Reviews (page 2 of 8)
Damn right, this is some good soundtrack work. Solid 5 Stars.
I’m at a 10, though I do have one little gripe here. I mean, look, Isaac Hayes is in remarkable form throughout this thing. Say what you will about a soundtrack album making the list & any frustrations that might stem from this being a mostly instrumental album, but… my goodness, these compositions are fucking awesome even without the context of the movie. I’ve never seen Shaft, but goddamn, do I want to now. The funk present here is in top form, especially for 1971, and Hayes’ ability to capture a mood on so many of these tracks, with almost nothing but the titles alone to go off of, is incredible. There’s not really a dull moment here – points where you can easily zone out, sure, but it’s never in a way that leads to boredom. It’s zoning out in a way where the groove naturally glides its way into your ears & you can just feel it, even if you’re not paying attention to the chord structure or some of the prettier background details. This whole album never takes away from that energy, and it succeeds as both an instrumental album & as a movie soundtrack. I’m not sure if there’s many other soundtrack albums in history that have been nominated for an Academy Award & the GRAMMY Album of the Year. Even after trying to Google it, I can only really find a handful of examples (surprisingly, “Star Wars” & “Beauty & The Beast” among them). So, what’s the gripe? For as much as I really like “Do Your Thing”, I do feel like the 20 minutes stall at a certain point. That’s not to say I wasn’t captivated by it, but unlike a lot of the other tracks where the groove glides & you never feel the weight of the length bearing on the track, it definitely hit more on that one. Between that & the sort of ear-splitting outro with the guitar deciding it wanted to go as loud as possible, it didn’t leave me as satisfied as I wish it had. That said, for the vast majority of its runtime, it’s still a pretty damn good track, and it barely takes away from a stellar soundtrack otherwise. It is the sort of thing that makes this a slightly shakier 10, as it might hit me a little differently on another future re-listen, but regardless, I fucking loved this. Isaac Hayes must’ve felt on top of the world in the early ‘70s, man. I’m very glad this is on the list, and for me, it’s a 10.
Hey hey, I wrote a whole article about this album: With Shaft, Isaac Hayes fomented a soundtrack revolution https://www.avclub.com/with-shaft-isaac-hayes-fomented-a-soundtrack-revolutio-1798240313 Isaac Hayes was a genius, and working on a film score for the first time gave him a chance to explore and try new things. Obviously the iconic "Theme from Shaft" is the highpoint, but there's a lot to love about this score (and the film).
lowkey perfect
This is groovy! Like a combination of elevator music and a spy movie.
I absolutely loved it, it is a work of art
Shaft is an easy five for me. This record lands squarely in my sweet spot. The instrumentation alone would be enough: deep bass, lush strings, tight rhythm section, and a sense of space that rewards sitting with the music rather than skipping around. It’s cinematic without being corny, groovy without being flashy, and confident enough to let long instrumental passages do the heavy lifting. I know some people ding this record because much of it is instrumental, but that’s a feature, not a flaw. The band is locked in, the arrangements are rich, and the mood is so well defined that lyrics would almost get in the way. This is music that sets a scene and then trusts the listener to live in it. The title track is iconic for a reason, but the deeper cuts are what really seal it. This feels like a record designed for vinyl. Drop the needle, let the side play, don’t overthink it. I can absolutely see myself reaching for this regularly if I had it on wax. Stylish, patient, groove-driven, and endlessly replayable. Five stars, no hesitation.
classic
1 song already in my favorites. Would listen again.
Who's the black private dick that's a sex machine to all the chicks? (Shaft) Ya damn right What can you say - Isaac Hayes, Shaft, early 70s classic stuff. Listen to the album, watch the movie. Do it NOW!
This soundtrack reminds me of the funkier tracks of the Persona 5 OST (i.e. Tokyo Daylight). So groovy, it's like I'm transported back in the city getting ready to kick ass.
Master of the slow build. Oscar winning Theme Song. Bad Ass record that does not disappoint.
I love his voice.
The dude on the cover looks like Severance's Milchick Never seen this movie. Groovy AF from the start. It's giving 70s cop show, but still very enjoyable. 5* (wanted to dock 1* because the vocal tracks, while nice, kinda ruined my groove, but overall this is better than most albums on here). Highlights: theme from shaft, end theme (it's the bookends, but they encapsulate the album really well)
Absolutely magnificent jazz, perfection, no notes.
very good
- "I'm just talkin' about ...." -
For a Movie soundtrack it was actually pretty relaxing to listen to. The two songs with lyrics are definitely products of their times. Went and watched the movie as well and the music fit solidly with it.
The music is fantastic... the only minor gripe is that it runs a bit long. I was going to give it a 4, but after reading all the dipshit comments whining about it being a soundtrack, it’s a 5 out of spite.
Excellent soul record. I didn’t realize it was primarily instrumental but that makes sense as a movie soundtrack. Just a fantastic listen. Isaac Hayes is a genius and The Bar-Kays are amazing.
Isaac Hayes was perfect for this soundtrack. Like Shaft, he was always (in till he went all in on Scientology) the coolest cat in the room. This is easily the greatest movie theme ever, and the rest of the album is just soulful awesomeness.
I did not realize that this was a Stax production, but the moment I read that, it clicked into place. Hayes and the session musicians on this album are making slight tweaks to that house formula, vamping it up here, adding some extra flourishes there. Not going to a place that is unrecognizable, but feeling eons ahead of what came before it.
I really enjoyed this one start to finish. I love a good soundtrack, and I definitely see how someone like Isaac Hayes would make a good sountrack - something atmospheric and tone-setting - especially for a cool and groovy movie like Shaft.
Relaxing☺️
very cool, great music for working
Wah-wah pedal meets Ravel. Two perfect tracks bookending rich evocations of the sexy-sexy ‘70s, with lush orchestrations that make Barry White look like a square, hinting at the think-y Odd Couple theme, casually tossing in some Wes Montgomery vibes. The many loose, fluid melodies risk seeping off the vinyl. Theme song is just all-time – "he's a bad mutha / shut your mouth / just talkin about Shaft" is borderline performance art in the best possible way. "Ellie's Love Theme" is brilliant. "Early Sunday Morning" sounds like the Saturday-night lovin' went late and quite satisfactorily indeed. And “Do Your Thing” is seriously underrated as an all-time jam tune, much cooler and more soulful than basically all comers. "Soulsville" is only a slightly different angle than "In the Ghetto." Maybe wanders a touch and it must be acknowledged that Hot Buttered Soul is superior. but what a record overall and how cinematic in scope and vibe, and rounding up because (obvs) Isaac Hayes is the coolest man who ever lived, seeming to have single-handedly invented both the slow jam and the quiet storm.
Funky, well produced. I had to remind myself this was a soundtrack album, it feels like a creative explosion caught on audio.
Great soundtrack for an awesome movie.
Look, I loved this stuff a lot but it’s made me so frustrated at this list. Put a film score in here but just one? I can think of 1001 film scores to put above Shaft, as much as I like it. I would never recommend this experience, unless you’re a masochist like me
Very surprised by the quality of this album. Obviously knew the Shaft theme. Never had listened to the rest of the album before.
There isn't much to say about this album that hasn't already been said. It was the first of it's kind in many different ways. From beginning to end it is an absolute masterpiece (yes, I already have a copy of it and listen to it regularly).
Of course I knew the theme song, but the rest of this soundtrack is delightful, both as a snapshot of the moment and as a harmonic dive into the funk of the moment. Normally I go to like an Alphonse Mouzon album but of course this is a bit more accessible. The drums are so present and a main character that you can't help but focus on. This is now one of my favorite "now that's a pocket" albums.
Setting the standards for music for years. High quality
This was great! I was familiar with Isaac Hayes album Black Moses which I’d recommend checking out. He’s a fairly iconic artist for a lot of musicians that grew up in the black community in North America. I’ve never heard of the movie Shaft but listening to the music for it I’m interested in checking it out.
Instead of listening to this one right away, I actually went ahead and checked the movie out first. And the first thing I noticed was that the movie was fine, but the soundtrack was BANGING. then I went back to check out the album and needless to say it was also banging. Overall? Banging.
BANGER record dripping with sex, funk and soul. I did watch the movie to get the full context, but this soundtrack cooks just as well on its own, especially the longer cuts that don't get to fully shine in the film. I honestly wouldn't have minded a scene of John Shaft shaggin' and ass-kickin' to Do Your Thing's full 20 minutes, because that's where Isaac Hayes *really* busts the funk faucet wide open. – What'd you get, Shaft? – I got *laid*. Standouts: Theme From Shaft • Café Regio's • No Name Bar • Do Your Thing
Insanely groovy. A little bit too long, but still I looved it. What's with these movie soundtracks from these amazing artists? I think it deserves a 5 despite the length
Flash back to years ago. Loved it and the memories
If your movie soundtrack works for someone who has never seen the movie it’s perfect.
4.7
So many amazing tracks on this album. Loved every bit of it.
Man, this is a groove.
Well know I HAVE to watch the film. Particularly loved 19 mins of intermittently shouting ‘Do your thing!’ in between smooth smooth bars (nb: this is very sincere)
Great album.
A classic and still holds up
extremely fabulous.
amazing chill
The late 60's sonically epitomized and performed masterfully. What a wonderful and moving romp.
Damn right! One of the best albums ever.
Ég vil þakka Simpsons fyrir að kynna mig fyrir Shaft (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9YvNUmW1kw). Einhverju síðar leigði myndina á Aðalvídeoleigunni og um svipað leyti keypti ég diskinn og hlustaði mikið á. Loks eignaðist ég DVD diskinn úr bargain-bin í Walmart. Allt saman er þetta æði, en tónlistin er best.
Classic. Ushered in an era.
Absolut banger perfekt musik till en sådan bra film
Too brief, too good.
This is a clinic on how to make a soul album. It's just one non-stop groove. One of few double albums that deserves the format.
Absolutely sensational. Really captures that 70's sound. Black soul and funk is so much nicer than hip hop rap. Beautifully arranged and produced. Just brilliant.
The last two tracks are some of the best funk tracks of all time. Just absolutely phenomenal musicianship. No way Do Your Thing is a soundtrack song
Brilliant soundtrack designed and arranged like an infinitely listenable funk album. From those opening iconic hats and wah pedal to the end. This soundtrack is as fun as it is life-affirming. I'd put this right up there in a class with Curtis Mayfield's soundtrack for "Superfly" and Marvin Gaye's soundtrack for "Trouble Man", which rival this for soundtracks that stand up as perhaps more relevant than the movies themselves. Not to say the movies don't rip, because they absolutely do, but Superfly's soundtrack actually alters your perception of the characters, for instance. I digress. Parts of this remind me of Sly Stone, parts of the first Funkadelic album ("Mommy, What's a Funkadelic?") in their raw & gritty approach, like being a fly on the wall in a funk band's practice space at 3 in the morning. Then you got smooth tracks like "Bumpy's Blues" with an air of classy sophistication to them. This soundtrack is like a movie in and of itself. It really transports you to cinematic scenes in your mind. Might not be for everyone, but as for me, I can dig it.
Groovy, smooth, eclectic but thematic. Can fade into the background or dominate your foreground, depending on your mood. Always something new to find here.
Smooth as silk, cool as hell. Mostly instrumental, but makes sense as a movie soundtrack. Nice background music with groove and grit and a perfect example of everything great about the 70's and Isaac Hayes.
This was fucking awesome. Not sure what else to say other than I really enjoyed this.
Nice and funky. Mellow, yet upbeat. I thought that there would be more vocals on the album, but it was mostly instrumental
I love the way Isaac Hayes’ music makes me feel. “Do Your Thing” is my new favorite song
Starts and ends funky Melodies of life between And an air of cool
During my big Isaac Hayes phase I somehow never got to this. What a daftie.
Great
Would have been great if all the songs could be played on spotify
I was skeptical about this. I was wrong. There were some compositions that I would have been happy if they never ended.
Great theme and no name bar is fun.
Great music from a great film!
Woah
One of the greatest theme tracks, like how the album begins and ends with theme track. Album has great music notes on all tracks except song 10, that one didn’t fit the music style for this album.
Isaac Hayes will ALWAYS be cool. As will his music.
fuck yes fuck yes fuck yes seventies exploitation score let’s goooooooooo listened on a vinyl i’ve had for like three years but never actually played shout out to the goodwill in san diego where i got this for like $3
Just awesome :) I love the 70s. One of the tunes from The End Theme sounds like one of the Lovage songs I know...
Amazing soundtrack. Such a classic.
Amazing album. A real classic.
Isaac Hayes is certainly one of the greats of the last 50 years of music history. This album maybe is a bit too much film-music-like but it does not really matter. The songs are still great and the album as a whole also.
SHAFT!
I can feel this music on the surface of my brain. The mix is so good. Do yourself a favor and be sure to listen using headphones. Groovy. The bass, the horns, the beats. Do Your Thing is a song that should get way more play. At just over 19 minutes I never grew tired of it. Just get lost in it.
One of the best soundtracks ever - and certainly enjoyable as a stand alone album to give you a nice evening at home or at a party. Hayes' arrangements leave so much room to breathe which is not always working in soul music but here if really does.
Of course, this is extremely fabulous.
Upbeat Such talent! Love
Looooooved it, absolute vibe
I liked this album very much, both the instrumentals and the vocals. I have always liked the theme song.
Not much to say here: iconic soundtrack album with vintage IH soul music. Can be listened without the movie - in particular the 19 minute jam at the end is great.
Great soundtrack! Isaac Hayes rules!
Schade das bei Spotify so viele Tracks fehlen. Isaac Hayes is nämlich geil.
Took this at face value as a soulful jazz record with a couple of bangers thrown in, and it did not disappoint. A few reviews seem to have been foxed by the word soundtrack and failed to do that, it's still music, it's hardly a series of incidental pieces. Beyond the obvious, No Name Bar and Cafe Regio's stuck out. And the 20 minutes long funk Do Your Thing is just outstanding. The longer it goes, the better it gets. An easy 5 in the end. Thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish.
Vele malen geparodieerd, nooit geëvenaard (kon niet nalaten om ook even de hilarische parodie op het genre te herkijken, 'De kracht van Schagt'). Wah-wah-gitaren, koortjes, violen, een orgeltje, en nietsontziende percussie: het is voor de foute jaren zeventig-detective wat de electrische gitaar en jazz-blazers zijn voor James Bond en de harmonica voor de Western. Onverwoestbaar. En dat dan vier plaatkanten lang. Waarom dacht je dat Isaac Hayes karakter bij South Park 'Chef' heet...
Very listenable
I'm pregenat now
I'm just disappointed that not all tracks were available on Spotify.
LET"S FUCKIN GOOOOO. Gotta watch this movie. Do your thing goes so hard
Funky AF. Cool as hell. Some of the tracks are a little dull to sit down and listen to, but that's explained entirely by it being incidental music to a fillum. The highs beat out the lows though, hands down.
You could tell Isaac Hayes had a massive “shaft” the whole time while making this straight heat.
Hella funky.
classic
meh
Super soulful. I really like the keys and the strings through the first half of the album. There are tracks through the middle that spend more time featuring the guitar, horns and sax which are excellent. Spectacular bass lines throughout. I haven't seen this movie, but if it's as good as the soundtrack I have to watch it. 4.5/5, rounded up Fave tracks: Theme from Shaft, Soulsville, No Name Bar, Do Your Thing
Who’s the man, eh?
There aren't many soundtrack albums in this project, but if I were to guess one that would be on the list, it would be this...even though I've never listened to it aside from the incredible theme song. This is wonderful music!
An album well worth the time. My first listen of the full album and I have no complaints at all. Can you dig it?
Funky and soulful. The apparent blueprint for all cop show scores of the 1970s. I felt like I was listening to an episode of Charlie's Angels.
I owned this album in vinyl, having purchased it in a used record store sometime in the early 90s. I came for the title track, but stayed for the funky variety of songs on a pretty incredible soundtrack. A masterpiece of 70s movie soundtracks!
It gets a 5 just for the Theme song. Can ya dig it?
They say this cat Shaft is a bad mother (Shut your mouth) But I'm talkin' 'bout Shaft (Then we can dig it) So good. One of the pillars of the Stax sound, and deserves to be on a top 100 list. 5/5
10/10 while it is a tad repetitive, it’s far too iconic and innovative for me to give this anything less than what it deserves
Why the hell did they go so fucking hard for a movie sound track? Perfect background music for almost anything.
Very good
this left me with wow
Spotify doesn't have the entire album but from what i heard it's fantastic.
Shut your mouth!
Yep in in the movie before the guitar uneven starts up. Oh yes. This is something I've always wanted to here. Bring out the cars and long states, while chewing a match. Shiny leather jackets, and hormones.
vibey
It's a soundtrack, so it's literally designed to be background music... ...but, this is Isaac Hayes, so I'm totally unsurprised that 'Shaft' rules. Putting aside the iconic theme song, the other pieces are the audio equivalent of an indulgent dessert - there's a delicious voluptuary about the arrangements. Plus, this is pungent music, invoking particular times, moods and atmospheres with ease. Of course, it wouldn't be Hayes if there wasn't a track jammed out to last almost one side of vinyl. Here, it's 'Do Your Thing', a kickass hunk of soul-funk with one of the sickest guitar solos around. It's the Blaxploitation 'Freebird'!
Interesting to have a soundtrack on this list - most of the tracks are instrumental and it's very easy to imagine them as background pieces. I've not seen Shaft the movie, but am aware of it's cult. As for the music, it's insanely groovy - itchy guitar hooks aplenty; deliciously mellow at times. I've always felt Isaac Hayes was like a much cooler Barry White. Such a shame that he fell in with the Scientologists; for South Park to offer a tender tribute rather than an all-out character assassination speaks volumes. A fantastic composition.
Solid! 5 stars!!
classic
9/10. This was really nice, an improvement on the other Isaac Hayes album by virtue of the fact he is singing a bit more sparsely
I’ve never seen the movie Shaft, but I do remember watching the Academy Awards the night that Isaac Hayes won 2 Oscars - one for the now legendary theme song & one for the best dramatic score. Hayes was a mainstay of Stax Records during the 60’s - a great musician & composer and he had started a solo career in 1968. Four solo albums preceded Shaft but there’s no doubt that his career peaked with the soundtrack. Hardly surprising. A double album, it is thoroughly engaging, whether you’ve seen the film or not. It is soulful, funky and jazzy. Hayes enlisted the great Stax band The Bar-Kays to provide the instrumentation. I listened to the album from go to whoa & loved it. Here was a man who was only the 3rd Black American to win an Oscar, with a style of music that the Academy had never celebrated before. And 25 years before Salty Balls.
Awesome awesome album. One of the first on this list I agree with!
five stars, for a brother man
Iconique
This is the good stuff
This is great walking around the city music
Even though most of this is instrumental, it is fantastic. I love the Theme from Shaft.
Along with 1993, the 1001 randomizer has recently gifted me with soundtracks. This one I have actually heard before. It is a double album and mostly instrumental and was scored by Isaac Hayes. The album was #1 on the charts, had a #1 song on the charts and won an academy award. It incorporated using R&B and soul into a soundtrack and was highly successful. Due to this, it had a huge influence on both soundtracks and R&B music (Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye). Hayes recorded the rhythym tracks with the Stax Studio band The Bar-Kays in one day, the orchestral tracks the next day and then the vocals on the third day. The songs were later re-recorded at Stax Studios. This album is one of those added to National Recording Registry by The Library of Congress for being culturally, historically or aesthetically significant. The album starts out with iconic "Theme from Shaft". Got to love the intro with guitar and cymbals. For the next set of songs, it sounds like a soundtrack, with Hayes doing a great job combining jazzy guitar and rhythm with horns and strings to sound like a cinematic score. A great song in this set is "Cafe Regio's." The ability of Hayes to do this should come as no surprise if you've ever listen to his "Hot Buttered Soul" from 1969. The second half of this album is where it really takes off and separates itself from other soundtracks; I did think I was listening to "Hot Buttered Soul." It starts with "Soulsville" which is one the few songs with vocals. Next is "No Name Bar" with a great groove mixing in horns and strings and then "Bumpy Blues" with its piano and bluesy feel. And then...the highlight for me " Do Your Thing" which is a total R&B, soul and psychedelic jam. At 19 minutes long it didn't seem long enough. The guitar solo alone is epic, seemingly clocking in at 10 minutes. Who doesn't also love an organ solo? The song ends in like a psychedelic haze.... Amazing. The album ends with an instrumental of the "Shaft" theme. It's been awhile since I've seen the movie but after listening to this, I need to see where all these songs fit in.
Smooth
Every bit as cool as its reputation – and maybe even cooler. “Do Your Thing” is elevated and epic – just about as good as rock/soul/pop music can be. The title track completely unmistakable, truly one of a kind The instrumentals work every bit as well as those cuts where the nonpareil voice (casual, knowing) comes. Awesome in every way as it can be. 4.8 / 5
Shaft. Damn right.
SHAFT!!!!!........damn right!!!! pretty groovy album. i can see the scenes in my head to go along with the music. i enjoyed this one.
I was familiar with the Theme from Shaft. So I was expecting similar songs. I was really pleasantly surprised. Like it very much
This album is one bad mutha…
They don't make em like they used to. I enjoy how weird this is.
I liked no name bar, great album
Very good! amazing vibes
Awesome, much better than I expected. Full of funk, jazz, jam band type of stuff.
Isaac Hayes the king of Soulsville really knew how to craft a tune. This was the soundtrack to Shaft a great Blaxploitation movie because every black hero needs a theme song. Shaft starts with the theme. It’s been heard probably by many or at least the shut your mouth part Ian justalking about Shaft. The rest is standard funky music you would expect from a movie about a black private dick. Is it groundbreaking no but is it great to listen to yes. It’s amazing to hear. It maybe drags in places but it’s not boring. I’m glad it’s on the list.
No problem with the music, love me some early funk soul instrumentals, some Isaac H. It's sweeping, it's cool. They set their own rules for the list, broke it when they feel, personally no problem this as a soundtrack but then I would have had more on here if it was my list, but it ain't 4 Star
It's interesting most of the album is instrumental due to the fact that it is a soundtrack from a movie. However the soul and blues parts are quite nice and specially the last ones I enjoyed. 3,5/5.
Chillig. Ich bin dazu in den Tag gestartet und dafür war es ziemlich geeignet. Am besten gefallen haben mir die Tracks, die fast wie Big Band Kompositionen anmuten.
There's a reason you've almost certainly heard the title track - it's been synonymous with Black cool and sex appeal ever since it came out over fifty years ago. There's also a reason you're much less likely to have heard the rest of this - it's really intended to function as background music for the film, rather than as pop music per se. That said, there are several other high points, most notably the extended guitar workout on "Do Your Thing"; other highlights include the vibrant "Cafe Regio's," the punchy "Be Yourself," and the leisurely "A Friend's Place." The pace in general is languid in the first half but picks up on the album's second half, presumably to track the film's rising action. If you're doing Shaft things (pun intended) then this is definitely worth putting on.
БЛИИИИНААААААА, НУ КАК ЖЕ ОН КРУУУУУУУТ Это же тот самый чел, который выглядел как гангста рэпер ещё до того как это понятие стало существовать. Shaft - культовый детектив блэксплотейшена с щикарным саундтреком, который после выхода повлиял на то, как в целом будут создаваться саундтреки к фильмам в дальнейшем. Всё звучит очень фанково, клёво, бэдэссно и всё такое, но я не совсем понимаю: разве ты не получишь ещё больше удовольствия, находясь в контексте? Не поймите меня неправильно, музыка качественная и клёвая, но всё же, зная фильм (УЧИТЫВАЯ ЧТО ЭТО САУНДТРЕК) мне кажется, слушать его зная и вспоминая фильм и зная весь контекст - намного приятнее и прикольнее. Это не тот случай когда ты вышел из пещеры, ничего не зная о мире и людях и тебе включили Abbey Road - ты стопроцентно кайфанешь. А тут?.. Вопрос дискуссионный. Мне в любом случае зашло. Do Your Thing - главная жемчужина альбома. Это такая разъёбная джемовая психоделическая штука. Ухх, как же шикарно звучит. Иронично, что этой версии песни в фильме то и нет.
Put this on my ear buds after dropping my kid off at school and walked home with 100 times more swag than usual. Got home and switched to the vinyl copy I've owned for probably 30 years. I collect Blaxploitation soundtracks and this one was never a favourite of mine and I rarely listened to it. I think this is because when I was younger all I cared about were heavy funk tracks and this has a lot of slower, mellower songs on it. Overall it's really not that funky. Now that I'm older, I appreciate the slow jams a bit more but I still prefer soundtracks with a bit more funk like Superfly, Tough Guys and Together Brothers. I added No Name Bar and Do Your Thing to my 1001 playlist (I may remove the later eventually as it's 19 mins long!). I'm struggling with a rating, thinking a 3 based on the fact I probably won't listen to it in full again. But am I really going to give one of my favourite artist's most famous album the same stars as Anthrax? An album I barely liked at all. No I will not, 4 stars it is.
what shaft?
Denne plata får meg til å føle meg kulere enn det jeg er.
Litt snill firer for tidens tittellåt.
Faen så funky. Umulig ikke å bli revet med av rytmene.
ja shaft theme crazy guet hani scho viel ghört sege. aber nonie glost halt well es isch afoch instrumentale soul. aber das tönt krass guet alles. mega zruckhaltend.
gut, i guess.. chill zum chillen. ptogressive soul is des genere und i weiß no nit genau obs so voll meins is aber is auf gar keinen fall schlecht und sogar sehr interessant zum anhören bzgl der instrumente und so.. 4/5?
Some instrumental tracks a bit questionable but on the whole, I loved the funky soulness of this album and would defo listen again.
Theme From Shaft - 4.5/5 Bumpy's Lament - 3.5/5 Walk From Regio's - 3.5/5 Ellie's Love Theme - 3.5/5 Shaft's Cab Ride - 3.5/5 Café Regio's - 4/5 Early Sunday Morning - 3.5/5 Be Yourself - 3.5/5 A Friend's Place - 3/5 Soulsville - 3.5/5 No Name Bar - 4/5 Bumpy's Blues - 3.5/5 Shaft Strikes Again - 3/5 Do Your Thing - 5/5 The End Theme - 4/5 So this is what the chef from South Park was up to before he got hired. An ultra-groovy and funkalicious soundtrack that rightfully got its contemporary praise. I think as just an album it suffers from not having a visual companion but it's still a good listen without the movie attached to it. Overall: 4/5 Favorites: Theme from Shaft, Do Your Thing
I get that some of this functions better as an accompaniment to what's happening on screen, but it's Shaft and Isaac Hayes, so I can still dig it. And that theme is so undeniable, even the Oscar voters (a bunch of cats who usually will cop out) had to recognise it. Damn right.
Super cool headline track. Great music, but mostly instrumental. How do we compare this?
it's a pretty good soundtrack, there's some solid playing (guitars in particular), but it very much feels like a soundtrack, and the requirements of being a soundtrack make it a much worse album than if it just had these ideas by themselves
Spotify only showed me a few songs - but they were good
I've never seen the movie, but this soundtrack is an absolute vibe. Surprisingly lyrical guitar playing, even though 90% of this album is instrumental I can definitely imagine what kind of lyrics might accompany the music. As a standalone Listening experience this was surprisingly immersive, would provide an awesome background to a late night drive, or perhaps a casual gaming session. Honestly pretty tight!
487/1089 - 1001 Albums, No Compilations, No Soundtracks >Looks inside >Soundtrack (still pretty good though)
the theme is a 5
My type of stuff
The rest of the album is surprisingly set apart from its title track, and not simply mining that (now classic) Blaxploitation theme of funk and wah guitar. In fact the album is barely that at all. The album moves through much more sedate and orchestrated tracks, 'Early Sunday Morning' almost veering into Bacharach territory. 'A Friend's Place' has a lovely chanson type ambience. 'No Name Bar' has a superb mix of flute, Hammond, brass and lightly funking guitar - these are surprisngly sophisticated arrangements. 'Soulsville' another standout, a classic feel and fully stands on its own as a piece of social commentary. After a while it has too much of the whiff of the incidental to sustain a self-contained album of well over an hour. It seems Isaac agreed to score every second of the movie. 'Shaft's Cab Ride', 'Cafe Regio's', 'Walk from Regio's', 'Shaft Gets Home and Takes a Shit after His Walk from Regio's', 'Shaft Finds Blood on the Paper after Having Earlier Eaten at Regio's'. And so on. Nonetheless, whilst it lacks some of the gravitas and glorious aura of Superfly, it has an almighty charm of its own. It's a fantastic album to have on in the background. For an album of over an hour, comprising mainly incidental music, awarding this a high-four is testament to Hayes' style and the skill on show.
Cada tontera que me mandan, me obliga a premiar este disco
Only knew title track but this was quality throughout. Good background
Hard to argue with the vibes here. This is a genuine classic from its era. Personally it's not a 5 simply because it's not a genre I want to spend a lot of time with.
3.5
Hey Chef
Jazzy. Blacksploitation?
I've said before that I'm not a fan of soundtracks, but of course there are exceptions. This is definitely one of them. The title track is pretty legendary, of course. The remainder is really interesting, even in the absence of the accompanying visuals, which has always been my issue with soundtracks. Amusingly, Hayes other masterpiece, Hot Buttered Soul, is a far more heavily orchestrated work. I mean, he stretched By The Time I Get to Phoenix out to nearly 20 minutes
I agree with others that it is a strange inclusion in this list. I did however absolutely vibe with this record (the deluxe with all the instrumental tracks that is). Such a great atmosphere
Wahtastic!
Funky motha(shut yo mouth)!
Cultural importance of the title song: easy 5. Rest of the album. Still solid.
this was pretty good
I love Isaac Hayes as a composer and songwriter.
The groove is solid and steady as they come. Jazzy. Soulsville indeed. Groove on, rap on, love on. You do yours, I'll do mine, and to a great guitar jam all day and all night long. Aren't sure of this? I'll repeat it. Tight.
Mmmm - Chef’s chocolate salty balls are tasty delights.
3+1 for meeting notability guidelines.
Very nice background grooves.
Great soundtrack, fantastic band, but goes on a little too long---especially the 19 minute song towards the end. But it's a hot, tasty relic of the early 70's soul sound.
Soulful, smooth as hell. I can dig it
Even the most well-made movie soundtrack is still, ultimately, a movie soundtrack. There's not quite enough substance to elevate it to a five star rating for me... presumably the experience of watching the film is what provides that substance. (I watch maybe two or three movies a year, it's not my preferred form of entertainment.)
What you say about Shaft? You’re damn right.
Incomplete version on my Spotify. What I heard was very enjoyable, contrary to some other film soundtracks on this list. 4/5
I've heard the title song since I was young. I was expecting more funky beats, not short symphonies of cool jazz. I like what I got, though. Especially the long song before last,as mix of rock, funk and jazz, in mixed perfection. 4/5
So good. Wish it were warmer out so I could listen to this with the windows open or driving around.
Ja, soundtracks horen niet op die lijst. Je mist de magie van een album, het is een project, niet een album. Tis wel erg goed. Het heeft een bijzondere groove met een beetje funk met leuke arrangementen. Misschien omdat het voor film is zijn de nummers wat uitgerekt en heeft het niet een specifieke hook. Ik word er wel in meegesleept. Het leent zich beter voor in de huiskamer dan via een koptelefoon. Je moet er in bewegen in plaats van het direct tussen je oren te hebben.
3.5 Feeling generous today
holy. freakin'. 1970s. if we want to talk about a time capsule, this album is pretty much that. all of the songs in this record are made for the soundtrack for a blaxploitation film of the same name. it's so darn 1970s it's almost beyond parody. i feel like i might have heard selections of this album in a family guy cutaway or something. it's an... arguably typical, almost stereotypical, but generally solid '70s film score; if you have a comb stuck in your puffy afro and you really like watching reruns of CHiPs, you might get obsessed with this little record. bow-chicka-chicka-chicka-bow-wow.
Very enjoyable sound, love blues!
Great piece of work, and I enjoyed learning about why it's so significant.
Very good! Simply difficult to break into my daily listening 🤷♂️
I came to this album two days late after a busy weekend. I spent the morning listening to this album focused yet tired. This album comes as a particularly noteworthy moment for me within this list, as it proves that soundtrack albums are up for consideration, a question I had been curious about the entire time. It was still a surprise to me for the Shaft soundtrack to appear as that first example, but it was a pleasant one. I have been aware of Shaft solely through cultural impact and reputation, but knowing what I know about the culture of the US at the time and the trends of blaxploitation films like Shaft, I can hear the major funk and soul influences which would have designated this album as a culturally significant work. I had expected the music to sound a bit more aggressive in line with high-energy action soundtracks I'm more used to, but I love the choice for it to take a more laidback and funky approach most of the time. By virtue of being a soundtrack, there are a handful of spots which get a bit repetitive, but that's also judging these songs on a different scale than they were designed for; I'm supposed to be watching John Shaft kick ass or explore the streets of Harlem to this music, not sitting at a security desk in Glendale. But still, even as an album designed to enhance another artistic project, it still holds up incredibly well on its own with some incredibly catchy guitar lines and horns; it is a testament to its strength that I enjoyed the entirety of the near-20-minute-long Do Your Thing. Now I feel like I need to watch Shaft. Highlights: Theme From Shaft, Walk From Regio's, Ellie's Love Theme, Shaft's Cab Ride, Café Regio's, Be Yourself, Soulsville, No Name Bar, Do Your Thing
Listened over a few days on my walk to work and by the end i was doing little spins and finger guns at people like i was the main character of my life
Schmaltzy, a little weird, and it overstays its welcome, but that also all describes me at times, and by that I mean my best times.
I enjoyed this album, but one thing struck me. On both Shaft and on Hot Buttered Soul, the other Isaac Hayes album on the list, Hayes doesn't actually sing very much. The albums are mostly instrumental and it's a shame as Hayes has a rich, deep voice that I really enjoy. Just about a four, would have been an easy four if there was more singing.
A pretty enjoyable listen, although most of it was acted as pleasant background music rather than a truly engaging experience. Definitely a few standouts among the bunch, though.
Isaac Hayes is great. Shaft is no exception.
Isaac Hayes is a brilliang songwriter, that's for sure, and tracks like the epic Do Your Thing are really amazing and could easily be on studio albums' level, but it is still a soundtrack, which - as an album - makes it not as great, because in most of the tracks you can feel something is missing. The missing piece is the picute the soundtrack was written for.
Amazing soundtrack and the main track is an absolute banger
Loved this funky soundtrack. I watched Shaft years ago, but don't remember much of the plot, but I don't remember adoring Isaac Haye's soundtrack. Favorite Track - Theme From Shaft Least Favorite Track - Bumpy's Lament ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It’s a good listen. Smooth, jazzy, funky. It’s a good time. 4/5
Sportspegeln! Riktigt höga höjder och njutbar lyssning rakt igenom, under första halvan kändes det ibland lite väl mycket som att man satt i telefonkö men det lyfte verkligen igen under andra halvan. Kul album!
Njöt
Close to a 5 star for me, but quite a few skippable songs for being a soundtrack.
Great
The Oxford English dictionary defines "cool" as "Shaft". There's also a footnote stating they can dig it, which I respect.
Now I'm listening to movie osts, But I enjoyed this one. It was greatly written and had calm and relaxing sections while others were more upbeat and jazzy. I think this complimented the film well but I have yet to even see the film so I can't really say much about how they work together but I think they do. 7/10, Favorite Song: No Name Bar
As soundtracks go, this was decent.
When the 'Theme From Shaft' has featured prominently in a Simpsons episode, you know this record has earned quite the reputation, not to mention the fact that the song also won an Academy Award for Best Original Song. But the rest of the 'Shaft' soundtrack is pretty engaging too, even though Isaac Hayes' vocals don't show up all that often. The movie 'Shaft' broke significant ground for introducing one of the first African-American action heroes, and enlisting the services of Hayes, one of the key players in the emerging funk/soul genre, played a vital role in bringing the sound of cinema into the 1970s. 'Shaft' is a very dense soundtrack, pairing Hayes' signature funk/soul hybrid sound with the dynamic pace of the movie, from quaint' relaxing numbers ('Early Sunday Morning') to fun, horn-driven romps ('Be Yourself'). Hayes skill as a producer and arranger is very much on show here, as he's always able to find the right sound to convey the range of different scenes and emotions present in the movie; not bad for his first attempt at the movie soundtrack medium. The rare moments Hayes' voice does pop up, such as the 'Theme From Shaft', 'Soulsville' and the epic 'Do Your Thing', he's as soulful and heartfelt as ever, but his ability to command an expanded band (complete with guitars, bass, horns, strings and percussion) is the standout on 'Shaft'. Hayes understands the feel and importance of the film in giving the African-American community a major action hero to get behind, and given the commercial success of both movie and soundtrack, the collaboration proved a masterstroke. "Who's the black private dick that's a sex machine to all the chicks?" "SHAFT" "...you damn right" Best songs: Theme From Shaft, Early Sunday Morning, Be Yourself, Soulsville, Do Your Thing
Such a cool an unexpected album, it’s the reason I keep trudging through all the other shit.
Absolutely iconic theme tune. It maybe suffers a bit as an album with it being a soundtrack, as certain themes and melodies get recycled in different forms and there isn’t as much variety as a standard album, but it is still such a cool soundtrack
It was hard to get through this because my wife wouldn't keep her hands off me due to the sexy smoothness.
As someone listening to this for the first time, it feels like a roller coaster. It starts with one of the coolest and well known tracks of all time. Then goes into a lot of nice little soul tracks, which makes sense for the movie, but none are particularly bangers like that first track. Then "Do Your Thing" comes on late and sets things on fire again, all 20 minutes of it. A hodgepodge due to it being a soundtrack and not a true 'album', but still an enjoyable one. I can dig it.
SUUUUPER chill jams, genuinely relaxing. Even the 20 min jam sesh is a nice listen
Just talkin' 'bout Shaft. C'mon, folks -- it's Isaac Hayes. Just get lost in the groove.
Soulsville so good. Might be one of the best mainly instrumental albums I've heard. Can hear where so many soul songs have derived from. Great sax, I wanna play some of Isaac's music
One word to describe this album is SMOOTH. I feel like I’m being sonically wooed by the man himself.
Loved Soulsville especially
This was fun, something tells me there’ll be more in his discography more worthy of being here. And god I hate that everything comes back to Scientology, gimme a break.
I have never actually seen Shaft, but it's been around long enough in pop culture that I know the story and the references. I really enjoyed this, I was craving something funky, and I love instrumental tracks, so this delivered. I love the horns and strings, they just sort of amp it up. It was the perfect accompaniment to my morning routine.
Good stuff
I wasn't expecting to be into this but I definitely am! Upbeat, funky, instrumental jams that I really enjoy. Yes, chef!
Every song is good, a true no skip album
I mean, the theme alone is worth the price of admission, and maybe it’s just having seen the movie, but I can’t think of many scores that feel more of a place than where the film is set than this one, great stuff.
pretty good music, would love to watch the movie now.
Güzel bi arka müzik vibrlamalık danslık gibi geldiiii
Fun, but not too memorable yet, prob because it wasn't on spotify so I wasn't paying attention to tracks.
Incredible listen. One I won't continuously come back to but I would absolutely play this all the way through again in the future.
This album is just 75mins just… pure soundtrack funk disco groove goodness. Isaac Hayes you just know how to make a saucey ass album damnn
I'm quite surprised this is lower-rated on the list than his other album, because it is that much better. Something about the atmosphere he is building on this album, with the relaxing funk and soul elements, is so nice. Good stuff, Mr Hayes.
I can dig it.
GROOVY
semana passada eu tava vendo a gravação dos cara fazendo o shaft ao vivasso no estúdio e pensando o quão do caralho era extremamente bom?
Not an album I would seek out, but I did thoroughly enjoy it!
While Hayes vocals are nothing impressive, his capabilities as a composer and band leader are exceptional. This soundtrack broke fertile ground for moviemaking as we know it today. Minus one half-star for Scientology.
Cool, funky
Super musique pour faire la sieste. La wouahwouah est hyper bien utilisée, j’ai kiffé les solos de saxophone. Un album qui donne envie de voir le film !
Fun listen
Man, this soundtrack is enigmatic of how much effort used to go into curating a great accompaniment to film. At first, I thought this was just a decent soundtrack, but it stands well as a singular piece of work. The album flows between set pieces with an aloofness and lushness that I can’t get enough of. I liked this a lot more than I expected. Definitely plan to keep this in my rotation.
i think i hear the opening track in ads all the time lmao yeah sounds great but there's only so much i can enjoy an almost entirely instrumental soundtrack album, funnily enough a lot of publications compare this to Superfly which we had just before this, and i do agree with them in enjoying that one more than this. where the hell does this 20 minute closer fit into a movie? Highlights: Ellie's Love Theme Cafe Regio's Early Sunday Morning Soulsville Do Your Thing Low 4
It’s a really good soundtrack, no doubt, but its inclusion does highlight the exclusion of the other deserving soundtracks.
Already familiar with this album. It is very good
Shaft is an excellent soundtrack, one of the best Blaxploitation soundtracks of the ‘70s along with Curtis Mayfield’s Superfly, James Brown’s Black Caesar and Bobby Womack’s Across 110th Street. But it is not a ‘great’ Isaac Hayes album and, arguably unlike the other albums I mention, it doesn’t really stand without the movie. “Theme from Shaft” is monumental, an amazing piece of music and an excellent song. The rest of the album is really well composed but is very much music to accompany visual media. It certainly works as background music but, when I listen to Isaac, I want to hear his voice, his stories; I want to listen to Hot Buttered Soul or Black Moses.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ aside from the theme song (which is damn good i can't lie), i don't think i'd actively go out of my way to listen to the whole damn soundtrack. nevertheless, i guess this is pretty good background listening
It’s a little difficult to rate this album because I haven’t seen the movie but the instrumentation was fantastic. It makes me want to see the movie, considering the soundtrack already has so much personality to it. 4/5, I don’t think I can rate it any lower because I can see the deep artistic value and could see myself going back to it when I need fun background music
Soundtrack zum Film Shaft Man hört der Musik an, dass sie schon einige Jahre auf dem Buckel hat ...
Isaac Hayes – *Shaft* (1971) An in-depth review of the landmark double-LP that became the first #1 pop album ever awarded to an African-American composer, won three major industry prizes and single-handedly re-wrote the rules for both film music and Black pop culture. --- ### 1. LYRICS – WHAT LITTLE THERE IS, MATTERS Only three tracks carry vocals, so every sung line has to justify its existence. - **“Theme from Shaft”** – Four minutes of hard-boiled comic-strip poetry: “Who’s the Black private-dick that’s a sex-machine to all the chicks? SHAFT!” ▪ The lyric is pure swagger, but it also does narrative heavy-lifting: by the time Richard Roundtree appears we already know he is cool, dangerous and sexually omnipotent . ▪ Call-and-response backing vocals (Telma Hopkins, Pat Lewis & co.) turn the chorus into a community chant, a Black Greek chorus validating the hero . - **“Soulsville”** – Hayes’ ghetto travelogue. Over a slow-blues vamp he narrates police brutality, heroin traps and Sunday-morning hope (“Every Sunday morning I can hear the old sisters say ‘Hallelujah…’”). ▪ The lyric functions like a newsreel inside the film, grounding the fantasy hero in social realism . - **“Do Your Thing”** – A lone repeated mantra (“Do your thing, let me do my thing”) that sounds hedonistic but doubles as post-Civil-Rights self-determination politics . **Verdict:** Concise, purposeful writing; every word either builds the myth of Shaft or maps the socio-economic terrain he moves through. --- ### 2. MUSIC – SYMphonic SOUL Hayes treats the double-LP as a canvas wide enough for both three-minute funk bullets and nineteen-minute psychedelic jams. - **Orchestration** – Memphis horns + Johnny Allen’s string charts = gritty Stax grit lacquered with Hollywood sheen. Strings sometimes *replace* rhythm guitar, horns act as a rhythm-section left hand; flutes flutter above the brass like smoke rings . - **Rhythm science** – Willie Hall’s 16-note closed hi-hat and Charles Pitts’ wah-wah guitar became the sonic shorthand for “1971 cool” (still sampled in 2020s hip-hop) . - **Genre hop-scotch** – “Bumpy’s Lament” – church Hammond meets Morricone-like pads. – “Café Regio’s” – Wes-Montgomery-style soft-jazz guitar over bossa-tinged drums. – “No Name Bar” – big-band brass section playing a blaxploitation cop-show riff. – “Do Your Thing” – the Bar-Kays stretch out into an alt-rock, almost Grateful-Dead-like jam, proving the funk underground could be as improvisational as any jazz loft . **Verdict:** A seamless braid of Southern soul, Bacharach-style easy listening, jazz guitar interludes and proto-disco grooves that still feels cinematic even if you have never seen the movie. --- ### 3. PRODUCTION – “HEADWISE” FILM SCORING - No written notation; Hayes conducted 40-piece orchestras by humming parts and letting the Memphis players “head-arrange” . - Recorded in two layers: (a) July ’71 at MGM Studios in Hollywood – the actual cues locked to picture. (b) August ’71 at Stax – the commercial album, punched up for radio, yet still containing micro-cues (some tracks run 1:15) that preserve film-edit timings . - **Soundstage tricks** – microphones placed down hallways for natural reverb; strings multi-tracked through EMT plates to create that “velvet car-chase” sheen . **Verdict:** A master-class in budget-maximising indie production; the record sounds big enough to fill a cinema, yet warm enough for a basement party. --- ### 4. THEMES – BLACK HEROISM & URBAN REALISM - **Masculine archetype** – The title theme literally sings the hero into existence, weaponising Black sexuality instead of apologising for it, a radical act in 1971 cinema . - **Ghetto documentary** – “Soulsville” argues that the American Dream is a bounced check for Black citizens; Hayes’ spoken asides act like a Greek chorus inside the film . - **Self-determination** – “Do Your Thing” is both libertine and Pan-African, echoing the contemporaneous “Black is Beautiful” slogans but couching them in party language . **Verdict:** The album is a cultural two-step – empowering fantasy on side A, social X-ray on side C – without ever sounding didactic. --- ### 5. INFLUENCE – DOORS OPENED, TEMPLATES BUILT - **Hollywood** – First Black composer to win an Oscar for music; within 24 months every studio wanted a soul soundtrack: – Curtis Mayfield *Superfly* (1972) – James Brown *Black Caesar* (1973) – Marvin Gaye *Trouble Man* (1972) Even 007 bowed: *Live and Let Die* (1973) hired Paul McCartney to mimic Hayes’ wah-wah swagger . - **Hip-hop** – “Walk from Regio’s” guitar stab → Beastie Boys “The Sounds of Science”; “No Name Bar” horn riff → countless 90s rap albums; drums re-sampled on 2Pac, Biggie, Wu-Tang records . - **R&B arranging** – The Temptations’ “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” (1972) is unthinkable without Hayes’ precedent of merging orchestral ostinato with funk rhythm-section . **Verdict:** The record is a DNA strand running through 1970s cinema, 1990s rap and 2000s neo-soul. --- ### 6. PROS & CONS (IN HINDSIGHT) **PROS** - Still the gold-standard for soundtrack albums that stand alone without the film . - Invented multiple sonic clichés that *still* sound fresh because the playing is human, not loop-based . - Social commentary baked into party music – a trick modern artists chase endlessly. - Production innovations (wah-wah as lead voice, hi-hat as hook) became decade-defining. **CONS** - Instrumental cues can feel fragmentary if you have zero interest in 1970s cop-movie tropes – some tracks are only 90 seconds long . - Sex-machine braggadocio hasn’t aged perfectly; the lyric can read as retro-macho to modern ears . - The 19-minute “Do Your Thing” jam is either transcendent or self-indulgent depending on your patience for psychedelic vamping . - Because its vocabulary has been so widely sampled, first-time listeners may feel they have “heard it all before” – a victim of its own ubiquity . --- ### 7. BOTTOM LINE *Shaft* is not just a soundtrack; it is a cultural thesis disguised as a funk jam session. Hayes turned a low-budget detective flick into a Trojan horse that carried orchestrated Black pride into mainstream America, rewrote Hollywood’s hiring rules and gave pop music a new rhythmic vocabulary. Fifty-plus years on, the wah-wah still cuts, the strings still sigh, and the brief, razor-sharp lyrics still sketch an indelible portrait of a hero who was “a complicated man, but no one understands him but his woman.”
Cool
Do Your Thing rips so hard, goddamn.
one of the best film scores ever…. but it is a film score so a lot of the album doesnt work as well without it
Класичний запис, тому не здивований, що він тут є. Цікавий соул, дуже приємно слухати. Класичну тему з фільму знаю скоріше в інтерпретації Scrubs)
Theme from Shaft 4 Bumpy's Lament 3.4 Walk from Regio's 3.6 Ellie's Love Theme 3.3 Shaft's Cab Ride 3.4 Café Regio's 3.5 Early Sunday Morning 3.5 Be Yourself 3.6 A Friend's Place 3.5 Soulsville (Vocal Version) 3.6 No Name Bar 3.6 Bumpy's Blues 3.4 Shaft Strikes Again 3.2 Do Your Thing (Vocal Version) 3.4 The End Theme 3.8 Score: 3.52
surprisingly enjoyable for a film soundtrack
i had my hackles up over a movie soundtrack (and one i've never seen, no less) being on this list, but i actually quite enjoyed this.
cool, funky album. i didn't even really mind the 19.5-minute-long track right before the end. i'd come back to this for sure. favorites: theme from shaft, walk from regio's, soulsville, no name bar, the end theme
Super funky
Some of this really slapped, and some felt like elevator music. I really liked what I liked though.
Yes! This is great. I see some people complaining about the songs not working outside of the movie. I just don’t think that’s true. Get some imagination! It was fun for me, trying to imagine what Shaft could possibly be doing in a scene with these songs playing in the background. Funky, tight, excellent. FOUR STARS
hell yeaaah! how can anyone not like this?
Bad movie with a better soundtrack. American Movies and Television depicting urban Blacks in the 70’s was uncomfortably cringey and stereotypically racist. Isaac Hayes played the part, got paid. Hey, if that’s what Honky wants, that’s what Honky gets! Ugh. But the music is pretty damn good!
Стиви Уандер. Лучшая песня - A Friend's Place.
This was a great Sunday soundtrack while making chili. I've never seen Shaft. This makes me want to see Shaft. Sample recognition "Elle's Love Theme"
Great record that touches on all core points of funk. Love the 16 minute jam part
This was fun! How silly the Shaft theme song is. Issac Hayes can do no wrong for me, but I guess four stars because I don’t really desire returning to this. I think that’s my measure of a five: saving the album on Spotify and knowing I’ll want to listen again.
This turned out to be really great music to fold laundry to on a chilly November afternoon! The horns are sexy. Maybe we should watch Shaft?
An okay album, I liked Ellie's Love Theme and No Name Bar the most.
Honestly, smooth as hell
Funky genius
Issac Hayes may have been a nut but he maid some good baby making music
Really nice listening, lots of pleasant instrumentals and danceable songs. 4 stars
The second half is a romp! Not sure why this is on the list but it's a great time
Felt like I was powering around Queens, New York City, in the 70s. Trumpet in my ears, ready to take on the world. Smooth.
Mostly jazz, rather than funk, but it’s good stuff. “Do Your Thing” is outstanding.
It's pretty good. 3.5*
woaaa, weirdly nostalgic, i don't know this guy at all tho, nor the movie. specific vibe, but i like it.
Well Hello there children
Enjoyed this album! Brings to mind elevator music but with an upbeat twist. Not my usual genre of choice - but I'm tempted to look more into psychedelic soul/progressive soul because of it. Enjoyed it so much it felt like a quick listen even though it was over an hour in length. Might revisit later.
Thoroughly enjoyable.... who knew?
Do your thing is so epic
Random thoughts: * This album is awesome! * I was jamming to this one and will be playing again. * This is the exact kind of album that should be on 1001. * Shaft theme is already well known. But I really dug "No Name Bar" and "Do Your Thing" * "Do Your Thing" at 20 minutes!!! Holy smokes that thing really grooves. * And the other instrumentals were quite good too. Nothing bad on here. * This album is a bad mother...(shut your mouth!)
timeless cool 3.5
7/10
Didn't know what i was expecting...this is way more instrumental than I thought it would be. Many of the tracks were chill and enjoyable. I will be revisiting this when cleaning/drawing etc
A soundtrack album has no right to be this good.
For it to come out at the time excellent.
This album/soundtrack fucking rules, although it's kinda funny they didn't actually cast Isaac Hayes as John Shaft.
SHUT YOUR MOUTH! Two Isaac Hayes lps in a row? I would like to thank the generator gods for this generous gift. Some albums you say to yourself "Now, why MUST I listen to this before I die?" (looking at you the Thrills). This, though - THIS - is a must. Brilliant art beginning to end. Satisfying funk, cinematic (because, you know, it is a movie soundtrack), as well as the most "70's" sound you will ever hear. Musically some of the tightest playing I've ever heard and a master class in dynamics. Very expressive. You can visualize the scenes that each song is the soundtrack for.
Enjoyable and a giant throwback
an interesting inclusion to this list because a lot of it is OBVIOUSLY the score of a show. and those songs are kinda cool but also purposefully background music. the other songs were a step up and funky as hellll. still super cool even in parts of it seemed to stall
I know it is a film score, but I never realized how much of this was instrumental. It's been a great soundtrack to my work day so far. Some great funk, soul, even some psychedelic guitar in parts. Definitely worth a listen.
I usually don't like music without vocals that much, but this one had something
A large part of this album was cut off on Spotify. What I got to listen to was sick, tho
This was very good, just nice chill funky music loaded with strings and horns. Added a bunch to my chill music playlist. I had only heard the theme song and I am glad to have gone deeper with this.
Fun and funky!
Some smooth funky soul. Mostly instrumental. The epitome of that 70s funk sound, the kind you would solve crime to. Guess I gotta watch the movie. But arranged amazingly
Some great grooves here.
Really fun and cool soul album. Was surprised how laid back so many of the songs were, since my nominal understanding is that Shaft is an action movie. Overall quality listen, but not something I think I'd come back to
Some solid FUNK from the goat Isaac Hayes. It is dragged down slightly, in my opinion, by very obviously being a movie score, with some of the tunes not hitting as hard outside of their initial context. HOWEVER, that's all made up for by the mammoth 19-and-a-half-minute funk jam Do Your Thing. Tour de force doesn't even begin to cover that tune.
I was originally not open-minded at all because this was literally a movie soundtrack and not a normal album… HOWEVER. It grew on me immensely. What a cool experience.
He’s one bad mother.. great soundtrack like Trouble man.