Hot Buttered Soul

Good

Masterpiece. One of the best soul albums ever, easily, and with only 4 tracks. "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" is an absolute epic that takes you on a journey

Good for a long listen of the whole album. Great stuff!

It was easy to listen to, but didn’t do a lot for me. It also did not age well, particularly the misogynist tones throughout. For example on “One Woman,” it is not a second woman making you do wrong. You have autonomy. You are doing wrong. And that rant before “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” had more than a few eyebrow raising lines. It also made me wonder if this song would be over by the time I get out of Phoenix. I just don’t think Chef’s music is for me.

———————————— A surprise 5 for me. Had to play again with my headphones. The spoken half of Phoenix I could pass on but🐦‍🔥overall. My non-musician scoring system. 5 - Love it. Would play anytime, buy, see live… 4 - Good music. 3 - Average playlist. Depends on time and setting. 2 - I can’t listen to whole songs. 1 - No.

*Replayable*

Sounds like a landmark artist coming into his own - Lush, groovy and dramatic. Well composed soul music that hints at the heights of Shaft! to come. The payoff after the long monologue in the final track does not quite justify itself to me.

Flawless.

PERFECT SOUL ALBUM ISAAC HAYES WAS SOOOOO AHEAD OF HIS TIME. Monumental and instrumental piece to understand contemporary r&b and soul music. 10/10 NO NOTES

Great

I liked it! The talking one was cool and reminded me of the Quincy Jones song off Dawn FM. I didn’t finish the album though. I didn’t have time.

I really enjoyed this. It’s so funky, smooth, and just cool in general. I love the length of all of the tunes. If I’m in the mood I will listen to this again.

Great music, however I doubt I'm often going to find the time to listen to a 12 and 18 minute song in one go.

I can’t believe it’s not better.

I made it through 2 non-shaft songs. Not sure that I will bother with the other two. The lyrics are running out around the 3-1/2 to 4 minute mark and then it’s 7minutes of what I’m pretty sure is 70s porn music.

Pretty good

Bonne ambiance

Nope. I don't get Soul. Doesn't resonate in any way with me.

I think right off the bat the songs were just too long. Apart from this being something I’m not usually into, but this was refreshing. I see influence, and it was peaceful and exciting.

BLACK STEEL IN THE HOUR OF CHAOS (actually Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic but) I heard that unmistakable piano riff first with Public Enemy and the original is just as good. On a mostly (?) unimportant note, there might not be 10 better-titled albums than this one. Classic that sounds amazing even after holy hell over 50 years, with the aforementioned 2nd track being my fave. Sure they're long tracks but it takes time for butter to melt, what the hell's your hurry? 8/10 4 stars.

Great album but long epilogue

I made the stank face multiple times. It’s just so cool. The orchestration is fantastic.

Listened to this while cooking on a weekend - it was so so lovely. Might buy this album. People complain about the length but I loved how each song just kept building and building.

lov it

“Hot Buttered Soul” el segundo álbum de Isaac Hayes es una obra de arte del R&B/Soul desde el riff de batería que precede a los primeros acordes de “Walk on By” hasta el órgano que cierra la última pieza del álbum “By the Time I Get To Phoenix”. Cuatro pistas de extensa duración (excepto “One Woman”), un viaje de amor y desamor acompañado de melodías irresistibles y la prodigiosa voz de Isaac Hayes. “Walk On By” (originalmente grabada por Dionne Warwick, y versionada por numerosos artistas) es el tema con el que inicia el álbum; una carta de desamor, un poema de despedida dedicado a la persona que le ha roto el corazón. Lo que hace especial a la versión de Isaac de este tema es la delicadeza, la vulnerabilidad con la que interpreta y canta cada palabra acompañado de las voces corales femeninas y la instrumental tan teatral y natural, crean una atmósfera que deleita al oyente y que enamoró incluso a Beyoncé, quién hizo un sample de esta versión para el tema “6 Inch” junto a The Weeknd para el álbum “Lemonade”. 12 minutos que se sienten como si fueran 3 debido al alma que le puso Hayes y sus músicos a cada palabra e instrumento de este clásico de la música. Sin duda una pieza imprescindible del catálogo del artista, un deleite auditivo. El álbum continúa con La impronunciable pero impecable “Hiperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic” puro ritmo funk y groove. Es el momento bailable del álbum. En esta canción la historia continúa, esa mujer de la que antes huía cuando lloraba para que no le viera, ahora le es necesaria para vivir, la echa de menos aunque sabe que no le hace bien, incluso dicho por su doctor (He said I better slow down before you drive me in the ground). Es una letra amena y divertida para relatar el sentimiento de extrañar a alguien que no es beneficiario para ti. En el tercer acto del álbum “One Woman” el artista sigue sintiéndose necesitado de recuperar el cariño de esta mujer, repite constantemente “One Woman's making me home, while the other woman's making me wrong”. Necesita volver al lugar seguro que tanto anhela. Es curioso porque la instrumental de esta canción, el tempo, los coros, me ha evocado inmediatamente a una canción que sería grabada más de 40 años después; “One and Only” de Adele, incluida en su legendario álbum “21”. Esto demuestra el gran impacto del álbum en generaciones futuras. El cierre del álbum “By the Time I Get To Phoenix” es una pieza ejecutada como un monólogo teatral. Isaac Hayes pone punto y final al disco con un tema de más de 18 minutos de duración en el que narra de forma hablada durante poco menos de la mitad de la canción la historia de amor y de idas y venidas, que nos ha cantado en las otras tres pistas del álbum. Cuenta la historia del chico, desde su infancia, hasta el bucle enfermizo de rupturas y relaciones con esta mujer (hasta en siete ocasiones). Es maravilloso cómo narra la historia, de una manera que hace que el oyente imagine en su cabeza el escenario que el artista quiere que tengamos en mente. El claro ejemplo de esto es el momento en el que describe las distintas ciudades que va pasando con el coche y las relaciona con las actuaciones que estará desempeñando la mujer. Un cierre monumental a la altura de un álbum monumental. “Hot Buttered Soul” ha sido todo un descubrimiento de la música R&B/Soul de finales de los años sesenta. Un trabajo imprescindible de un artista legendario.

Had a lot of life and I liked the bass playing

Smooth

This is so good. 4 songs of greatness. Recognised Walk on By from the Wu-Tang album The W.

Not listened to much soul music. Liked this, but probably would find many opportunities or situations to listen to it. The music itself was really good. Well produced. Lyrics were good too. Only gripe is that the songs were a bit too long.

Think I'm missing something.

2,3/5

a lot of nothing for those 2nd 2 tracks. super soulful/funky for the first two. he's full of himself? HELLO THERE CHILDREN! HEY CHEF!

Walk on By is my favorite, but I love the long jams here. Could listen to this while making dinner or trying to seduce a suitor.

I am an Isaac Hayes fan and I do enjoy this album, but "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" just takes too long to get into. Other than that, fantastic album if you're a soul fan!

7.5

One of the best album titles of all time.

Some great funksoul tunes with a great production. Can’t be arsed with 18 minute songs though!! Radio Edits hit better.

Beautiful classic soul just wonderful for the ears.

This was awesome. Walk on by is great. High 4

Couldn’t listen too closely but enjoyed the vibey-ness

Walk on by is great. Good songs overall but too few

4 souly, long tracks. Not my favorite genre so I couldn't really appreciate it. The recommended aongs after the album was good though. Maybe I should give it another listen and see if I can develop some love for soul in general as well as the album.

I know who Issac Hayes is, but I really haven’t listened to him that much. And he’s not really on the stations I listen to other than very sporadically. Well, at least the radio stations. I did know that he has a very cool voice though (trying not to state the obvious). This album was excellent. I loved Walk On By, just such a great groove, which is a consistent theme throughout this record. His baritone voice (perfect for voice acting, but we’re not talking about that) really soars on One Woman, which is another great tune. Loved the balance between his voice and the backup singers. Hyper… was another cool song, for totally different reasons. This is just down in it. Everything fits together so well (like a perfect recipe… no, don’t go there). The remake of By The Time I Get To Phoenix was my least favorite on this record. I don’t mind narration in songs, but this just went on too long and there wasn’t nearly enough to get me interested. In total, an excellent album that just didn’t finish off great. But, he gets a bonus half star because he’s Chef!!!! Damnit! I tried. The fingers were willing, but the mind was weak.

Amazing album. Throw it on and let 45 minutes melt on by. Also realized halfway through this was Chef from South Park and lost it.

Hot buttered indeed. Creamy guitar tone coupled with stellar backing vocals makes for a Chef-inspired experience.

His music is still good.

walk on by is a masterpiece

## In-Depth Review: *Hot Buttered Soul* by Isaac Hayes **Isaac Hayes’ 1969 album *Hot Buttered Soul* is a landmark in soul music, challenging genre conventions with its audacious structure, lush production, and emotionally charged performances. This review examines the album’s lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, and provides a balanced assessment of its strengths and weaknesses.** ## **Album Overview** *Hot Buttered Soul* consists of only four tracks, yet runs over 45 minutes—a radical departure from the three-minute single format that dominated soul and R&B in the late 1960s. Hayes, previously acclaimed as a songwriter and session musician at Stax Records, insisted on complete creative control for this project after his debut album flopped. The result is a record that redefined the possibilities of soul music, both structurally and emotionally[1][2][3]. ## **Lyrics** **Narrative Depth and Emotional Honesty** - The album’s lyrics revolve around love, heartbreak, infatuation, and regret, with Hayes’ delivery transforming familiar material into deeply personal statements[4]. - “Walk On By” (Bacharach/David) is stretched into a 12-minute odyssey, with Hayes’ vocals conveying a sense of heartbreak that is both intimate and grand[1][3]. - “One Woman” explores themes of infidelity and longing, with a straightforward narrative of regret and desire[5]. - “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” (Jimmy Webb) is radically reimagined: Hayes introduces the song with an eight-minute spoken monologue, detailing the protagonist’s emotional journey with cinematic specificity—including what car he drives and the couple’s shared memories—before finally reaching the song’s melody[2][3]. - “Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic,” the only original, is a dramatic, almost surreal depiction of sexual obsession and power, delivered with playful verbosity and swagger[5][4]. **Pros:** - Lyrics are emotionally raw, detailed, and often poetic. - Hayes’ spoken-word passages add narrative depth and anticipation. - The reinterpretation of covers gives new life and meaning to well-known songs. **Cons:** - The extended monologues, while innovative, can test the listener’s patience and may feel excessive to some[6]. - Some critics find the lyrics, especially in “Hyperbolic…,” bordering on self-indulgence or repetitive[6]. ## **Music** **Arrangements, Instrumentation, and Vocal Performance** - The music is characterized by long instrumental passages, lush orchestral arrangements, and hypnotic grooves, with The Bar-Kays providing tight, inventive backing[5][2][3]. - “Walk On By” opens with a dramatic horn fanfare and fuzz guitar, building into a swirling, psychedelic soul epic. Hayes’ Hammond organ dominates the latter half, creating a trance-like atmosphere[2][3]. - “Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic” features aggressive, driving rhythms and wah-wah guitar, blending deep soul with elements reminiscent of krautrock and funk[2]. - “One Woman” is more conventional, with a classic R&B arrangement that grounds the album’s experimentalism[2]. - “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” is notable for its slow build: the song’s melody doesn’t appear until nearly ten minutes in, preceded by a richly textured spoken introduction and subtle instrumental interplay[2][3]. **Pros:** - Innovative use of extended song structures and instrumental improvisation. - Rich, cinematic arrangements elevate the emotional impact. - Hayes’ vocal performance is both commanding and vulnerable, blending singing and spoken word seamlessly. **Cons:** - The album’s length and repetitive grooves may not appeal to listeners seeking concise, radio-friendly tracks[6]. - Some may find the musical experimentation—especially the long intros and outros—overindulgent or meandering[6]. ## **Production** **Studio Innovation and Sonic Texture** - Recorded at Ardent Studios in Memphis, the album’s production was groundbreaking for its time, utilizing pre-delay reverb and multi-layered orchestration to create a hypnotic, immersive sound[5][3]. - Producer Al Bell and Hayes crafted a soundscape that was both lush and intimate, with each instrument given space to breathe. - The album’s use of stereo imaging, dynamic range, and subtle psychedelic effects influenced not only soul but also future genres like hip hop and neo-soul[5][2]. **Pros:** - Production quality is exceptionally high, with a clarity and depth that remains impressive decades later. - Innovative studio techniques contribute to the album’s timeless feel and influence. **Cons:** - The dense production and extended arrangements may overshadow subtler musical moments for some listeners. - The album’s sonic richness can be overwhelming in a single sitting, requiring attentive listening to fully appreciate. ## **Themes** **Love, Loss, Masculinity, and Emotional Vulnerability** - The central theme is the transformative power of love—its joys, pains, and complexities[2][4]. - Hayes explores masculinity through vulnerability, using his deep baritone and spoken-word passages to express emotional pain and romantic longing. - The album also touches on themes of infidelity (“One Woman”), sexual power (“Hyperbolic…”), and existential heartbreak (“Walk On By,” “By the Time I Get to Phoenix”)[5][4]. - The personal becomes universal: Hayes’ introspective storytelling invites listeners to reflect on their own experiences of love and loss. ## **Influence** **Legacy and Cultural Impact** - *Hot Buttered Soul* is widely regarded as a pioneering album, signaling the transition of soul from a singles-driven genre to an album-oriented art form[7][1]. - Its influence is evident in the works of Marvin Gaye (*What’s Going On*), Barry White, Stevie Wonder, and later hip hop artists who sampled its grooves and monologues[5][2][1]. - Hayes’ blend of spoken word and music prefigured the “love man” persona and the development of rap and contemporary R&B[2][5]. - The album’s success (reaching No. 1 on the R&B charts) established Hayes as a major solo artist and helped revitalize Stax Records during a turbulent period[5][1]. ## **Pros and Cons** | Pros | Cons | |---------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------| | Groundbreaking structure: four long tracks, album-oriented format | Lengthy tracks may alienate listeners seeking brevity | | Lush, innovative orchestration and production | Extended monologues can feel excessive or indulgent | | Emotional, narrative-rich lyrics and vocal delivery | Repetitive grooves may seem monotonous to some | | Redefines covers with bold reinterpretation | Dense production can overshadow subtle moments | | Major influence on soul, R&B, and hip hop | Demands attentive, patient listening | | Seamless blend of spoken word and singing | Not all tracks equally memorable to all listeners | | Elevated soul to a new level of artistic ambition | Some see “Hyperbolic…” as lyrically overblown | ## **Conclusion** *Hot Buttered Soul* remains a towering achievement in soul music—a record that dared to break every rule, expanding the emotional and musical vocabulary of the genre. Isaac Hayes’ vision, supported by masterful musicianship and innovative production, resulted in an album that is as challenging as it is rewarding. While its extended structures and spoken passages may not suit every taste, its influence on the development of soul, R&B, and hip hop is undeniable. For those willing to immerse themselves in its lush soundscapes and emotional honesty, *Hot Buttered Soul* offers a rich, transformative listening experience that stands the test of time.

This is tough. Isaac is amazing, but tgus album isn't. The first two tracks a good. The other 3 are meh. And I have to say again, only Alice's Restaurant pulls off the super long song. End of day, sorry Isaac, it's not your, it's this album.

first listen hot dang this is cool

I can’t. Lacks way too much substance to stand as a legitimate LP. Might have been a 3-star listen if it was 15 minutes, but it’s just so meandering and watered down and directionless.

"Hello there children!" "Walk on By" absolutely carries this album. The other songs are good but DAMN. Favorite track: Walk on By 3.5/5

Four tracks. Forty-five minutes. Heavy and slow. No fat. No mercy. Velvet voice, strings, sweat and grind. Backed by the Bar-Kays perfectly in the pocket. There’s other R&B album like it and I should listen to this more often.

track 1: Okayy starting of strong track 2: OMG I LOVE THE BEAT AND PIANO SOLO track 3: What a beautiful song, feels like I'm falling in love track 4: the falldown, what is bro yappin about (9/10)

Très bon, j’ai été surpris !

Fav: Walk On By Least Fav: By The Time I Get To Phoenix Great album all around but shoutout to Walk On By for being an incredible song

Lot of covers

Has some hits but the rest is pretty mediocre.

I read a bunch of reviews that said the long sections that lead into the actual structured bits of the songs are annoying when those are obviously the best bit

Ok, so at first glance I thought "sorry, 4 tracks?!?!?! An album, with 4 tracks?!?" ... Then I looked at the length of the songs and shut my mouth! Here's an interesting thing I found with this album - it's not a collection of songs like you'd typically get on an album. It's 2 mammoth tracks - "Walk Ony By" and "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" - have a total of 30mins of listening time. Both are... a vibe, to quote the yutes. Very cool background listening, both an epic journey through... I guess I'd describe the genre as classical-R&B? The harmonic decisions in "Walk On By" really create a stunning listening experience. The integration of more orchestral sounds makes each song grand and epic. Here's one thing I would say about our longer songs - they really are too long haha. I was enjoying "WOB" until around 4m30 ish, then I completely zoned out. My attention on "...Phoenix" was lost almost immediately as the sustained chord, ride cymbal and monologue continued... and continued... and continued... Nothing happened in that song until around the 8min minute mark. "Hyperbolic..." is also a hefty track, coming in at 9m36. To it's credit, the actual song started way earlier than it did on the other 2 long songs. I would add that my attention was lost after 3 or 4mins of this song as well. Don't get me wrong, the playing, composition and artistry on these songs are great, but songs that are that long need to mix things up a bit more often (for me at least) to keep the listener's attention. Our shortest song, "One Woman", was stunning. Nothing more to say on it. A beautiful track. Overall, a good listening experience, but hard to compare with the other albums experienced so far as it's more conceptual. Eh, 3/5 seems fair? Clearly talented musicianship and songwriting, but someone should've told Isaac to cut the songs and put a few more actual songs on the album. Nice background music though.

Rating (1-5): ✩✩✩✩ Will I be listening to this again: Yessssssssss What do I like about it: This IS my kinda music ✩w✩ I also enjoyed the Interview What I dislike about it: Nothing Higlighted songs: One Woman, By The Time I Get To Phoenix

Another album I've never listened too. Really good stuff.

Too short … but also too long 🤷‍♀️

Chef form Southpark has a soft buttery voice

Has some good soul groove sounds but couldn’t get into some the more ballad type songs.

Really good! The rambling in front of By the time I get to Phoenix is the only blemish.

It felt like a four at first but then a two so I guess three?

Can see why this is so iconic in the world of soul.

6 inch heels…

love the bass lines and instrumental overall!! v lyric heavy but still v cool

Very cruisey. Good background.

perfect

VIBES JUST ABSOLUTE VIBBESSSS mmmm i didn't care the songs were 10mins each they were just vibes nom nom nom

You know I wasn’t initially a big fan of this album before I listen to the interview following the album, then the album just clicked in place. I’m like man this is actually really cool. Love this style of trying to pioneer soul music.

Smooth and oh! that’s the Public Enemy sample. Very cool. Too long and meandering though. Nobody needs 18 1/2 minutes of “By the Tine I Get to Phoenix”. Eh, it’s good nackground music.

schöner, langsamer R&B, aber leider sind die Songs a bissl zu lang für den daily genuss

I appreciate that this was groundbreaking, but won’t be listening again.

Pretty good, chill!

Good

idk not for me

> the Beatles

Would be 5 stars but for the 9 minutes of talking in By the Time I Get to Phoenix. The 2nd and 3rd tracks are awesome. Hot, buttery and soulful

Didn’t finish but I liked what I heard

What a great album. Isaac Hayes is a soul legend and it shows! I love these long drawn out soul jams. The music and production is spot on and Isaac’s lyrical storytelling is phenomenal.

A great album with a great story behind it. Isaac (at the time a songwriter and background musician) didn't want to make the album, so he demanded total creative control - and this was the result. Interesting that he was known as a songwriter and only put one original on the album, but he sure makes the covers something completely different from the well known versions. Loved it.

Progressive Soul! Love it!

When an album starts with a ten minute long song it’s normally a good sign

4 estrelas

Soul music easy to listen to. Good album.

Accurate album title - this is some buttery shiiiit

Chef cooked with this one

Walk on By is excellent. Then, it’s some buttery soul. When we get to Phoenix, I’m not sure if the structure is brilliant or simply way too much for its own good.

Is there anything to say about this one? It's Isaac Hayes singing/speaking soul in his uniquely Isaac Hayes style. Even if it's not the kind of music you typically like, it's hard not to have fun with him.

Smooth funk

Increíble. Me dio mucha curiosidad ver que el disco dura casi 50 minutos y consta de solo 4 tracks. Pero uf, qué tracks. Oro puro cada uno de ellos. Este es el soul duro y rompecorazones con el que me gusta sufrir.

Ba jäkligt skönt sound

4 låtar, 45 minuter.

ok

It be smooth and sexy, in a bald and black kind of way. this is 1969, bloody hell. This sound still lives strong.

First of all, “Hot Buttered Soul” is an incredible album name. +1 star for that album title alone. Some song I know, but can’t place, sampled vocals from the first song “Walk On By,” I always love coming across the original like this. Next time I hear it, I’ll know where it from! This was soulful, groovy, and another album I’m shocked came out in the 60’s. I may not have ever listened to this in its entirety if it weren’t for this project, it was a good one.

Black Moses started his career as a studio session pianist for Stax in the early sixties. Within a few years Hayes began penning songs with David Porter, and the two would go on, along with Stax' legendary house band Booker T. & The M.G.'s, to propel the label to its status as the definitive soul powerhouse during the height of the genre's influence in the 1960s. He stepped out from behind the scenes with his debut record as a solo artist in 1968. While the record demonstrated his musical and compositional chops, the record proved to be a toe-in-the-water moment that gave him the confidence to break the nascent soul genre wide-open a year later with 'Hot Buttered Soul.' The indulgent runtimes, incredible musicianship, opulent orchestral arrangements, overt psychedelic tinge, achingly vulnerable lyrics, extended spoken interludes, and conceptual lean pushed Soul and RnB into new frontiers, paving the way for other groundbreaking artists to propel the genre further into a future sound shortly thereafter — including notably visionaries in their own right: Curtis Mayfield, Sly and The Family Stone, Parliament Funkadelic, and The Isley Brothers. His influence on black music in the wake of 'Hot Buttered Soul' cannot be overstated. The commercial success of this record, and the equally influential string of subsequent hit records '…To Be Continued', 'Shaft', and 'Black Moses' released in the early 70s put a handful of Hayes' most consequential records into countless home record collections in the early 70s. Those records would be discovered by kids looking to express their musicality without traditional instruments in the mid eighties — eventually becoming a cornerstone of hip hop music's early development. Scanning the list of hip hop tracks that sampled Hayes' work, especially those on 'Hot Buttered Soul', is like taking a stroll through hip hop's first few decades. Black Moses was a godfather of rap, and he's been sampled nearly 2,000 times by countless producers.

4/5

Lovely voice. Fine instrumentation. But God it goes on. I fear that by the time Isaac had seduced me I’d be asleep.

Smooth stuff here. Really sets a mood. I went into this listen knowing how influential it was. I enjoyed most of it but I have a little pet peeve about music being interrupted by a long talking monologue. I know it is not unusual for this genre and time period but it still takes me out of the groove when a guy just starts telling a story over music. It didn't ruin the album for me but it did affect my enjoyment of it somewhat. Overall though it was a great listen.

They voice is everything here and its deep and smooth. Its not enough to drag me in though. It was a fun listen but not something I will come back to.

Baroque yet funky and fucker, it was a blast.

sample for DJ Quik's Born and Raised in Compton at song two

Great album, surprised it was only the late 60s. the production is great the way it layers in the orchestra and makes a full sound. totally reimagined walk on by. 4.5

He lost his hair but not his soul

This was fine. The song about picking and choosing between two women, followed up by the guy just talking into the mic detracted from my enjoyment of the overall package. Good instrumentals, meh vocal work. 'Walk On By' was my fave by a country mile. Such a cool opening riff.

Definitely in my top 50 albums of all time, on the strength of the two incredible covers.

Not my thing but I can't deny the talent or influence.

Masterful, but a little too chill for me.

Not bad at all, but not amazing. Good dinner date background music.

I have heard this before and I do remember enjoying it, though the length of the tracks made it so that it's not something I've returned to maybe more than a couple of times since. I think the title describes this album perfectly if I'm being honest. Looking forward to getting back into this. It's been quite some time since I last had an old school soul album. Going into this with quite elevated expectations. Walk On By That instrumental really hits the right spots. That psychedelic guitar is such a mood setter. Love how it's already getting a bit experimental with it. Great backing vocals. Buttery smooth main vocals. The horns provide some cinematic energy to the track. Great bass. Love the extended instrumental at the end, such a great vibe with the psychedelic organ and guitar. Fantastic. 5/5 Hyperbollicsyllabicsesquedalymistic Funky. Love the bassline. Smooth delivery on the vocals. The backing singers as a different energy to the song for the few seconds they show up on the chorus, a small detail which makes the song much more memorable. Love the jazzy piano. The instrumental is such a groove even without it, but it adds a certain coolness to the track which really makes it pop. The jam like nature of the extended instrumental makes for a soothing, cool and infectious musical experience which really highlights the band's synergy. Fantastic. 5/5 One Woman Okay so I understand how the overbearing, outright cheesiness of this track could turn someone off of it. I mean it's filled up to the brim with almost every cliche in the book. The lyrics, the terrible themes, the slow tempo and the backing vocals almost make this sound like a parody of the genre. Still, I find these qualities endearing to a point where the absolute cheesefest that's the final chorus has me sitting there with a stupid grin on my face. It's just too much fun, I love it. His voice and delivery carries so much charisma. He has the perfect dramatic qualities to nail this typw of song right on the head. Fantastic. 5/5 By The Time I Get To Phoenix I like the storytelling aspect of the intro. It's an interesting interpretation of the events leading up to a classic song. He's got a great voice for monologueing. Feels like he's almost mythologizing the events in this story with his at times thunderous delivery. It is however quite long. When the track actually starts the immediate highlight is the flute in the background. There's nothing left to be said about his voice or delivery, he's just amazing. There's not a single hint of subtlety in here and I love it. Those horns are just icing on the cake. Stunningly cinematic. A sprawling epic. Fantastic. 5/5 That was some of the most fun I've had with an album in a long time. Hot Buttered Soul really is the perfect title for this, it's just such an accurate description of what this album has to offer. It's smooth and sexy, delivered incredibly, with a voice that should be labeled "for mature audiences only". It's incredibly tight with a band and singer who understand each other perfectly, leaving a lot of space for each element to shine. It's cinematic, romantic and so over the top and it just glistens with personality and charm. The psychedelic elements have you lost in a hypnotic landscape. The heavenly string arrangements elevate you to a level beyond. The jazzy piano jams have you mesmerized and wanting more. On top of all of that you have Isaac Hayes himself. A towering personality with the voice of a god and such charisma it makes you lock in on every syllable. He delivers each and every incredily thought out lyric with passion and class, and brings such a fantastic energy to every track. With him behind the wheel you'll not even realise he's been monologueing for 8 minutes due to his amazing storytelling ability. This album truly is the full package from start to finish. Even with the added instrumental jams at the end of some of songs, it remains dynamic and focused sounding. Genuinely some of the albums finest moments can be found within these jams, causing you to feel a sense of anticipation as a great moment could be around every corner on this thing. A fantastic experience and a genuine masterpiece. 5/5

It was 45 minutes of Chef from South Park singing his heart out to teach me about life and love. The entire time I listened, I just pictured a montage with Chef being superimposed over Kyle, Stan, Cartman, and Kenny teaching them things they had no business learning. Oh my god, they killed Kenny!

langweilig

Progressive Soul album starting with a great groove getting extensively boring with extended vocals, instrumental stretches and a whole, spoken-word story.

Me ha gustado en general y me he guardado "Walk on by", ya sé de donde saca Kiwanuka parte de su inspiración. El disco original parece corto, 4 canciones pero al final son unos 45 minutos que se pasan volando.

I actually loved this!

I liked parts of it a lot, but way more talking than I wanted

Þetta var algjör dúndurfílingur þangað til það kom mjög löng saga sem var allt í lagi að hlusta á en ég myndi samt aldrei setja þessa plötu aftur í spilun nema að sleppa þeirri sögu. Dregur hana niður úr fimm í fjóra

El título hace 100% honor al contenido

ooooh yeah.

C'est nice mais y'a pas Chocolate Salty Balls. 😢

The last track was a little much but some great grooves before hand made up for it.

It's got some good grooves in here. Hot Buttered Soul honestly is a good description on how this music felt.

I like this, the songs are enjoyable and interesting, but I’ve got to be honest 4 tracks at 45 minutes is a little long for my attention span. There is so much noodling and jamming that I find myself waiting for the end sometimes. Still it’s great background music for working and I definitely like the style more than some of the other albums we’ve reviewed I have to say 3 stars.

Would have been higher, but the spoken word part of “By the Time I get to Phoenix” was too much for me.

Nothing incredible in n this album but also nothing bad.

Solid first half, but the second half is pretty mediocre.

Back in the day, when music was soulful, magical and sexy...

Some really lovely instrumental sections and then his voice is very nice as well. The last song is an interesting choice. I don’t mind the talking at the start but I do think there’s too much of it. I get that the song is building but the percussion in the background repeating over and over started to grate on me as he kept talking – that being said when the music picks up it is gorgeous. Fav song: Walk On By Least fav: By The Time I Get To Phoenix

Walk On By is a fantastic song, and Hyperbolic is great, but One Woman is just offensive and By The Time I Get To Phoenix needs to cut out the first 10 minutes before it starts to become a song. So all in all it's a bit of a confused mess with some brilliant material.

3 Sterne

12 minute songs is crazy work but it was quite good.

Swanky and smooth and full of sweet lovin'. Hello there children, come listen to this album.

Great album, seemed to go by almost too fast. Would love to give this one another listen or two

One of the best soul albums of all time in my eyes. Every song is given so much room to breathe. The bass in particular is so badass.

Err yeah..all I can think of is chef from South Park 🤣

Chill soul.

I was hoping to really get into it with this but I never really clicked. Obviously the songs are way too long.

I found this quite a struggle. Having made it through the first couple of session-style songs I found the third track a relief at a mere 5 minutes long, only to get into “By The Time I Get To Phoenix” and all of its 18 minutes. While I generally like or at least don’t mind soul, I don’t (personally) think Isaac Hayes had the sheer charisma and singing talent to pull off these kinds of tracks in terms of length. I found the single edits easy enough to listen to but the full versions were a drag. Having read up on him I get the sense he had an outsized influence beyond his solo career and is credited with being a significant part of the music of the 60s and 70s, with influence lasting much longer, but that didn’t make me enjoy this any more.

Slightly quiet funk / smooth and soul for my taste (Thats my prism of view and hard to shit that). Anyway the review. At first it just seemed to blend into a blob of music with limited character. However my view has changed a bit as for some reason I ended up listening to it about 4-5 times. I do think its great music and while I would not choose it necesarily I did find it engaging and grabbed me in the end. It was chilled and especially liked it when driving where I could listen to it carefully. I feel like I have been brainwashed by a preacher but hey ho. I just learned he sang chocolate salty balls (South park) so thats something too. Haha. Worth a listen to bring you back to earth. "I hate when my balls stick"

First surprise was learning that 'Walk on by' wasn't an original a stranglers track. Second surprise was that it's twelve minutes long. Generally this album has a cool, funky, soul sound but the tracks just ramble on for too long and by the end seem quite repetitive. I'd rather be left wanting more than find myself waiting for the track to start or end, especially when nothing much is going on except three minutes of noodling or eight minutes telling you how deep the tune is about to be.

- hatte entspannte Passagen, aber stellenweise leider derbe nervige, da irgendwie zu viel auf einmal passiert ist. Dadurch konnte ich die entspannten nicht wirklich genießen und es ist mir negativ im Kopf hängen geblieben 1/5

T’es bien redécouverte

Second song is really nice, but all the songs seem very long. So I think this is a album only listening situation.

Never really thought his version of "Walk On By" beat Dionne Warwick's until literally this listen, but yeah that's an all-time great. Unfortunately, I don't really care for the cover of "By the Time I Get to Phoenix", which sucks because it's almost half the album.

I really enjoyed this album. The first song was my favourite and I particularly enjoyed the instrumental. I liked that the album kind of told a story. I would possibly listen to this again.

Chef!

I liked this album. I was breaking down boxes and taking out the trash while I listened to it. It starts with one of my favorite songs of all time. I feel like this is an album I'd like to own, it just has a coolness to it. Like it just feels like a recording of a session or show that no one intended to make an album of. There are some spots where that spontaneity feels overworked, and some of the technical elements that they lean into feel like they could have been shortened (a few guitar solos or intros), it's like they don't have to care because you are just listening to them do their thing. They didn't ask for you to come in. 3.75

Walk On By and second track are great, especially the former. One Woman is kind of forgettable to me. By the Time I Get to Phoenix could truthfully lose the first nine-ish minute opening... but the ending is glorious.

J’ai beaucoup aimé cette voix grave portée par un funk élastique comme du caramel. Je réécouterai

walk on by- 6 hyperbolicsyllababicsesquedalymistic- 6 one woman- 5 or 6 by the time I get to Phoenix- 5 very funky but this has to be background music. I can't just sit down and listen to it

Liked all but the last song

Enjoyed it.

Was a 2 till the last song… made it a 1.5

Need another listen, just instrumental

Not bad not bat

Really good first half, faded in the stretch. Still, a fun experience with a lot of attitude.

Man, I loved the first half of this album! Especially Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic, which knocked my socks off. Unfortunately it fizzled for me after that - the second half is alright, but didn't quite capture the same magic for me.

Standout Songs: Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic One Woman Already my second soul album on this journey, yikes. I’m starting to learn soul isn’t really my thing.

Great voice and great album. Interesting panning choices.

Personally not my sorta of music but I do see the fun appeal

I liked Isaac Hayes, but this album is kind of ponderous and lackluster. Not a whole lot of excitement here.

Overall, pretty enjoyable; sounds great for '69. The long dialog in "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" makes repeat listens just a little more tedious.

Nice strings and guitar... quite soulful and groovy

Did not care for this one at all.

Good album. Can definitely see how it would be very influential.

Deep soul, laid back instrumentation, beautiful heartfelt tones, what's not to like?! Just a teensy bit meandering at times maybe...

I can see the vision, but not my thing.

So smooth! A great listen, the extended cuts and spoken words to music were a bit much for me (I can't be dealing with a 19 minute song) but overall 👍

I liked the music, but don't enjoy the spoken portions

The only way to properly serve soul music is hot and buttered. Thank you, Chef!

What a great start! It lets down a bit on the third song, but I was willing to still give it five stars, until he chose to lose the funky vibe with ten minutes of talking that was unnecessary (or could have been summed up in 30 seconds). The fifth song was good, but it had lost the momentum by that point.

Damn, Chef really has some talent! Enjoyable listen once I got past waiting for him to say, "Children!" Good stuff. The older I get, the more I like Soul.

No

One woman and walk on by are my favourite from the album. Definitely soothing, it feels like a sunny day with a gentle breeze.

Good but nothing too revolutionary for me

Most people would say "Tom Cruise" when asked "who's your favourite mental scientologist?", but for me, it will always be Isaac Hayes. Every second of this album is incredible.

I really enjoyed this album. Listened 3 times and it sounds timeless. "One woman" is an absolute masterpiece.

Much mojo and swagger! Great sample in Walk on By. 3.7

Last song sucks, this is really hard to rate, there's 4 tracks 3 of them are pretty good if a littleong, last is half the length of the album and starts really really bad, i think you could justify anything between a 2 and 4 here honestly

“walk on by” was a MASTERPIECE. THE LYRICS??? THE INSTRUMENTALS. surprisingly WORKS as an 11-12 minute song. the closing guitar solo was excellent. the next two songs were good, not much else to say. “by the time i get to phoenix” should be renamed to “by the time i finish my monologue” because that was LONG. and mostly talking. however, i can respect the art on that one. overall, album was a solid 4/5.

8 minute monologue is the only detractor. Track is smooth and groovy af otherwise

This was very good! I would get it on vinyl. Great find. Right up my alley

Smooth voice but this is only a 4 song album. It was part jam band in “Walk in By” and the songs lasted a loooong time. It’s not my style.

Great fun throughout. Sweeping and cool. Sensual!

4.5 - This was really a surprise, really like this. Deffo going to check out more

So nice. 4 tracks that all deliver vibes. The opener is particularly iconic. Though now all I hear on top is Beyoncé’s “6 Inch”. This is great music. 4.6/5

super fun listen adding it to my albums

A lovely album to have on whilst working. Not my usual vibe, but I appreciated it and would be happy to revisit it in future.

Enjoyed the Album more than I thought after the first track. Not my type of genre usually but I respect it and appreciate it. Was nice to have on in the background and made me stop and appreciate what I'm listening to a couple of times.

It's a good album. One of the tracks has a sound that has been sampled into modern music, but I can't put my finger on where I've heard it. 3/5

3.5

Jeremy nedd war hier ❤️

Da het mich de Isaac schön hinters heiss butterte Liecht gfüehrt! Erwartet hani old school hiphop und becho hemmer grandiose Soul miteme 12 Minütige ihstieg bis zum soul climax, was denn nach em 3te track wider biz abgflacht isch. Die erste zwei songs ganz klari 5 butterbräzel doch durchs s bizli abflache buttere ich 4 köstlichi butterfingers id Bratpfanne

Isaac, passiv scho ab und an wahrgnah, aber aktiv glosst und gwüsst vu ihm na nie. Aber das Album isch 1ste Sahne, das säg ich euch also. Und japsi, han delay vo 2 Wuche, rofl. Aber Noah hed mir grad gseid wie mir chan später nahbewerte. Ich hans dazumals glosst aber nüm chöne bewerte und sit dem x-mal wieder glosst. Ein Gaudi für die Ohren. Super schön 5 cervelats

Heissi Butterigi Seel! Big fan vo dere 12 minute version vo "walk on by" - de opening track zu de beste tanz performance woni je gseh han, damals ih mim erste summer in basel zemme mitem don timonski ih de kaserne und au jedesmal wenni das meisterstück lose gits en grosse zruggwurf zu de nachbesprechig am rhy mit emene bier und sprachlosigkeit au de rest vom album hett nöd enttüscht langi ufbauendi lieder hend eifach en soft spot bi drum gits für das vorzügliche butterbrot da grad es 4.5 ineklöpft yummie!

generational stuff mister hayes!

3.5 rounded up

A lesson in how to make hurt into something beautiful

Super long soul love songs, not something i'd add to playlist though

enjoyed this a lot dk how i haven’t heard any prog soul before. second song is the best the monologue in the last song was kinda annoying but the rest was great

The spoken word intro on the last song should have been cut. Almost half of a nearly 19 minute track is him just speaking and not music. That is ridiculous. It’s a good soul album but there are better ones out there.

I’ve never been a fan of this type of music, and this did not change my mind. To me it is more concerned with the vibe, which is cool, but this vibe doesn’t resonate with me.

Sorry smooth deep-voiced man. Listening to you talk isn’t all that interesting to me. I couldn’t wait for you to get to Phoenix and finish that damn song. Walk on By was pretty enjoyable but even there the outro is way too long. Overall this album is more about the backing musicians than the vocals. Talented people.

Chad move putting an interview at the end of your studio album, gotta respect that.

nice

3.5 very good album, just not quite my style

"Hot Buttered Soul" is the second album by American soul musician Isaac Hayes. Progressive soul and pyschedelic soul are the Wiki-listed genres. That fits since it is recognized as a landmark recording in soul music by AllMusic and others I'm sure. Hayes was given complete artistic control and used producers Al Bell, Allen Jones and Marvell Thomas. Hayes played a Hammond organ and sang lead vocals. His backing band was the Bar-Kays (there you go) which included Willie Hall (drums), James Alexander (bass) and Michael Toles (guitar). And let's not forget Johnny Allen who arranged the strings and horns. Commercially, the album reached #8 in the US and also had highly positive reviews. There are four songs on the album and the first is a Burt Bacharach and Hal David song "Walk On By." An easy pace with drums, organ and strings give way to a fuzz guitar and Hayes' soft, soulful vocals. A post-break up song. A great guitar solo by Harold Beane and organ jam as the song ends. Actually, a quick drum finish at the very end. Hayes gets the funk and sexual overtones really going in "Hyperbolicsyllabicsesqedalymistic." A funky guitar and Hayes, not fooling around, goes deep voice as he describes a passionate, intimate interracial love affair. Female singers repeating the song title, bells and long periods of the piano and Hayes" sexual sounds. Hot Damn! "One Woman" is more delicate with piano, strings, drums and a gentler, softer Hayes. A song that builds. Isaac loves two women and can't decide where he belongs. The album ends with the 18-minute "By the Time I Get to Phoenix." In the first half of the song, Hayes raps about the power of love and then he finds his woman cheating on him. The beat picks up, horns, strings, a melancholic-sounding piano and Hayes singing soulfully. He's leaving her and seeing the effect on her. It was worth the wait. This album just oozes soul, R&B and sex. Long, extended jams of the piano, organ and piano. Great musicianship and excellent strings and horn arrangements. Hayes' music and vocals had a deep effect on 70's R&B and artists like Barry White. That is heard pretty clearly hear. A must listen for everyone and, wow, I need a shower.

Beautiful album that grazed my soul ever so slightly. 9/10

This album was great! I was grooving the whole time.

Long songs. But amazing

Едва ли не главный источник сэмплов для рэпперов. Довольно приятная музыка, но слушать я это не стану. Тем более с такой длительностью треков.

Some interesting orchestral arrangements of well known tunes. Unfortunately Hayes laid-back style and the long drawn out songs make this album a bit tedious. The songs could have been half the time they are.

This is #day256 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… the first track instantly rang a bell. Portishead or some other trip-hop band must've sampled it. Just checked: it was actually Hooverphonic... The rest of the album? Progressive/psychedelic soul, just like Wiki says. To tell you the truth, I'm revisiting this record after today, my 700+ day, when I got a D'Angelo album, which I really liked. Listening to Hot Buttered Soul on my Technics SU-7300, the music does flow like a hot butter across the room. Great, groovy, psychedelic stuff. Made for vinyl experience. The last tack is a fucking trip. This is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day257.

It's certainly smooth but it slips past a little too easily

5 stars. Great album

nice

Ne prepoznam niti najbolj popularnega komada: Hyperbolicsyllablecsesquedalymistic

As a South Park fan, I was incredibly excited to get an Isaac Hayes album. His voice never disappoints. If you are an R&B or Soul fan you will undoubtedly love it, but for me the songs were too long. There are 4 in total, and one of them lasts almost 20 minutes. I love Hayes's voice, and I didn't feel that the songs were bad. They were just lengthy. That being said Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic is an absolute banger and doesn't feel at all like its 10 minutes long.

Kind of cool.

my soul is slathered

# Album Name: Hot buttered soul # Artist: Isaac Hayes # Rating: 4/5 # Comments: Wow, that voice. The string and arrangements are fantastic. Love the take on walk on by. The guitar and organs are very good. its a 12 min ball of fun. Theres some good tracks on this album. Good listen! # Top Tunes: Walk on by / Hyper... / One Woman # Would I listen to it again? Yes

Production: 5/5 Lyricism: 4/5 Sound: 5/5 Enjoyment: 4.5/5 Overall: 4.6/5

Boring & self indulgent.

Miss me with soul, bby.

Best bald man album ever, classic amongst the classics

Awesome Memphis Soul

Painfully boring. 3/10, do not listen on night shift

Where has this album been in my 48 years. Funk, R&B, Soul, Style and Essence. What an album.

Tight grooves and psychedelic flow. I loved this album. My first but not final listen.

Guay

Ohhh yeaaahhhh. Smooooooth babyyyyyy. 3.5/5

Hard to believe this was Chef. Genuine baby making music. Some of the songs dragged on for far too long though.

Pretty cool, Chef from South Park

Better than I expected. I don’t love a 10 minute song but it was a nice vibe throughout.

What do you have to say for yourselves, Hooverphonic? Fave: Hyperbolicsyllablesesquedalmistic

I think I liked the songs without him singing as much more, but only because South Park ruined me on Isaac Hayes :(.

Wow incredible. 4 epic tracks that showcase how to take a soul track and expand it to 10 min long epics that don't lose intensity throughout. Considering this Is 1969, it deffo has been a key influence for the progression of soul, funk, even hiphop. Hayes is hypnotic throughout. Overall perfect album that redefined the sound of soul music

The first song on this album is incredible. Several other songs are really good. The last song is much too long and boring, despite it trying to tell a story. However, I admit part of that could be a difference in upbringing, culture, time, and place. Overall, I understand the impact of this album, and I waver between a 3.5 and 4, so I'll give it a 4 here.

👎🏻

5/10

Not for me

I love neosoul so much. Fav songs is Thai one who has a super long ass name😭

Isaac Hayes rules.

Listenable.

cool funk jams, but not just spinning its wheels. there’s a certain amount of direction and intention to the solo/instrumental sections that you don’t find all the time in these types of open-ended jam style songs. the windup storytelling going into Phoenix is maybe a little long winded, but it pays off once it finally gets to the song proper. cool mix choices with the drums and bass straight up the center, and basically every instrument panned hard left or right. the guitar in Walk On By with the opposite panned ~200ms delay is fuckin rad. really enjoyed this record, a lot of cool r&b shit going on especially for 1969.

W ogóle nie brzmiał jak album z '69.

Beautiful Gorgeous 10/10

Not a real stand-out to me but certainly some solid smoothness and interesting spoken word moments. (2.5 stars)

So smooth, so soulful

Maravilhoso álbum, tem uma pegada muito original e envolvente.

Heeeeeeeeel rustige muziek. Goed gezongen en goed gespeeld! ***

A masterpiece, what a vibe

Movie theme music but not my bag.

A radical reinvention of soul music, Hot Buttered Soul is Isaac Hayes at his most fearless and cinematic. With only four tracks, Hayes stretched the boundaries of the genre — layering orchestras, wah-wah guitars, and sprawling monologues over heartbreak classics like "Walk On By" and "By the Time I Get to Phoenix." It's raw emotion dressed in velvet, a record that trades radio-friendliness for uncompromising artistry. Bold, hypnotic, and deeply influential, it set the stage for soul to become grand, philosophical, and endlessly expressive. A masterpiece of mood, groove, and vulnerability.

This album is good. Just so damn good. As a fan of longer tracks and soul music this is a great listen. Hayes voice is at its peak the music is perfect soul music. It's just a great album and a great example of soul.

6.5/10. I did really like this and am generally a sucker for longer art forms which are much of a journey. This being said I much preferred the singing/speaking parts of the longer tracks on this record. For example I though the first half of 'Walk on By' was much more enjoyable than the latter. Also for a track like 'By the Time I Get to Phoenix' I did love the build up of the whole story but felt it lacked something in poignancy for me personally and so preferred the singing parts as Hates soulful voice added a lot of depth for me. That being said I thought musically this was great, it was bluesy, funky and soulful all in one and the interview at the end was kinda fun.

Very good! Although I didn’t like the 5 minute monologue 4/5

Wow! Very cool! I feel I need to start a list of albums I’m truly glad I got to hear before I died. And while they may not all be the coveted 5, these albums are special, unexpected and unique. This is one of them.

Butter me up, baby.

Fantastic. The only thing holding this back is the length of the songs. The last track is upwards of 20 minutes. But, this album came out in the 70s, that's how things were done back then.

I keep forgetting g how bad ass Isaac Hayes is.

Very smooth.

o instrumental é impecável e mesmo que as músicas sejam longas, elas não ficam cansativas o que tira a quebra do clima no álbum é a última música

If "hot" and "buttered" mean "welcoming" and "engaging" and "pretty", well, this soul is lots of that!

This was ok, but that 10 minutes of spoken word was a bit much. Liked Songs Added: Walk On By

Really soulful album. The numbers are quite long, with last track being over 18 minutes, bit too long for me.

The first two tracks had great openings but their length meant that they couldn't hold my attention for the entire duration. Track four was even worse for this. In comparison, "One Woman" was fantastic.

Fine I guess. Can See the craftmanship, but Not for me.

The monologue was good, but a lot of this was just gratuitous.

Nice enough

Sexxxxxxxxoooo

4.5? le doy 5 igual porque uf

His voice is amazing and the lyrics can be surprising in a fun way. Recognized a lot of parts of the instrumentals from sampling or just recreating iconic riffs. The spoken narration was a lot.

9/10.

After listening to this album a few times in a row I definitely feel like my soul has been buttered.

meh

cum

Very enjoyable, I especially liked the instrumental stuff

Most accurate title yet. Enjoyed the butteriness. People say they wanted to see what Jolene looked like but I want to see what the woman who cheated on that man 8 times without him leaving her looked like honestly. Fav song - walk on by Least fav - Hyberbolicsyllabicsequedalymistic Specific rating - 4.0

Good stuff! Some nice studying vibes, although the interview at the end did detract from its loop-ability, which is preferable in studying vibe music for me

Some of the intros were a tad too long for me but overall shocked by how not bored I got with such long songs. Not something I ever would have chosen to listen to but I’m really glad I heard it (before I died). Favourite: Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic Least: By The Time I Get To Phoenix

Good background music but a bit too long for my liking

This album feels ahead of its time for the 1960s (though I’m certainly no music historian). An incredibly delightful listen. While I didn’t love the 8.5 minute spoken work portion, Isaac Hayes more than made up for it with 37 minutes of pure smooth soul.

1969. Progressive Soul. 9/10 1.Walk On By Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic / One Woman / By The Time I Get To Phoenix

Very repetitive. Can imagine why it was ground breaking at the time, but I found myself waiting for it to end.

Standard late '60s fare. Some good grooves, but very long-winded.

Nice but short! Feels a lot more modern than I expected

Not my cup of tea

Nice enough, better than a lot of other similar records

A bit of a struggle to even make it through 4 songs! Minus points for cover versions.

I not a big of soul fan at all but this is an album with massive personality and style. I love a long song, and this is quite a masterclass of subtly building guitar, string and brass arrangements, and combing with some moody vocals. And the range of styles really grabbed me. Starts with a soul psych acid rock beauty and Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic might be the most subtlest funky track I’ve ever heard. And the last track just makes it impossible not to get into the story, and slaps out with some great arrangements, particularly love that the Hammond is being flogged so much you can hear the keys being slammed. Fair to say this album was a very cool surprise.

Funny I just complained how long a couple tracks on the last album were and the list delivers me an album that’s just 4 long tracks. Difference is, this is funky soul and not just a drum machine and bleep bloops and samples of vocals. Coulda done without the whole story time, that works great live but is boring as hell on an album track.

such a perfect album, hayes’ walk on by is a pysch-soul all time classic, hyperbolic… is just such a ridiculous awesome song.. one woman is the beautiful calm before the storm that is the sprawling nearly 20 minute epic that is also the best version of by the time i get to phoenix. a flawless album f’reals

too long. instrumentally it was insane tho

Jam r&b. 3