Reviews (page 6 of 13)
Love it. Some good ol funky and lovely soul One woman was a highlight
Should we make 18 minute long songs more common. Yes. My Soul feels hot and buttered after listening to this. An excellent listen
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.
Schön zu hörendes Soul album. Unaufgeregte, warme Musik. 4/5
Classic
Gives a very specific 70s smooth vampire vibe at the beginnings of the songs, the end of the songs feel like it would be good tattoo shop music. But like the kind of tattoo shop with lots of plants and gold accents.
A good, solid, soulful album, but I didn't like it as much as the Shaft Soundtrack. I won't be adding this one to my Tidal library, but I will give it four stars.
Pretty impressive listen - the influence that this one album has on so much later music is clear. It's insane to think this was released in 1969 with how modern it looks/sounds. Some bits drag on but overall I'm very glad I heard this album. 3.6/5 -> 4/5
Some great covers, liked every song but lots of filler that’s makes the listening experience boring
Incredibly talented and iconic. Not really my thing or it would be a 5 probably
I can't believe this is how I find out that Isaac Hayes sang Chocolate Salty Balls... incredible I liked this album, such a smooth voice. Didn't even notice the songs were mega long because I was enjoying the vibe 4 ⭐️
I knew three of the four songs already. What a great album full of classics.
i really was missing out on this masterpiece. the instrumentals on this are so crazy. the story telling as well was nice to listen to as i was washing the dishes. i also love how the long songs on the album also had condensed versions of it !
not the sort of thing i usually listen to, but fun and super vibey.
4 tracks, each over 10 minutes long? An 8 minute monologue on the last? Yeah baby! This was great. Loved the orchestration on track 4. Probably the best cover version of 'Walk on By' ever. Worth 4 stars.
liked it
Beautiful soul. Excellent arrangements and instrumentation throughout. Sounds like it was recorded yesterday. Best tracks: - Walk On By - One Woman Worst tracks: N/A Rating: 8.5/10
Smooth
This is forcing to do a bit more digging than I typically do. TIL that this is Isaac backed by the Bar-Kays. WhoSampled.com has 'Walk On By' listed 129 times. The one that immediately comes to mind is Hooverphonic's use of it. The number of other albums improved by the very existence of this one is immense. Track 2 is 10 minutes long, but feels like 20, in the best way possible. I don't have much to say about track 3. It's...fine? And finally, the almost 20 minute finale is mostly just Isaac doing a spoken word preamble. But it works. 4 tracks of Issac doing his own thing. RIP, Chef.
Smooth and enjoyable! The last song has me scared it was just going to be an 18 minute diatribe, but it really came together as a great way to end the album.
Could not unhear that being Chef the entire album. Regardless though that was one soulful album with some absolutely smooth instruments. Made working while listening an absolute breeze
Chef! Sweet some more psychedelic funk/soul. Always down. One of my favorite things from this project is hearing a certain bassline or riff and knowing that you know it from somewhere, and figuring it out. Immediately when Walk On By started I knew Biggie sampled it on something of his. By the end of the second song I was ready to give this a 5, but it fell off enough to really bring it down. No album needs an 18 minute epilogue... Still, I really dug the sounds on this and his voice is super soothing. Low 4.
Yeah it's good, but not super amazing
First half is brilliant gangster funk. Second half is a bit of a drag, enough to lose a star but still enjoyable. If you can stomach an 8 minute spoken word section
I was initially surprised to see that this album had just four tracks, clocking in at 46 minutes in total. Turns out though that this is totally justified, with each song being an extended and languorous performance, with the opening track being a version of the David/Bacharach classic Walk on By that totally fills every second of its 12 minutes. Side 2 has the even more epic By The Time I Get To Phoenix which feels like a mini movie in song form. Superb.
Last track was hella weird but in a good way. Love all 4 of the tracks but especially ‘Walk On By’
‘I got another gang story to tell, peep...’ - perhaps like others, I know this from Compton’s Most Wanted and the classic they spawned. This one is soulfully and richly produced. What makes it even better is Hayes’s choice of songs to cover. By the Time I Get to Phoenix - like Bowie doing Wild is the Wind.
Wasn't expecting to like this as much as I did. "Walk On By" is really just a great song. Good riffs, good vibe, just a great song. The rest is surprisingly groovy with good riffs and solos. Not even the long run lengths of songs could ruin it. This was way better than the previous Isaac Hayes album "Shaft - soundtrack". The only bad part was the start of "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" with all the talking. It made me nearly miss out on some really good horns. Clear 4.
Just for another record I stated that Soul is not my cup of tea. Well, there are exemptions. This one landmark record for example. Less so the singing and vocal phrasing which still do rarely resonate with me, but the sheer intensity of the music making, the arrangements and the sonics are outstanding. There is enough drama and passion in the music that the singing becomes part of it, as opposed to so many other Soul records where the musical blandness just serves as a canvas to the singing.
Some of the stax stuff was accused of being unsophisticated soul relative to say detroit, philly, etc. It was always better and young mister Hayes pulls some serious sophistication out with this - strings used right for funk - later this would not be the case. and just generally weird long ass arrangments far cooler than shaft later on. He earned his cadillac with this one, though probably not literally yet. Memphis shit.
Hot buttered indeed.
The extreme length of “Walk on By” and “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” are both a benefit and a hindrance to this album. On one hand, the two tracks are allowed time to breathe and build, to tell a story and really convey the emotions in those stories. They’re really master classes in how to do these things in music and the instrumentation on them is superb. On the other hand, their lengths really dominate on this album to a degree that really overshadows the other two tracks. It also makes those tracks seem a little tame and less special by comparison. I think opening and closing with the two longer tracks was a great choice, but really no matter how you ordered them it was going to be tough to make those other two feel special. I’m honestly surprised this wasn’t a two track album, with one long track on each side. In the end, I really enjoyed this and would love to hear more Isaac Hayes. I’m assuming the “Shaft” soundtrack is on the list, so I’ll wait for that. Four stars. Also, the single edit of “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” is a travesty. Standout Tracks: Walk On By, One Woman
Pretty great. The last track drags a bit in the beginning. I don't love Hayes' vocal style but the music is A++
Certain tracks were simply overly long, but all very enjoyable.
HBS started off incredible. From just a minute in to walk on by it hit so hard. Everything about it was great. Then hyperbolicsylabicsupersesquedalymistic came on. It was pretty good, it had a nice groove to it but everything id get into the feel it would get interrupted by the woman on vocals singing the name of the song. Don't get me wrong she seems like a good singer it's just that the rhythm of the title took me out of the feel. But as soon as the song enters its second half it immediately pulled me in with a smooth bassline and incredible progression and a rising act with a great climax. I really like that each song on this album is around 10 minutes long. When I got to hyperbolic I was worried that 1/4 of this album would be asong full of my earlier complaints, but it reeled me back in. One woman was a good song. Had the same strengths as the others, but it didn't have anything that really reeled me into it. And when I get to Phoenix now that one was interesting. Was the story a little long? Yeah it was. But man it was worth it. The transition into the actual song was phenomenal after all the build up and the song itself was a masterclass in music and instrumentation. The trumpets were so great and the bass was complementing everything so well. And of course, Hayes always delivers on the vocals. All in all. This was a really short album in retrospect but it was for sure a memorable one. It had a couple of shortcomings but everything else was just so nice.
Very good, i wish the songs were a little more aux friendly but that doesn’t subtract from the album as a whole. 4 stars
very smooth, nice jazz and soul, very inspired
Short album, but good. "By the time I get to Phoenix" is too long tbh, but overall love the album; First song is a banger, goes to the Soul v ranata playlist✨️✨️✨️
Pure Isaac Hayes. Not a fan of these incredibly sex positive musicians becoming conservative Christians. but the album is exactly what you expect. Sex, disappointment, more sex.
I was expecting scary long jazz, but his voice is good enough to carry the long songs
very good and soulful, like it alot
Being hit with two songs over 10 minutes to start and close the album is a bold choice, Walk On By manages the length far more than the spoken word sections of By The Time I Get to Phoenix.
Ma super je ovo. Ljubitelj sam ove dekade, ovog zvuka, ovog feela u glazbi Je da je zadnja pjesma kao da mi crni svećenik priča priču, ali nije li to gospel zapravo? Super mi sve zvuči i opet su prisutne ove orgulje posvuda, mljac mljac Nije mi čista petica, ali ovo je super album
I liked this and will be playing this again. Smooth and listenable.
Warm strings, slow grooves, and a voice that knows exactly how to carry weight. The pacing is deliberate, letting every moment breathe. It reminds me of Barry White’s lush productions but with a sharper edge. Each sound feels chosen, and everything fits perfectly into place.
Four songs. Raw, unadulterated soul. You owe it to yourself to respect this classic and give it your full, undivided attention.
Biggest suprise - how much I like it
Hot buttered soul feeds you the silky smooth tunes you wish were still dominate.
Walk on By is a great song.
The first three tracks of this are great. The last track is good, but the long spoken word intro just isn’t for me. When Walk On came on I instantly recognized it from how many times it’s been sampled, and I think that shows just how impactful this record has been.
Ah, Stax Records, The Bar-Keys, soul music and unstoppable groove of the late 60's and early 70's. This album has been on my dive deep -list for quite a while, well all of Isaac Hayes catalog really. It's an awesome record, the psychedelic era is starting to seep through, in a smooth way.
some sweet slow jams from the Duke of New York
Interesting album. Mostly Isaac Hayes telling stories to soulful music.
Does exactly what it says on the tin. Overblow and ridiculous soul. Awesome.
It was great! Walk On By is too long though and two versions? Bit of a joke.
have you ever heard a song and thought this could be kinda good with an investigation moving that's what I thought because of how it sounds the album walk on by kinda sounds mysterious and it does get to a point that it does kinda change it still has the investigation vibe I like this song because of the instruments that are used that made those sounds and I like the voice of the singer. I think the album walk on by is good and I recommend listening to it
long soul tracks with production far ahead of its time. i didn’t expect this to be from 1969. Favorite track: hyperbolic.. other picks:walk on by, by the time i get to phoenix
Deliciously smooth
A 4 track chill soul album that I hadn't heard of before. Standouts: Walk On By and One Woman.
now THIS is soul. would be 5 stars if the intro in by the time i get to phoenix was a few minutes shorter. it pulled me out of the music sadly
I knew 70s were progressive time (in terms of music and... ya know... other things), but progressive JAZZ... it's something I never thought of.
Some bangers but a few long ass boring songs
Nice jams and solos. A little long-winded sometimes
Absolute classic. Such a cool, rhythmic, soulful sound that so many other artists that I listen to have borrowed from. I also appreciate the structure of this record in that it's only 4 songs, but all allowed to really breathe and expose themselves to the listener. Sit back and feel the chill warmth of this one.
Considering the music released in the present, this actually aged quite well. Incredible performance on this album, and amazing music overall. Great orchestration, great vocals. I enjoyed it a lot.
Pretty good!
Hot Buttered Soul is a soul filled album about love. It has some amazing background instruments, and Isaac Hayes masterfully sings his heart out. Best Songs: Walk on By Worst Songs: NA
Excellent album. Soulful and strings are beautiful
Was very surprised when I saw only four tracks, as I expected more of a standard soul album with a bunch of songs about looove. Really dug this, incredible production on these and while each track is very long they all have something great to offer and you don't get bored, except for when he tells a way too long story.
walk on by - strings and distorted guitar, vocals start at 2mins, super mellow voice, chords change, organ and beautiful strings, crescendo at 7mins, volume gets louder at 9:45, outro has just drums, and consistent hihat at about 30secs to go Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic - groove, active bass, really like that bass line, solo part at around 3:30 where it’s piano and bass and drums, low piano and high piano play same notes with octaves separating at 6mins, then briefly call and response, dissonant chord with piano played over and over starting at 7:20, groove changes at 8 mins, electric guitar? at 9 mins one woman - piano and vocals mellow, flute?, strings supporting, trumpet?, this song is beautiful, what a gem, beautiful melodies and harmonic instruments by the time I get to phoenix - low organ and drums, kind of a monologue type thing, describes a whole story of this woman, falling in love, and leaving due to infidelity, 8th time he leaves, instrumental changes at 8:49 with singing and organ note changes, strings enters, light piano, woodwind, violin trill, organ at 14mins, heavy drums stop at 16mins, other instruments start to fade out, vocals take centre, drums come back loud again at 17mins, super nice thick bass throughout too, beautiful piano at 18mins, ends with organ crescendo This album is a really nice listen, I’m not sure what I expected from a 4 song album but it wasn’t this. For starters, this will be the first time I’ve ever listened to an 18 min song. One woman was a beautiful listen and I thoroughly enjoyed it, but every song had something in it I liked.
walk on by is one of the best songs i've ever heard.
Pretty dope. First half was more enjoyable than the second but its overall a pretty damn good album. Definitely a fan. 8ish/10
Not my kind of music but strangely enjoyable.
feels like a warm half decent americano on a cold winter morning in an American diner, after being out all night
absolutely groovy to the max but that last song is just unforgivably long highlight: walk on by (sep 25 2025)
Really nice
Really nice liked the sound but it goes on forever I’m not sure I like that
69 Soul? Sounds good! I never even got to this today. I'll check it out tomorrow. Oooo I love the way this started out. And the vibe in on point. I'll give this one a 4
This was a pleasant listen until the last track which didn't half go on.
This is the second of two Issac Hayes albums I've listened to on this journey, having heard the Shaft film soundtrack. My enjoyment of Hot Buttered Soul is admittedly greater than that of the Shaft soundtrack, partly due to what is advertised on the tin. Issac's vocals were hot and buttery, as he worked his way around the keyboard while the session musicians played effortlessly to create this luscious psychedelic soul sound. There may be only four songs, and three of those four run over nine minutes, but it never felt long for the most part because the song construction felt meaningful, as the album ebbed and flowed with a serene audible tide. The only exception to this feeling was the eight-and-a-half-minute introduction to the cover of Jimmy Webb's "By the Time I Get to Phoenix". I understand if Issac wanted to tell the story behind that song, though it does hurt the replay value. Overall, this was a pleasant album to have going on. It's worth checking out.
I wasn’t expecting this but long form soul music slaps. The only thing I didn’t like was how long the closer was and it’s mostly him telling a story that the song is written about
When I saw it was 4 songs and a 46 min runtime I was expecting much worse. Apart from the 8 minute monologue in the 4th song all the tunes were good. Instrumentals were great and his voice is buttery smooth. Was expecting him to say hello children at one point
I do not know, nor diid I look up any sort of cultural artifacts or side stories about Isaac Hayes so I could listen directly and judge solely by his music. I had an idea he was hugely popular and a household name in the 70's but figured I would let his talents speak to me and not any social stories. My impession? This guy is legend and a step above most. Sitting right there at the head table. His depth, soul, spoken word, connection with audience... I mean what? Pure. I would just say Isaac Hayes is pure. There may be many reasons he is a household name but the only one I needed was to hear this album. Thank you for that!
Классный соул-альбом. Для 1969-ого года это вообще удивительно звучит. Оказывается, его активно использовали рэперы для сэмплов. Он не так сильно зацепил, но слушается очень приятно.
Pre-listening thoughts: THIS IS CHEF FROM SOUTH PARK 😭but 4 tracks at 45 mins… wild work. Heard through the grapevine that one song is 19 mins. Lord pray for me. Post/during listening thoughts: waittttt okay chef! He may have cooked here (haha hehe). This man has a beautiful voice and the instrumentation is stunning and full on every track (I mean these arrangements! I can’t gush about them enough!). I think my only complaint here is track length cause they’re really long but man this is some good soul music and just good music period 8/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: yes I suppose! Fav tracks: Walk on By, One Woman Least fav tracks: intro of By the Time I Get to Phoenix - I think it could be shorter
I saw Isaac Hayes a few years ago when he was touring his jazz album. When I called for Tickets, the ticketing agent specifically said \"Mr. Hayes wants everybody to know that this is going to be a strictly jazz show.\" At the end of the show, somebody was screaming out, \"hot buttered soul\" during the encore. They left disappointed.
I've never really gotten into soul music, but as the first track began to play it immediately caught my attention. I really enjoyed it! 4/5
great soul music
This was cool but way too long and drawn out. I’m all for long songs if the song warrants it but it felt jammy at times. Parts of it were really amazing though!
Couldn’t find it.
titre représentatif de ce que les oreilles reçoivent un crâne chauve ne me dérange pas si ce qui en sort est sexy
Suprisingly enjoyed it
Really enjoyed this. Sounded very fresh and told a good story. Only 4 long songs. 8/10
Listened to this while playing Return to Dark Tower solo. I lost. Is this Chef from South Park? I feel like it is. Totally enjoyed the funk/soul vibe of this album. The final track wanders for a loooong time before it starts finding its groove.
Talk about some long songs. I saw that there were only 4 songs on this album but it was still 45min. 18 min long songs. That was crazy. All in a good way. Songs with story is something you don’t hear everyday. Nice change of the other albums I’ve been getting. The rock/jazz elements I really enjoyed.
Geez, this album is a little self-indulgent isn't it? 45 minutes but it could easily have been 30 minutes. That whole story-telling to start By the Time I Get to Phoenix (about 10 minutes worth) sounded like Isaac Hayes' South Park character with the meandering stories about the Loch Ness Monster. Once the crooning and music got going it was a great listen, but prior to that, ugh. Three fiddy?! Walk on By also plays a little long, but damned if Harold Beane (of Funadelic fame) doesn't kill the guitar solo intro. One Woman shows what this album could be if everything was tight - soulful as hell and spine tingly. Somewhere between a 3.5 and 4 for me, but I'll round up for the timing of this album in the whole soul and R&B genre.
Trivia of the day - I didn't know Isaac Hayes wrote "Soul Man" (with writing partner David Porter - the two were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005). Originally recorded by Sam Moore and Dave Prater (Sam & Dave), with Booker T. and the M.G.'s as the house band (and Isaac Hayes on organ). That was fun to learn. Ok, re: Hot Buttered Soul - Hayes has an amazing distinctive voice. Latter day music listeners mostly know him as Chef from South Park, but he had an amazing musical career (look it up). Side 1 of this album is outstanding. Love the groove on Walk on By (which has been sampled a gazillion times for good reason). Hyperbolicsyll...um, not going to type that out...is very cool, with a great jam. Side 2 brings things down a little for me. You still get Hayes' amazing singing, but One Woman is a pretty basic track and By the Time I Get to Phoenix goes on forever. Unfortunately, Side 2 brings my overall score for the album down, but there's no denying Isaac Hayes was the essence of cool and an amazing singer. RIP.
Loved it
Apparently this is one of Henry Rollins’ favorite albums? I can kinda see it ngl B
you know, I wasn't quite familar with you but damn you can fucking sing.
Mainiota musiikkia, mutta liian pitkiä kappaleita.
That's the kind of album I started my project for. Smooth and nice voice and music. Never heard of it before. What a great discovery.
Cool, I like it, even the super long songs are ok for me
Epic progressive soul, he really gets the full power out of these songs
Awesome! First Isaac Hayes album I’ve listened to and I’m a fan.
What a voice. This 12-minute cover of "Walk On By" is special. I don't usually describe 12-minute covers in positive terms. I was initially put off by the length of these songs, but it was a treat. The instrumentation and performances hold up. Like another reviewer said, this could've been recorded recently, which goes to show how forward thinking this album was. Highlights: Walk On By, One Woman
Have this on vinyl. Such a vibe.
The first few seconds of the first song (Walk On By) had me paying close attention and wanting to experience the album from start to end. To be immersed and revisit it over and over again. To experience it in different settings and in different time spans. The first four minutes of "Walk On By" starts off as a multi-faceted layering. You hear every single instrument. They are not yet tied into one another in the beginning but as the song builds up, they do so incredibly. The different instruments slowly start to mix and gel together in a way that gives the listener a great impression in terms of what they can expect from the project. What it made me expect? A dynamic yet perfectly layered instrumental that takes you through an ocean of emotions and thoughts. I liked how towards the four minute mark, Isaac Hayes' vocals and those of his backup vocalists prepare you for a sonic climax with sharp and extravagant tides of the violins, bass and what sounds like cellos and clarinet(s). Followed shortly by the bass guitar and nostalgia inducing notes of the flutes right before you hear childlike vocals along with the backup vocalists, the climax is something worth anticipating. Once it hits, you get quite the experience. The song goes back to a more mellow mood from the 5:35 mark then gradually starts building up again at the 6:40 mark. From then on the drums, flutes, bass and all these string instruments come together to create this majestic, intense and dynamically immersive atmosphere. I started imagining a tumultuous, yet beautiful movie scene where a complicated character in a story finally gets his glorious ending. The next song is a great follow-up to the intense ending of "Walk On By". My first impression as the transition took place? "Great placement". The second impression is that it's more of a feel-good, up-beat and groovy track with a lot more bounce than sharp-ness, contrary to "Walk On By". I found myself wanting to move my body and just let go. It was easy to do so and I easily let the groove carry me. The melody and piano notes starting at the 5:01 mark and onwards are exceptional elements t =o add onto the instrumental - they elevated the dopamine fueled emotions that you get from the song. Just as you give in to the urge to get up and sway your body to the rhythm, Hayes' voices comes through to howl into the instrumental - that howl is exactly how the song is making the listening feel at that point. Just as you're moving and swaying and allowing yourself to get lost, the piano keys join you in dance and the bass gets bouncier...groovier. Amazing stuff! The third song, "One Woman", starts with a melancholic and comforting melody that immediately puts you in a relaxed headspace. Hayes' deep, velvety voice comes in to ease the listener into a different sonic energy. With the very first lyric, Hayes catches the listeners' attention with a reminiscent account of his day. Accompanied by string instruments and air instruments that create a sonic nostalgia, Hayes and his backup singers give the listener a warm and comforting experience. It is a very soulful song and it leans heavily into the Blues and Jazz influences. I absolutely love it! The last song, "By The Time I Get To Phoenix", takes all the elements that exist in the three previous songs - intense tides and climatic moments, sharpness, rounded and bouncy grooves at some point, narrating through lyrics, incredible vocal delivery, emotional stimulation, instrumental build-up etc., which all make the previous songs stand out uniquely from each other and it ties those elements together to form 18 minutes of oneirism for an immersed listener. The first half of the song induces a dissociation and you just can't help but feel your body gradually falling into Hayes' world as he speaks and tells you about his experience, feeling and thoughts. The second half induces a dream-like state. Highly intense but not too intense in the way that may lead the listener to think that it's not, in fact, the closing song. This is a masterpiece. It is truly magnificent.
Iconic. Love that big bald horny head on my original vinyl, but the second side lacks the power of the first 2 tracks.
The songs were groovy, funky, and soulful. Loved the string ensemble. Would have been better without the lengthy spoken interlude. 4.
really liked it but listened to it just after a breakup so couldn't appreciate it to the full extent i wouldve liked to
It started really great and then got worse
That was awesome, no notes
Really enjoyed this
This album sounds so much more modern that it is and so does the album art. Really liked this and it was fun to find out he’s Chef from South Park.
Yes, Chef. Great grooves, psychedelic guitar, and a soulful voice that sounds more modern than 1969. Also, recognized "Walk on By" as sampled in Ludacris's "Southern Fried Intro"
Hot Buttered Soul keeps up a strong mini-run with some effortlessly cool, silky smooth soul that is properly excellent at times. The main and only real drawback is that he gives up far too much time to talking or making random noises over music that isn't going anywhere, because when it does all come together, it's SO good. One Woman is the second-shortest track but the best by some way, a magical experience and composition, but it's then followed by a nearly 19-minute track :D which is a perfect example of the problem, the back 6-7 minutes are wonderful, but it doesn't need to take me so long to get there, the payoff doesn't justify that wait imo. It's also ridiculous that he had this sort of voice in his fucking 20s too :D just sounds like this world-wise grandpa with a rich velvety tone that a young person shouldn't be able to produce. I'll give it a 4 because the best bits are outstanding, and I'm not rating it off the Deluxe Edition that has an interview with him on it, no need to when it's not part of the original work.
Great album but the songs went on longer than most needed.
A very soulful album and even though the tracks were in part excessively long, it was not boring. Even the monologue in By The Time I Get To Phoenix wasn't misplaced. I think Hayes wanted to give this song due credit and thought that the story needed more space.
Loved it!
Exactly as advertised in the album title By the time I get to phoenix drags, other than that, this was a great listening experience.
Great groove. Isaac Hayes has one of the most recently recognizable voices in the world. These songs are definitely way too long but they're all good
Chef sure knows how to sing
Soulful elegance Undeniably funky Lovely composite
Great stuff
Hey Children..
4.5 classic
Oooooooooooooooooooh yeah....
Issac Hayes Classic.
3.5, lots of fun grooves, and the long songs are fun
I had not listened to this one before, and was excited to do so. I was not disappointed by the Hot Buttered Soul. Maybe I should ask my wife to listen to it too. It wasn’t exactly what I expected though. It’s closer to psychedelic soul than the straight up sex music I had preconceived. Hyperbolic…might be the exception here - but even it’s like sex music on psychedelics. It also holds the distinction of being the only song I can think of that mentions the medulla oblongata. Walk On By is probably my favorite song - the LP version is quite the jam. I personally love albums with a few long songs on it, and this one only has 4 songs. I’ll come back to this one in the future, pretty close to 5 stars for me.
Rating: 9/10 So much soul! Every song is amazing but the intro to By The Time I Get To Phoenix is way too long and prevents this album from being five stars.
Album 451 of 1001 Isaac Hayes - Hot Buttered Soul Rating : 4 / 5 I enjoyed this. Seems way before it's time. A more toned down Issac Hayes than I've listened to. Very chill album.
Such an interesting album. Parts i didnt love but what i did i LOVED
I liked this record more than I thought I would.
Walk on By and Hyperboliicsy….are great!!!! One woman is ok, didn’t hear anything super special except for Hayes voice, of course!
This was really good but also these are four VERY long songs. It turns them into wonderful epics, but at the same time one on an album would have been enough. Four is a bit much
Great voice
Quería ponerle 4.6, la verdad me gustó mucho. Y One Woman fue insta add am i playlist, pero aún así deseo guardar el 5 para mi masterpiece verdadera.
Soul progresivo con toques de psicodelia. Gran álbum, disfruté todos los temas.
Pretty good rhyme
Skön soul
It was a vibe. Spoken word and such, and i love the messages given. I can hear the influence on what this album has had in the funk soul scene. Very cool
Smooth as a pair of silk underpants
This first track is alright but why is it SO LONG? It feels very self-indulgent :P Which is not necessarily a bad thing, but I think that I would enjoy it better if it was tightened up significantly. I like the 2nd track a lot better. It’s still long but it feels like it has more structure and direction. All the elements work well together - the drums, bass, vocals, keys - it’s good! I say again, more songs these days should have fun with instrumental breaks! I have mixed feelings about One Woman - the melody and instrumentation read very romantic but the lyrics are pretty skeezy :P Again, I like By the Time I Get to Phoenix but it is SO LONG. I really didn’t need almost 10 mins of intro :P The single version of Walk On By works a lot better in my opinion. But it does ALSO read kinda skeezy to me - it feels like fuckboy music? Idk. I like the single version of By the Time I Get to Phoenix better too. I like how it feels like it closes out earlier than expected too - it fits nicely with the story.
7/10. It had a really nice soulful vibe to it. Four long songs. I like long songs. :)
i cannot stop thinking about chef from south park singing this. all seriousness though, this is a phenomenal album. i was a bit wary at first, 4 songs, 40+ minutes is not an easy sell. having “walk on by” as the opener was such a great decision. i think i still prefer dionne warwicks over this, but i’ll be damned if this isn’t a phenomenal cover. feels like a totally different song. my only “gripe” with this is the long monologue on “by the time i get to phoenix” i understand its place in the song, but it does hamper the replay value for me personally.
I knew of Issac Hayes from South Park and pop culture references, so I was curious going in. I love the sound, feel and atmosphere created on this album. The spoken intro on the last track really drops the ball though. When you've only got 4 tracks it's a big blow and stops this from getting a 5 from me.
yeah, this is some really good stuff. 9 min spoken intro just adds to the vibes.
3.75
Smooth. Of course. Very original of me.
This album dies by its long intros and outros, but at least they still sound good.
Som album namnet säger asså!!!
Awesome
Nice one
Very good
one of the great of soul
The first track, “Walk On By,” is excellent. Unfortunately, I feel like the quality decreases as the album goes on - in particular, the (long) spoken word portion of “By The Time I Get To Phoenix” didn’t do anything for me - but “Walk On By” was good enough, and the rest enjoyable enough, that I’m willing to be more charitable in my rating. 3.5 rounded up
Never been a fan of 15 minute songs with the 70s, Vegas-style talking soliloquy before getting to the essence of the song, but I forgive Isaac with this album because the music is so funky. And it’s short in terms of the number of songs, which I like in its entirety so thumbs up for me.
Loved this one. Isaac Hayes’s voice is buttery smooth and the long form songs were a hit for me.
The first track is sensational. Being a Wu-Tang fan, I immediately recognised the sample, but beyond that it's just stunning. The last track is a little slow on the uptake, but overall this is a great collection of songs.
smooth
The first two songs on this album are great. The last two... underwhelming. Overall the grooves are great, songs are a bit long for a normal listener but otherwise note bad. And lets just mention that Isaac Hayes is Chef from South Park! Album title alone gets a star!
more of that good classic soul to keep the mind, body and... well, soul in check. this one only has a few really lengthy tracks. it's a really well produced album, i especially like the trippy wailin' guitars... but a lot of the songs end up being a little stagnant, just draaaaaaaagging for long periods of time. one of the tracks is more spoken word than sung.
incredibly well produced at the time. actually really liked this one
buah
Está guapo
cool stuff - Personally I like long songs, especially if they are telling a good story. So, I‘m impressed. Thanks for this 45min.
It's almost spoken word at some points in this album. These tracks are so gentle, soulful and intentional. Usually things I don't really value in the music I listen to regularly but the rhythm section is just so damn tight and groovy.
Last two songs bring down the rating.
Walk On By KÆMPE banger!!! Alle numrene er gode!
MEGET smooth, virkelig lækker lyd. Nød det her en del mere end Shaft soundtracket. Ved ik helt om jeg synes By the Time I Get to Phoenix havde behøvet den der 10-minutters spoken word intro
Kunne ret godt lide den her.. 4 sange, men de var super fede.
Molto particolare, piacevole. Per un sottofondo delicato ma cool.
Each song is great but also overstay their welcome. Nearly a third of this is filler.
Amazing album! I was aware of its legend status, but haven't really listened to it. Psychedelic funk, count me in!
Favorite Track: Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic
This album was one of the first cassettes I ever owned…I wonder if it is still around here somewhere? Great groove…an album that can play in front or in the back ground. One of those that take me back. Grandy & Rockfish.
Only really know him as Chef from South Park but this was awesome. It’s like funk classical music if that makes sense. Would listen to it again
Loved it. Crazy that it was only four tracks. Loved the final track which was very story based.
Heeel dicht tegen 5 aan, wat lekker ey
An easy listening album
4.5/5
Going with 4 jammed out songs instead of opting for single hits was an interesting decision in the era of Motown. That’s what I always respected about Stax. They always took a flyer on shit like this. Not only is Hayes’ voice indeed hot and buttery, but the backing band (The Bar-Kays) are absolutely killing it. I love those moments where he just lets the band jam. Best listened to on a Sunday morning with coffee and a joint.
Good jams. It's wild how little Isaac sings. Smooth as silk.
unbelievable this is over 50 years old as of 2024. there are genuine soundscapes on this that you’d be impressed to hear today. the horns and strings on one woman and by the time were magical and emotional. they don’t dominate the whole mix but when they come in, they come in loud and draw your attention. the keys (both piano and organ) have some beautiful, understated moments. this was really lovely, the track lengths seemed intimidating but their length felt natural and if anything a couple could’ve had a little more at the end. this album once again shows what soul had to offer in the 60s. this is grandiose, romantic, psychedelic, and full of soul.
It is heart warming!
the 1st two songs are 2 of the best soul songs ever. and Dr. Dre sampled the second track. knocking off 1 star because the last 2 songs are meh.
“Walk on By” is classic soul with a riff built for sampling, while “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” is a dramatic monologue that tests my patience. But this is where the mythic '70s soul man truly arrives—gold chains, strings, and all.
Shaft us a bad mother...
Cool album. It's only the last part that brings down the rating as the first is brilliant.
Love the funk and the soul. Not my favorite album by Hayes, but a great one just the same.
i dont know what to say this is actually amazing. i feel actual tingles when i listened to this album. every song is a masterpiece, i dont know what else to say, and im too lazy to comment on each song by itself :3
muy buenos desarrollos instrumentales. no lo conocía
Way more than just a good time.
I was worried about seeing just 4 long songs, but this was so dynamic and awesome, minus “One Woman”, which was thankfully the shortest song on the album. Best praise - I didn’t think about Chef at all when listening to this.
The beat on the opening track - an epic, almost cinematic reinvention of the Bacharach/David classic "Walk On By" - has been sampled so much it is nearly singlehandedly responsible for the entire Trip Hop genre. Four stars just for that tune. The songwriting on the rest of the album isn't as interesting to me, which is surprising considering how many classics Isaac Hayes wrote.
A great selection for this project! Given how long the tracks are on this album, I doubt I've ever heard any of these songs before, at least in their original format, so it's really nice to hear an early release of an iconic artist. (Sadly, the YouTube Music link for this album includes the much shorter single/radio-friendly version of "Walk on By". The 12-minute version is so much more interesting, I'd say.) It's fascinating to read that if not for Atlantic splitting with Stax, he probably wouldn't have even made this album, which would have been a shame for everyone. And not just Henry Rollins. :)
This is truly an album where the title is self-descriptive.
Apparently no creative barriers for Hayes and he relishes it with long, psychedlic soul songs and ballads. A true melding of the Stax and Motown sounds with the lush strings added in post in Detroit. Epic, layered compositions. Walk On By is an slow burner but upbeat slice of soul funk that ends with a Eddie Hazel style solo while Hayes works the leslie. Funkadelic comparisons continue on track 2, not just in stylizing of the title but the funky backbeat and wah guitar that perfectly frame that deep baritone singing about modus operandi and medula oblongota. One Woman is a bit saccharine and overwrought, thankfully the shortest one on here. By the time I get to phoenix starts with the epic story of a love gone wrong before a gut wrenching ballad, punctuated by horns, strings and woodwinds over a slow thumping bass line and Hayes' tinkling piano. His voice is again the centerpiece here, telling the story of heartbreak with an almost desperate bittersweet pleading before a final build up and coda.
Isaac Hayes and Marvin Gaye were great voices of soul early on. Easy to forget younger listeners know Isaac from his work outside of his artistry as a soul singer. We lost Marvin way too young. Never listened to this at the time, but I had Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On. Enjoyed the listen—doesn’t sound dated at all!
Very good prog soul album from the late 1960s with incredible production which doesn't sound dated even after 55 years. The spoken word poetry was a bit long but otherwise a really good album in this genre.
What i have gotten to know Isaac Hayes for is his voice. Unmistakable, warm, deep, enveloping. But what starts this record and runs throughout is the incredible, soaring power of the music. The voice here is an instrument in the whole: this thing, hypnotic and that comes at you from all over the map. The strings, the funky riffing, and this bass, round and enchanting and almost liquid. And as I walk around the house, head nodding, I am travelling. He does not come in until we are a good 2-3 minutes in, but is already haunting the song, picking his spot. At the time, it must have been such a tricky piece to pin down. What is this thing he is doing? The year is 1969 and Hayes is doing whatever he pleases with whatever he finds. Four songs, with one topping 18 minutes. These « songs » soar to become soul epics and rewrite the format of whatever soul music was at the time. Whatever this is, it is luscious, spacious and smooth like a warm summer night. And the next minute it is raucous and gritty. And I cannot think of anybody doing anything comparable to this. Funkadelic released their first a year later in 1970, and then Maggot Brain was in a year later. Stevie was not yet working on his 1970s classic albums. There is yearning here , for an expanded life, an aspiration to freedom, and a bravery that is barely contained. I am tempted to say it is fearless, but I don’t know. Maybe there was fear, and that might be what makes this record special. It cannot be easy to refuse to be contained when you are a black man in 1969. And yet there is a container: that of the soul tradition. Making Walk on By your first song on your first record, only to explode it and send it to the stars the way Hayes is doing here is both deeply loving and incredibly bold. This is a black man taking a song written by two white men for a black singer, completely reappropriating it and turning it into a manifest. This is excellent. If you see me walking down the street And I start to cry, each time we meet Walk on by Walk on by Make believe that you don't see the tears Just let me grieve In private, 'cause each time I see you, I break down and cry
I love the guitar on Walk on By. So much so that I will learn to play it myself. The album wears down around By the Time I Get to Phoenix, at least through 3/4 of the song, then it gets good again. It’s a decent album Choice Cut: Walk on By
As far as Scientologists go, I'm a fan of Isaac Hayes. What a legacy. I was more familiar with his work composing songs for others at Stax and film scores like Shaft and Tough Guys, but hadn't heard this one before! I probably have acquired the strongest taste for this genre out of our group, so it will be no surprise to anyone that I did not feel these songs were overlong (there's a single version of the last track). Loved One Woman.
Just an epic album. 4 tracks, 45 minutes but sweeping in scope. Isaac Hayes really takes his time with these songs, both allowing the band to groove and the tension to build until the euphoric moment of release. He has complete command of these songs. The cover of "walk on by" is transformative and unrecognizable but great. This must have been such a ballsy album to make and must have influenced the psychedelic temptations as well as Marvin Gaye's moodier albums. I could have done without the spoken intro to By the time I got to Phoenix, but the end of the song was sublime. The wait paid off. Would do a 4.5 if possible.
What a wild name for a record eh? Fantastic stuff, liked this one a lot. Meandering 12-15 minute songs were a surprise, and fit nicely. Didn’t know Hayes had previously been a session musician, much more interesting guy than I ever realized.
Das ist ein mächtiges Album. Richtig bombastisch: Streicher, Bläser, souliger Gesang. Wow. Das ist sehr beeindruckend. Ein richtig gutes Album mit kleinen Symphonien.
Great musicianship but tracks are a little meandering.
so good, doesn't sound dated at all, production is brilliant. points deducted for the audiobook section. 3.7.
I loved Walk On. The rest was good, but a little forgettable.
kalju-paten hauskan pito sessio. suolaiset kuumat suklaa palleroiset eikö heh... puhuva kone, kuin roger waters... dark side revisited...reinvented..resurrected...like jesuis kristo... vapahtajamme... nousi ylös kolmantena päivänä.. kuin sairaalloinen sydänvikainen konsanaan...ja nousi... ja uusi grindi lähti käyntiin... hyvää pääsiäistä, kaikille uskovaisille veljille, brothers..in arms.... kuuma voideltu sielu walk on by
When i saw that this album had really long song i was a bit "scared" because most of songs that i've listen on this list that last more than 7 minutes are pretty much shit, but believe me this is not the case, it's such relaxing music that you forget that there's a song that last 12 minutes. For me it was kind of like a chill morning album, it's really great.
Liked everything.
A true classic Great album. Granted nothing here comes close to chocolate salty balls but little does.
Amazing production. Felt modern even though it was from the 60’s. And genuinely great songs. The slow build up was worth it and it rides itself the perfect amount. The spoken word segment was a little too long but aside from that a great album.
Beaucoup aimé l'instrumentation. Le disque n'est pas long! Faudrait que j'écoute les autres que l'artiste a produits. Moins aimé le blabla de la dernière chanson, mais je suppose qu'en live ce serait apprécié.
Only four songs and that first one is a trip.
Gorgeous arrangements of two classic tracks in “Walk on By” and “By the Time I Get to Phoenix”. I especially enjoyed the long setup and slow build on the latter. The other two tracks I was more meh on, but nothing I disliked. 4/5.
Walk on By 4 Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic 3.5 One Woman 3.7 By the Time I Get Jimmy Webb to Phoenix 3.5 Score: 3.675
Great songs but the 9 min monologue for the last track was excessive. Otherwise was a fun album
Smooth
12 Minute long first song here I come... Good vibes but not entirely great until the end I'd say. But difficult to rate. A song like walk on by is just crazy. Especially when knowing it is from 1969.
Hot buttered soul
I dig the flutes
Isaac Hayes is so under rated!
Nice stuff, though I can't imagine ever willingly listening to the full-length version of some of these songs again. At least there are shorter versions of them.
Some great vocals and emotions on display. The extended versions could go on a bit long, but if you think of this as a concept album it all fits together very well.
The arrangement was so familiar also like jazz each song is full of improvisation.
With 4 songs two near the 10 minute mark and one nearly 19 minutes I thought they might drag, the near 9 minute monologue on the last track was a bit unecessary, but the way that track builds to a crescendo, as well as the other tracks makes it a good album IMO.
I was today years old when I learned that the voice of Chef in South Park also sang Shaft. A mesmerizing voice in elaborate soul compositions. Everything works up until the way too long spoken introduction to 'BY the Time I Get To Phoenix'.
I now want a 20 minute version of “Chocolate Salty Balls”.
I like the music I like his voice :)
A good listen, that's one hell of a monologue though
Really liked first song and the rest of the album was also fantastic.
This is awesome
4 songs, 45 mins, amazing beats, cool vocal some yapping at the start of 4th song but he’s just telling a story
I like Isaac Hayes very much. Good voice and fine soul. I was surprised to learn, that he played the Duke in Carpenters Escape from New York.
Cool soul music
Like his music but he talked waaay too long before By the Time I Get to Phoenix.
This list is really opening my eyes to soul music. This was great hype music to study to.
I enjoyed most of this. Dude has a great voice.
Classic!
Good!
Have never listened to much soul music before. I thought this was great. I even preferred the much longer versions of the edited songs. The overall album was a joy to listen to.
very chill
Soul indeed...
Enjoyable listen
forgot what a great voice he has
Very smooth and groovy
Amazing intro to kick off the album. A lot of soul and blues here but enough to keep it interesting and complex. Not much repetition. All the singing and instrumentals are great. 4.45
Interesting to see where he came from and to see where hooverphonic got their sample from. Did not expect the heavy gospel and preacher vibes on it.
Jazzy soulful with only minimal grunting. The lyrics are odd but the instrumentation and layering are great
Very good album, enjoyed it more than I would have expected.
9/10
Amazing opener
Hot Buttered Soul stands as a timeless soul classic, a lush and beautifully orchestrated landmark album. For a man that is mostly remembered for telling bad mothers to shut their mouths or saucily singing about Salisbury steak with this album he has created a glorious symphony of sound that seals his legacy. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 3 STANDOUT TRACK - One Woman
Right when the song comes on, whew, soulful. Makes you want to start dancing. two songs in, and this is a long one. 4 tracks and but each track is extensive. I dig track 2. This last track is very long. Mostly talking. So far the standout tracks are 1 and 3.
The album starts with a 12 minute track; generally speaking, I do not enjoy songs that long but the composition of this track, even as a cover, makes it a great listen. The album as a whole contains some excellent blues elements, jazz swoops and oozes with the soul that Isaac Hayes was famous for, accented beautifully with the orchestral sway, and dotted with some very interesting psychedelic-ness. Hyper brings some smooth funk and One Woman is an answer to the lovely smoothness of being loved by Issac Hayes. A very solid album even though it is outside of my general preferences.
Cool album.
Vibes 🤌🏼 :D aikamoine
Really nice tunes, although lyrically not that great
Gran álbum para escuchar en la noche.
Very smooth listening. Good background music.
The guitar was a great unexpected addition to the album. It felt like a unique mix of soul, rock and jazz.
4.0
absolutely timeless
Solid, silky, smooth-ass soul.
Wow. Smooth, soulful, gorgeous. It's a bit of a challenge listening to 4 songs with substantial length. But Isaac made this worth it. One Woman really impressed me. I got goosebumps listening to it. Hayes' 'Walk on by' cover is grand, romantic and completely his own. An excellent cover that neither overshadows Dionne Warwick, nor underwhelms. Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic is a middling song. We have more lovely soul vocals, smooth bass, but it isn't hitting like the others. The ultra long song title is charming though. Speaking of titles, 'Hot Buttered Soul' has to be one of the most delicious album titles I've heard - and combined with the beautiful shining bald noggin of Hayes - it really amps up the aesthetics of the album to its peak. Even before I've started listening, I'm impressed. I'm interested. I'm ready to experience something gorgeous! 'By the time I get to phoenix' is my least favourite. It's too long. I'm not interested in the talking for the first 8 minutes. It drags. The vocal part is nice but again, not the best. Overall, solid 4. The good supremely outweighs the bad. This was a true pleasure to experience.
Sonic caramel
I like this album. Vocal is allright but music is really nice
Great, not entirely sure what the 10 minute speech was all about though
Weirdly, I quite liked that. I’m usually against long songs but this small collection spoke to me
Chill
Great album that sounds like it influenced Barry White / Marvin Gaye. Pretty nice music, but I could have done without the 8 minute story at the start of By The Time I Get to Phoenix.
This was actually pretty good. I enjoyed how calming it felt to listen to this.
first 2 songs=A+ second 2 songs=meh
What’s not to love with this?? The great Stax songwriter, producer and when it was really necessary to survive, performer, almost at the peak of his powers, with this, his second album. The two extremely long cover versions make for riveting listening. I also have the single-length versions of Walk on By (edited from 12:01 to 4:32) & By The Time I Get To Phoenix (18:41 to 7:02). Both versions of both standards work so well. Hayes’s melodramatic introductions are fantastic. Kitsch at times, but fantastic nonetheless. Is it any wonder that his voice became an essential part of one of television’s classic series. The other 2 tracks on the album are also great listening, particularly the very funky Hyperbolics…. song. One Woman was later covered by Al Green. Love this record.
Not my favorite style of soul/funk, but Isaac's voice is on point and some of the guitar points had me grooving. Might warrant a few more listens on my part, as I have not previously given this album a chance.
Enjoyable
Loved the first track
Listening to Isaac Hayes is one of the easiest most relaxing thing you can do. What a pleasure!
Extended soul funk jams with the smoothest baritone vocals you'll hear, some ripping guitar lines, and a full on set of arrangements. I feel like this one is relatively overlooked and underrated, probably bc the song lengths make it very radio unfriendly and it doesn't have the tight pop song-writing of other soul singers' best work, but the performances are amazing and they really nail what they're going for in terms of setting a mood.
If not for the long speech during By The Time I Get To Phoenix, it would be a 5.
Chef from South Park can really cook some soul food.
Four songs is all that was needed. I think the long form allows for even deeper expression in an album that began to point Soul towards popular music in the 70's. The storytelling and emotion captured from Isaac's playing and singing really made this album captivating
Love the first 2 songs - amazing sound, great vibe. Not as much a fan of the second 2 songs, especially the one that opens with an unnecessarily long spoken piece. But the second track (out of the 4 total) is so amazing that it bumps this album up to a 4.
Such a cool vibe. Loved his version of “walk on by”.
Super soulful
enjoyed the songs, enjoyed the voice
Great work from the big man
Honestly I was astounded at the soul of it all
Really good. Can’t believe this came out in 1969. Rating: 4.3
I gave in to base desires and allowed all this hot butter to wash over me, carrying me away on a greasy stream of fatty indulgence. Mmmm, butter. For an album that only has 4 overly long tracks, something I would normally hate, I enjoyed it a lot. It's oddly concise, somehow. 1 star per track seems fitting.
Fun soul. Great vibes
Soulful as hell. Not a big fan of lengthy songs but he kept it interesting.
A- Walk On By 5 Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic 3 One Woman 4 By the Time I Get to Phoenix 4 I love this album. It's one of the first vinyls I ever bought.
That first side sounds triumphant. Seemless blend of soul, funk, psychedelic rock and cinematic landscapes. The song lengths look intimidating at first but once the songs start, they're so comfortable and detailed that there's really no rush to move on. The second side slows down quite a bit but with isn't without its soul and style.
Great album, full of jazz, blues, great vocals.
Loved it