember as a lightweight Glen Campbell song from when I was a kid. But damn, his long intro that created a story around why the guy in the song was doing what he was doing caused this version to be pretty heartbreaking. 4/5
This was a great discovery. For old-school soul music, this album really stands out. It has mellow, soulful moments but also builds up to expansive orchestral sections that are truly captivating. Some parts of the album even break into extended jams that keep the energy flowing.
Classic soul
Very enjoyable, Hayes' voice is so smooth and his take on Walk on by is so different, almost unrecognisable. With all the songs being ten minutes long sometimes I found my attention wondering a little towards the end as they were mostly instrumental.
Uses long track length to its advantage. Each track builds a vibe and lets you live in it long enough that it starts to really get to you in a way that most standard-length songs don’t. Total vibe with a great voice.
Very nice bit of classic RnB.
By The Time I Get To Phoenix being one of the best songs ever recorded certainly helps this one
373/1089 - Thanks Chef!
The spoken word at the beginning of "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" was gratuitous but overall a very good album. Maybe one of the most accurate album names ever.
dette har jeg aldri hørt om før! // fra første strofe er jeg solgt, for en opplevelse
I didn’t know I needed full orchestral soul music in my life. Very enjoyable
The instruments felt very lush and full throughout this album. I loved that. I didn’t mind the length of songs either. Between the storytelling and the way the music ebbed and flowed and built, this was a delightful journey through sound. I think my soul is officially hot and buttered.
First time listening to Isaac Hayes. I like the instrumental grooves, but I find it a bit boring because every track is so long. If I find a good part in a 14-minute track, I can’t wait to get to that part. My favorite tracks are ‘Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic’ and ‘By the Time I Get to Phoenix.’
Heerlijk chil
noticed a lot of parts other artists sampled! cool digs
I was conflicted between a 3 or 4. This is just above average and has some enjoyable songs, but a lot of fluff too.
very groovy classic
Yeeeeesh. Stank face went on early and never really went anywhere. The 60s? Really? Walk On By is sooooo good, how have I never heard this? I guess I recognize a lot from being sampled in other tunes. Soulful suspension in time listening to hyperbolic, groovy. Walk on By has to be the track, 4/5.
10
É um album que não estava a espera. A ultima faixa fez me sentir num podcast
So vibey, good to listen to stoned
YES YES YES FOURTY FIVE MINUTES AND FOUR SONGS OMG actually hard slay of an album. needs to be listened to in its entirety.
I knew Haye's version of Walk On By that starts this album but I didn't know the rest of it. It is an astonishing work, although I'd prefer a rather more straight version of By The Time I Get To Phoenix.
Name doesn’t lie
Hot Buttered Soul is the perfect title for this album. If you are into this kind of high-concept, luxuriant soul music, with time taken over everything, great musicianship and super-high production values, the album must be a real treat. I’m a not really that guy but I recognise the artistry.
Leuke vibe! Einde was wel beetje saai voor een tijdje maar verder echt leuk! 8/10
This was my nickname in high school
Need to get it in my head that this is not Gil Scott Heron
I really enjoyed the first song, however, the last one did kinda lose me after a while of all the talking. Once it got to the music tho, very nice.
That was love making music. Good shit. South Park voice actor for chef lol.
Long soul jams
really nice but not my style, but still rlly nice to hear
This was almost a 5 for me, but it's derailed in the final stretch by the 9 minute spoken word intro to 'By The Time I Get To Phoenix'. That's a full 20% of the 4-track album, if you're wondering. Though it has some camp appeal, the sermon is slow as molasses, mostly pointless and kills the replay value of the record as a whole. But like, I said, otherwise, this album is almost perfect. Specifically, the arrangement of 'Walk On By' is stunning and backing band the Bar-Kays are in top form on 'Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymisitc'.
Great musicianship with smooth grooves funky rhythyms and Hayes has that great smooth deep voice.
Peak. Would be a 3.5 if rating existed. 9 minute spoken word intro to the final song killed the pace but was eventually worth it.
Wasn’t the chaotic jazz I’m used to but you can tell this was incredibly influential to modern jazz
Other than the intro to phoenix, some great stuff here
7.0/10
I was already familiar with this album. It is a soul classic. Every track is great, and while By The Time I Get To Phoenix is very long, clocking in at over 18 minutes, it doesn't feel that long. My favorite track is Walk On By. I would listen to this album again for sure.
Walk on By
Wow. Love the opening two tracks. Amazing sound, vocals, lyrics. Couldn’t ask for more in a song. Later songs were good, but not my favorite. 8.5/10
I like it, but i wish the songs were shorter since I get bored of the songs when they last too long. I might be living under a rock, but imo he´s an hidden gem.
3.5
This one has grown on me a bit since i first listened to it on my 1969 dive. Believe it or not for once my favorite tracks on here were the shorter tracks but especially "Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic". But even the longer tracks has their high points like the guitar work on "Walk In By"., if there's a part that really loves me a bit it is the long spoken word intro to "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" but when it gets to the actual song it's as smooth as hot butter. (8.3) ★★★★
By The Time I Get To Phoenix takes an awful lot longer than it should to get there but other 3 tracks are terrific. 4 Chocolate Salty Balls out of 5.
Tendría cinco estrellas si 25 de los 40 minutos que dura el álbum no se la pasara hablando.
Second time around for this album as well - really liked it, a super solid listen. Great songs and vocals.
The Hammond organ is at it again 💃🏻 Not a boring moment on this album, despite how long the songs are (including the 8 minutes of spoken word. He’s a storyteller!) Definitely returning to this.
Damn. A 12 minute opening track. I was already showered and ready for a nap before track #2.
Sure was an interesting listen, 4 tracks 40 plus minutes slow burn soul. Indulgent, yeah guess so, I mean 8 mins before even get close to phoenix ( that’s how to cover a song) but Pretty damn good with it. Got his singles on Stax box set and own shaft but never listened to any of his other albums, as said interesting and changing that from today, 4 Star
Holy shit I can't get enough of this.
Damn. Sets a mood, very cool. On another day, maybe the repetitiveness might have turned me off, but I was grooving through to the end
Hard not to like, though I'm between a 3 and a 4,
Such smooth grooves! I’ve always enjoyed this one, a real nice way to start my day.
My excitement when I opened this album and saw it was 46 minutes with only 4 songs cannot be described. I love long songs and I love albums where the tracklist is short and doesn’t total over 50 minutes—with some exceptions, of course, especially when it comes to punk music or concept albums. The effect and build up at the very beginning is awesome. All of Walk On By is phenomenal. I feel like I’ve heard it a lot before, but I know they wouldn’t play an eleven minute song on the radio so I honestly don’t know. Maybe something samples it? Ok apparently Me Against the World by 2Pac does, and I have that on my playlist, so that makes sense. Also 6 Inch by Beyoncé, which I’ve only listened to two or three times, but it was a fairly memorable song. Hyperbolic… has quite the title, with lyricism to match and lots of cool production. One Woman is great as well. I honestly don’t remember much because I had to listen to it in segments due to some stuff that came up, but I remember liking it—great vocals and such. By The Time I Get to Phoenix is a beautiful spoken word telling a love story. It’s a great closer for the album and really perfectly sums up what the album’s about. Amazing album. RIP Isaac Hayes.
Excellent! Still sounds fresh.
Glad I got to listen to this. Now I can say I've heard his actually music rather than nostalgia of South Park.
Sacré découverte, dommage que la dernière chanson soit un peu longuette.
Que vibe
Sometimes I wonder how many babies were born because of Hayes and his grooves. Many, I assume.
i love this guy
Need a relisten with more focus on the lyrics
Shaft! Except not this time. Clearly so influential in both image and sound, this is an awesome album.
Solid sound from top to bottom
Cool
88/100.
PEAK
epic, grand, and ambitious. love how established his sound is in only his second recording. the messaging of being a good man isn't a weakness is interesting, and turns the stereotype of the man doing wrong by his woman on it's head in the 1960s pretty progressive. chef is cool as hell.
i should listen to this again very impressive next to buttery
Thought I must've clicked the wrong thing when I only saw 4 songs, but this is a solid album. Slow burn, mellow grooves. Title is perfect.
One of the best to ever do it.
First three songs were fire, last one was way out of whack.
i'm thinking that maybe i should become a scientologist. very good grooves. a lot of soul and funk cooks, but almost none of it is as carefully braised as this. deserves to be one of the 1001? yeah!
Incredible soul music.
Smooth and sultry. Super long tracks though, I preferred the single edits. Very innovative for 1969.
Good. Dragged on a little for me, but that's more on my attention span than the album.
Sample heaven. Warning by Biggie and Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos immediately came through, but I’m sure there were plenty of others as well. Gorgeous music. Only complaint is that some songs dragged a bit for me, and in particular the last one went on far too long for my taste.