Shaft

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 soul soundtrack. Liked the few actual songs and wanted more of them.

I have the deepest respect for Isaac Hayes and all the work he did for Stax Records. He is a legend and an amazing musician beyond what the average American knows (few have seen him play bari sax and know how many hits he wrote behind the scenes). I even liked several of the songs on this album, including Soulville, and of course, the legendary Theme from Shaft. But unfortunately, this album held the purpose of being the backdrop of a very famous movie. Once separated from that movie, it plays out flat in my opinion. I will go back to hear a couple of songs, but aside from that I probably won’t return to this album or look for it on vinyl.

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!)

Kind of boring

Funky, well produced. I had to remind myself this was a soundtrack album, it feels like a creative explosion caught on audio.

First (and only?) OST in the list. It's not bad but why is it special? 2,7

Feels kind of strange to have a movie soundtrack on the list but here we are, a double album to boot. It’s mostly an instrumental album used for scoring the movie. The very famous theme is no doubt a highlight but Do Your Thing, one of just three tracks with vocals, was the highlight. This was a fairly easy listen but not an album I would return to save for the odd song.

timeless cool 3.5

I don’t know is there anothe Hayes’ albums here, but if not — it’s just stupid. “Hot Buttered Soul” sounds like an Abbey Road compairing to this OST. And yes, why the fuck “Saturday Night Fever” isn’t here, if you including OSTs? It’s my 400-something album, and it’s the second worst thing on this list (Kid Rock still the worst). Love Isaac, love Shaft theme, love Cheff, fuck scientology, hate this inclusion.

7/10

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

This “album” doesn’t belong on the list but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t strutting around the house, slapping everything I saw

I thoroughly enjoy soundtracks and movie scores, though this is not a film I’ve seen. The intro and overall concept seems a bit goofy, but the music isn’t bad.

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

Maybe I should watch the film. 3.

Mostly instrumental, funk, Issac hayes Theme from shaft Soulsville Do your thing

Pretty funky stuff, to be sure, but beyond the theme song, which is iconic, the his was forgettable, like “funk comes to the mall”.

Classic song but the rest of the album feels a bit like filler. Great background music which guess was the point.

Peasant enough but I can't shake the feeling that it would be better while watching the movie it was made for.

Interesting background vibe music. But this soundtrack doesnt give me enough to really go on about.

Listening to film scores isn't for everyone. The music is purposefully minimal to underscore the action of the movie. Make the music too exciting and it risks distracting from action and/or dialogue of the film, so most of it is just background music, by design. Some are definitely better than others and many films have spaces to fit more iconic songs (usually opening and end credits). All of this is true of the Shaft soundtrack so it's a little surprising to find it on this list. But "Shaft" is more significant than it might seem at first. The idea of a popular artist (as opposed to a composer) scoring a film was almost unheard of. True, "The Graduate" had already managed to fill a movie with Simon and Garfunkel songs a few years before and movies like "Easy Rider" also used existing rock songs instead of a traditional score. But "Shaft" dared to let Isaac Hayes complete an entirely original soundtrack of funk and soul mixed with a full orchestra. Surely the sound of that movie was a large part of its success. The opening theme elevated the main character from suave detective to a larger than life, exciting figure. Despite being a score and mostly instrumental, there are some gems on here. While it doesn't really work as a standalone album, it was groundbreaking for the time, has a few amazing songs, and makes me want to watch the movie. And that's all worth some points.

Wow I was not expecting to be so into this. So to start, I know who and what shift is, but I’ve never seen any of the shaft movies so I wasn’t familiar with the actual music, just familiar with what it was going for. And it nails that sleazy and action packed “blaxploitation” r/b soundtrack. Honestly the biggest complaint is that while the music is perfect and ambient, there’s only two songs with Isaac Hayes’ voice featured on them and that feels like a missed opportunity. I know most of these tracks are strictly background material, but his voice is just so wonderful and smooth that I wanna hear it on every song. But that’s not a real criticism, I just think the album being a soundtrack makes it less strong as an album as opposed to a full studio release. But at the end of the day all there is to ask is: Who’s the cat that won’t cop out when there’s danger all about? SHAFT! Right on.

Pretty cool

definitily skipping this. haven't seen the movie and i guess i'll die before listening to the soundtrack

I think this is the final sign that I need to sit down and watch this movie.

Fabulous opening number. But after that, the album gets less and less interesting.

I like Isaac more as a musician who sings and croons his way through my ears than a guy who makes a movie soundtrack. But can I dig it? Yeah. Those vocal tracks slap, and Do Your Thing is an amazing acid face melter. Rest is good for background listening to make you feel free and funky.

the intro is a great song, a classic, if you will, but the rest of the songs just illustrate the actual movie, which is devoid of meaning when you’re only focusing on the music. in terms of this being on the list, it shouldn’t be. if soundtracks are allowed then there should be many others making it on this list. the music was fine, but it doesn’t need to be on this list

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.

Not my thing.

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.

Might have meant something to someone familiar with Blaxploitation, but not for me.

The album starts off with the song Shaft, one of the greatest R$B and movie songs of all time. The rest of the album does not quite hold up and by the end it started to sound like lounge music.

Started good but got a bit boring

Don’t love as I think there is so much more Issac hayes to enjoy.

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.

Good fun, better than I was expecting.

Very surprised by the quality of this album. Obviously knew the Shaft theme. Never had listened to the rest of the album before.

Some good tracks, but a lot of filler, probably inevitable as a soundtrack tge instrumental tracks probably worl great in the film, but don't work in the context of a standalone album

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).

Only ever heard title track. Pretty fun music to work to.

I've never seen the movie but the music was quite cool! I enjoy instrumental albums a bit less though

I usually don't like music without vocals that much, but this one had something

Very very strange that this album makes the list and Saturday Night Fever does not Fine 3

It's a perfectly fine soundtrack but I feel this is only included on the strength of the theme song 2.5*

Theme song is awesome, but the restvis forgettable

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.

I don't remember the movie, but this soundtrack seems too mellow for it.

Well I’ve had Theme from Shaft in my head all day now, which is actually kinda nice.

Setting the standards for music for years. High quality

2.5 stars. Despite being exceptionally well-crafted and produced, there's very little on this album that I find engaging. It's very mellow, and much of it resembles 1970s elevator music. The title track is obviously a classic, and I really dig "No Name Bar" and "Do Your Thing" (as long as it is) as well. If you like slow grooves with lots of flute, this is your jam.

Decisamente not my style e canzoni troppo lunghe e ripetitive

Some good parts, don’t understand why it’s on the list

Not a huge fan of soundtracks but this one is a vibe.

This was a pretty cool score. I’ve actually never seen the movie, so my entire perception of the album is purely based on the music. Overall, it’s pretty mid tempo, mellow, and smooth, perfect for winding down or even starting your day. It’s basically funk and soul presented in a cinematic way, with most of the tracks being instrumental. The vibe is laid back.

Absolutely hilarious that a soundtrack album is included on this list and it's Shaft of all things. Isaac Hayes knew how to make some funky music and it's on full display here, that being said I'm not a huge fan of soundtrack albums and this one got pretty boring pretty fast, still though, Isaac mutha fuckin Hayes. 3/5

Very fun

This album made me laugh at first because it is a bit cheesy. I got into it though as I listened further and some of the songs really got me groovin'. There were lots of cool instrumental moments, like sweet brass lines and some jazzy flute. 7/10.

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.

A large part of this album was cut off on Spotify. What I got to listen to was sick, tho

Although I gave this a 3, I do wanna say, I really did enjoy this album. But I think I need to rate these albums with the name of this list in mind, ones you must listen to before you DIE. & if I'm being honest, I wouldn't really have that much regret if I was 6 feet under without having heard this soundtrack. I think as far as movie soundtracks go, this ones not even A tier. HOWEVER, Theme from Shaft, & Do your thing, are two stand outs for me, the groove they kept in the first song on the album was giving me some mad stanky face. The other songs were great and funky and soulful as well, but weren't anything mind blowing.

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.

альбом на фон, приятный но не цепляет

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

Surprisingly good! Funky and cool, although it largely blends into itself for me, which is my main detraction. Also verrry long.

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.

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.

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

Pretty solid but not very memorable. Not to pit two greats against each other but it doesn't hold a candle to Superfly, in my opinion.

Like it

He’s one bad mother.. great soundtrack like Trouble man.

kedelig. 2

Really enjoyable, especially the instrumental tracks. It's soulful and makes you want to move around. Great guitars, and the orchestra really adds to the tracks without making the whole thing feel like classical music. I know this was written as a movie soundtrack, but it stands up really well on its own

I'd pick another blaxploitation movie over this one. It's fine!

4/10 - Most of the songs are not even on spotify

70s movie soundtrack so you kinda know what you’re gonna get. Still really good

Fun album, great songs, screams "cool" from the start. That said I don't know how often I'm going back to replay, but wouldn't mind hearing it every now and again.

As iconic as an album can start. But most of the rest is just background scene filler music, no?

I didn’t think soundtracks were even allowed on this list—if they are, then where’s Saturday Night Fever? Honestly, I don’t see why Shaft deserves a place in the 1001 albums to hear before you die. As a soundtrack, the music probably works well within the film, and there are some nice moments—Theme from Shaft, No Name Bar, and Do Your Thing all stand out. But as a standalone album, it feels flat, with too many aimless instrumentals that struggle to hold your attention. For me, it’s a fairly pointless listen outside of its cinematic context. Favourite track: Theme from Shaft is the obvious highlight, with No Name Bar and Do Your Thing also enjoyable. These three songs just about lift the album to a 2/5 instead of a 1/5. Least favourite track: Most of the instrumentals blur into one, making it hard to pick out anything memorable. Album artwork: A standard soundtrack cover—nothing special.

Muy buena la canción del título. Pero lo demás es una banda sonora correcta.

Good, but it's just background music.

3.5

As a movie soundtrack this is fantastic.

Some exceptional soul and funk compositions here. Do Your Thing is a monster of jam, clocking in at just shy of 20 minutes. The iconic theme song sets the mood before the primarily instrumental experience begins to weave a mix of energetic and mellow soundscapes.

Pretty solid jazzy record.

So this music isn’t the worst overall. It’s listenable in short doses. BUT the 19 minute song messed it all up. -1 for annoyingness & length. Mehhhhhhhh

- I enjoyed the melodies of the pieces and how they flowed. I liked the fact it was mostly instrumental because it meant it was quite a calming album to listen to.

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

Soundtrack album, havent had one before! Funk/soul with big band/orchestral arrangements. Best track (not all on spotify) - Cafe Regio, Walk from Regio's, No Name Bar 3 stars

He truly was the black private dick that's a sex machine for all the chicks. Right on!

Long-Winded "Be Yourself", "No Name Bar", "Do Your Thing" and "The End Theme" are great. As for the rest, I guess im to european for this but appreciate the artistry. 2/10

slaps

Flash back to years ago. Loved it and the memories

No soundtracks means no soundtracks. The album was inoffensive but utterly unremarkable... why is it here?

3.0 / 5.0

Not mad about this.

If your movie soundtrack works for someone who has never seen the movie it’s perfect.

Banda sonora de una película, ritmos funk y de RnB. Entretenido.

Not sure this deserves to be in the list.

This was a pretty cool score. I’ve actually never seen the movie, so my entire perception of the album is purely based on the music. Overall, it’s pretty mid tempo, mellow, and smooth, perfect for winding down or even starting your day. It’s basically funk and soul presented in a cinematic way, with most of the tracks being instrumental. The vibe is laid back.

What do we got here some soul?! or disco? this first tracks intro is awesome!! Sounds like something Quentin Tarantino would have in a movie. Well we only get 6 of these tracks. Butt apparently it was used for the movie Shaft? Mainly instrumental. "The mob wanted Harlem back. They got Shaft up to here" is the movie tagline lmao. Man what a voice! I feel like I've heard this voice before. The brass in here is cool too! This just went from a 3 to 4 stars.

It’s just ok

Iva always loved Isaac Hayes and of course the theme from this movie. But listening to this entire soundtrack I was surprised and the musical diversity. Had a lot of fun listening.

7.5/10 This is composed and produced by prime-era Hayes, so of course it’s good. Being mostly instrumental drags it down a bit, and it is not all mega. I was heading for a 3 here. Then Do Your Thing comes on. 20 minutes - over 25% of the album - of some of the best stuff I’ve heard from Hayes. This alone adds a whole star on. Best: Do Your Thing

Solid album worthy of adding to the digital collection

Like, intellectually I know that a soundtrack has to be mostly instrumental by definition but still seems insane to hire a voice like Issac Hayes to only sing three songs on a double album

The cultural cache and the obvious quality of the arranging and playing lift this, but i didn't get into it as an album. The opener is famous, but this is albums to hear before you die not songs.

Only really enjoyed the theme song. The rest were not likeable

So many different moods

Very cool

elevator music type shit. makes me cry in agony

Definitely a mixed bag. The title track is awesone, and deserves it's plaudits. The rest - OK, but filler. (Also, a lot of the album has been removed from Spotify.)

While the music isn't that bad, it just goes on for too long and the song "Do Your Thing" overstays its welcome. Overall I'll give this a high 2/5.

4.7

Great album. Instrumentals? Not a problem. Vocals cool.

For the most part this really felt like a movie soundtrack. As in, it is meant to be background to the action happening on screen. Most of this is not that interesting. There’s a couple tracks that work on their own but for the most part it was boring and repetitive. Do you thing was cool.

Actually this was half-decent. I enjoyed Hayes' soul. It's not something I'd listen to every day, but for a first spin, I thought it did pretty well.

probably a much weirder and more unweildy album listening experience than the likes of superfly but still great individual parts. if it succeeds in communicating the vision of anything its a looser, more improvisational approach to film scoring as opposed to constant attentive control...lots of songs are jams on a theme, with one particularly long one near the end that im v curious about as to if and when it appears in the movie. and the themes themselves are great too ofc...apart from the jams theres also a tiny selection of great vocal cuts and a variety of smaller sketch tracks that are as precise and tight as anything. kind of a weird entry but hard to deny the greatness of this type of music executed on this level, no matter the somewhat strange context or presentation

Rating: 6/10 I enjoyed it since it's funky, but will not return to this.

Who mastered the first song? The rest, an OST with nothing stellar in it.

Surprisingly solid.

Chill

Smooth and groovy, but also very long.

So many amazing tracks on this album. Loved every bit of it.

Weird album, kinda liked it, kinda didn't

I don’t know what all there is to be said about a movie soundtrack. Of course Shaft has become more than that, a shorthand for cool or an ironic, satirical nod to bravado. Really love Black Moses.

Good - bit dated with language.

Trilha sonora. Até que legal, mas nada a ver estar na lista.Soundtrack. Pretty cool, but it has no place on the list.

This is unfortunate because I love Isaac Hayes but it's a soundtrack! It just doesn't hold up as an album like Hot Buttered Soul. Really uninspired pick for the list in my opinion.

In this age of AI generated nonsense I cannot think of a better album to throw on in the background of literally anything. SHAFT!

This was enjoyable though a bit too long. Found the full album on Youtube.

Not my cup of tea but I understand the importance of this artist.

I liked the groove it was missing vocals on the songs I didn't save because it's a movie soundtrack.

So good. Parts of this weirdly reminded me of Paddy McAloon’s I Trawl the Megahertz, and I wonder if this had any influence on that….

Was kinda surprised by some of the more soft rock jams. Felt like yacht rock at times

Isaac Hayes has an album called Hot Buttered Soul that is basically one of my 10 fav albums of all time.. it rocks my socks off. Shaft also rocks my socks, but they remained on... 4 stars

Ein Cooles Lied. Der Rest plätschert so dahin.

Hyvä albumi, ei sen enempää

It's fine but it's a soundtrack. Without the movie it just doesn't make sense. 2.13

Good, but not his best.

Ei saatavilla kaikkia kappaleita

Man, this is a groove.

Ég þekki auðvitað aðalstefið í bíómyndinni sem kom manni í gírinn. Svo kom eiginlega bara allskonar bíómyndabakgrunnstónlist að frátöldu einu 20 mínútna lagi sem var full langt fyrir minn smekk þótt tónlistin sé góð. Fengi 3.5 en set í 3 stjörnur því ég veit ekki hvenær ég myndi hlusta á þetta aftur.

Really liked it.

good but soooo long, so it goes from 4 to 3 stars

This inclusion makes no sense to me. It feels like background music at best, elevator music at worst. While it probably goes well with the visuals of a 70s film, it offers little for the listener. With so many great albums left off the list, I am astonished this made the cut. That said, it wasn’t unlistenable.

I get that this was a popular movie at the time but I don’t see the appeal of this album. Reminded me of an elevator.

Pretty good, and fun to have on in the background. It was great having seen the movie in theaters a couple years ago.

Good

Exactly as I expected listening to a TV series soundtrack would sound like. Background elevator music.

This was fine, but I wanted a bit more from it. The linked album in Spotify doesn't have the full track listings available, but you can find it here https://open.spotify.com/album/5HAXYSqdNjjbvoFrXwtrBw?si=tEeyeA62TXyFgPLDMiL3dg Ok as background music but not really that much to get excited about.

6/10 This soundtrack definitely has some grooves, and would be nice to come back for some classy jazz. I’m not too high on this album as some others are. Not much going on for me.

What did I stroke while listening to this bloke? SHAFT! Damn straight

Initially thought Dimery was about to have even more blood on his wrinkled, god-forsaken hands for suggest a 70s movie soundtrack with a 19-minute penultimate track written and performed by a known scientologist. But, as it happens, this is pretty damn good. Didn’t make me want to actually WATCH Shaft, but certainly rekindled a yearning for the days of soundtracks before Trent Reznor and Hans Zimmer fucking ruined them seemingly permanently (no shade on Reznor’s actual music. Full shade on Zimmer though, fuck that old skunk). Also, how incredibly cheeky to release a deluxe edition of this album and the only change is to put the opening song in there again but at the end. Like not even a reprise just basically the same fucking track again. Jokes. Theme from Shaft (8/10) Bumpy’s Lament (8/10) Walk from Regio’s (6/10) Ellie’s Love Theme (8/10) Shaft’s Cab Ride (7/10) Cafe Regio’s (7/10) Early Sunday Morning (7/10) Be Yourself (6/10) A Friend’s Place (7/10) Soulsville (8/10) No Name Bar (7/10) Bumpy’s Blues (7/10) Shaft Strikes Again (6/10) Do Your Thing (4/10) The End Theme (7/10) 6.9/10

Not feeling it this day, but probably would have rated it higher another time

Still ultra cool

Really good, but the mix was rough. I had to adjust the balance myself, which I never do.

Listened to this album several times, and own it in vinyl, still haven’t watched the movie.

Missing the movie.

I mean, it’s soundtrack background music mostly. It’s good, it’s got some funk, it’s smooth and calming at some points. Over an hour of it is more than I need. Feeling pretty conflicted on what to rate this. I get that it’s pretty unique, but I can’t imagine when I’m going to want to sit and listen to it again.

Cold af, just sounds good. Cafe regios might be the best on the album.

Very nice start with great instrumentals giving a very smooth but elegant instrumental sound. Did not enjoy the vocals on the first song. Song 4 very smooth with nice simple guitar riff song 6 chill but sounds like something in a roblox tycoon by song 6 everything is merging into 1 song but this is probably on purpose due to it being a film soundtrack song 8 actually sounding different again more funky less jazzy Soulsville best song so far, much better vocals and choir than in intro song. Beautiful soul song, the lyrics explain the struggles of being a poor black person in the early 70s. Great instrumental with hard hitting saxophone. Album starting to drag a bit should have been shorter also sorry I am not listening to a 17 minute song no matter how good it is Overall pretty decent 6-7 out of 10 as it was good but did not blow me away but added context with the film may improve the rating for some

It's a good background-music sort of album, given that a good portion of it is instrumental. I recognized the first track (Theme from Shaft) but not the rest.

Surprised by how much of this felt like conventional (for the time) background instrumentals. The songs where Hayes sings are great, but this falls short of his efforts on Hot Buttered Soul.

While a pleasant listen, it's largely an instrumental score (but for the theme song & Soulsville, which are admittedly amazing.) And like a lot of purely instrumental music, I struggle to connect with it as anything other than neutral background music.

Good fun - really enjoyed "Do Your Thing".

Some funky songs and fun! But nothing v standout

Mostly instrumental

70’s funk, more instrumental than expected

Used to have this on vinyl

I am a fan of Isaac Hayes, he was truly an amazing artist. Although I’m not a fan of his work with the Super Adventure Club. I feel that Black Moses should have been on this list included over this album. The Theme of Shaft is certainly an all time song, but fourteen more tracks of soundtrack music hardly make this a must listen.

Day510 - iconic opening and then an average instrumental album after

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)

this made my evening walk even more vibey 3,5/5

Meh ….

One of the better instrumental albums I’ve gotten from this list. Fits the movie really well, very 70s gangster with a smooth soul touch

4/5

It's funny to get this one today, I just had Superfly a couple days ago. But still, it's a soundtrack. The cultural relevance of this one definitely earns it a spot in this list. I mean if Isaac Hayes had released this as just a regular album and not specifically for a movie soundtrack, would people be upset it was included in this list? I don't think so. Regardless, Theme From Shaft is a fantastic piece of music and one that almost anyone (over 30 years old maybe...) would recognize even if they haven't seen the movie, which most at this point probably haven't. That said, I don't think this is as good an album as Hot Buttered Soul, the other Hayes album from this list. A lot of this one is almost like generic elevator music or something you'd hear playing in the airport waiting areas. But that's the nature of it being a soundtrack I guess - support what's happening on screen without taking attention away. So in that sense it’s quite successful. But this one is still just a 3/5 from me.

Is this the second blaxpoitation soundtrack we’ve had? Oh well. The opener is pretty great. Very instrumental. Solid throughout.

There is some very good funk/soul here. Production and sound quality are great, especially for a record made in 1971, but this definitely feels like a movie score rather than an album meant to be listened to.

This was fun, though I should probably see the movie to have an actual understanding of whether it worked. I expected more vocals!

Sounds like a 70s soundtrack for sure. Considering it was 1971, I would credit Hayes as being the progenitor of this sound. Theme from Shaft actually doesn’t fit the rest of the album in my opinion. It feels funkier than most of the other tracks with the exception of Do Your Thing. Still enjoyable but I expected a few more upbeat tracks and less silky instrumentals.

This is a movie soundtrack. Most of these tracks are background for movies, which makes this basically an ambient album but funky. Some good stuff here and the title track is great, but I cannot stress this enough: this is the score of the movie. Culturally significant and enjoyable listen, sure, but it's just ambient funk with a few songs. The title theme isn't enough to lift it above that.

I really liked this album. I might just be a sucker for instrumentals, or sample hunting or I don't know. Very good songs all through this one, and some threads to a lot of hip hop and a really nice classy porno vibe to the whole thing. 4.0

4/10 It's a soundtrack. It sounds like a soundtrack. It has one song and then lots of sound tracks. They sound ok in places, but rarely hint a cohesive album in the way I think this list understands it to be.

Great title track which will always remind me of a friend at university who introduced me to it. The rest of the album was a little bland as you’d expect for background music.

The Theme from Shaft is obviously a classic and a masterpiece. This whole album is just incredibly excellent psychedelic and progressive soul. Really enjoyed listening to this record this morning.

I have never watched this movie, but the soundtrack is ok. I kinda don't understand why this is on here.

Superfly Score > Shaft Score. Do Your Thing 🔥

Great album.

3.5/5

Opening and ending are iconic and epic, but the middle feels like a on-hold music slog at times. 3.2

Unique black voice from the 70’s.

4.2 - Yeah this was fun and actually pretty sick

The title theme is so good. This is all pretty splendid tbh. I guess I was only vaguely familiar with Isaac Hayes, but having now had 2 albums in a short span I'm seeing I've really been missing out. It's a bit long, but can't really knock it much apart from that. Fave Tracks: Theme from Shaft, Cafe Regio's, Early Sunday Morning 4.2/5

First, the album is good. I like soul music, and Isaac Hayes is very influential. However, this is a movie soundtrack. It is not bad, but it is not a regular soul album. I tried to exercise while listening to the songs, but it didn't do anything for me. This is better to listen to at leisure. 3/5.

This isn't my jam, but I appreciate it. It's dynamic, well-made and interesting. 2/5 stars.

Funky, groovy album. Though there were some lulls throughout only because I think it’s missing the visual element of the movie itself, but when it hits, it hits. I think I enjoyed listening to the Super Fly soundtrack more, but I found this entertaining.

Funk funk funk funk, sounded a bit like the bbc snooker theme (positive)

Film scores can be a bit weird, as no context. But this is great with a 70s vibe.

So funky and smooth! However you can feel these compositions are meant to be in a film.

Look, I get that Shaft is iconic as a movie — but having the soundtrack show up on an all-time albums list feels like a stretch. Aside from the theme song (which is admittedly catchy in a kitschy way), the rest plays out like background music you'd hear in an elevator that thinks it’s cooler than it is. It’s fine if you’re throwing a 70s-themed party, but for everyday listening? Hard pass.

groovy!

A classic and still holds up

Soft too

This was a pretty solid 3 for me. The 'theme' is pretty iconic and I'm sure it was groundbreaking at the time. In the intervening years this 'format' has been watered down a bit, though this OG release is still pretty solid. Not exactly my cup of tea all the way through but interesting and fun, well-recorded, good players and singers etc.

Title track 9/10 rest. 5/10

6/10

Not sure why this is on a list like this. Some ok songs but idk.

Great sound.

The thing about soundtrack albums is that they sound like soundtrack albums. "Shaft" is no exception in this regard, as its music aims to serves cinematic moments from the film. However, the 'Theme from Shaft' has evolved beyond the film itself, emerging as an anthem that surpasses the movie's popularity. Aside from 'Soulville,' a slow ballad, and the nearly 20-minute track 'Do Your Thing,' the remainder of the album consists of instrumental pieces that vary from jazzy to funky to soulful. The musicianship displayed on the album is both tight and exceptional. However, despite its sonic diversity and standout moments, the album lacks radio appeal and engagement. I appreciated discovering the album as a whole, especially considering the context as a defining sound of the 1970s blaxploitation film era. (I would have rated this as a 2, if not for the cultural significance and masterpiece of "The Theme From Shaft".)

extremely fabulous.

✨️shaft✨️

This is for the consolidated version and not the deluxe, although I would love to enjoy the entirety of the deluxe one day. This music immediately sparks the ‘Stank face’ and gets the body grooving. Such wonderful mixes of bass, horns, and a stellar drum ensemble. The funk flows through immediately, and the keys fill in the cracks. Exceptional melodies create a feeling of power and joy. Excellent music for backtracking a dinner party.

More long-winded '70s soul/funk. Not for me.

Track 1 : mmmm, inject this funk directly into my veins Other tracks : oh, OK, this doesn't really work as a standalone does it

Really enjoyed it!!

I really have no idea why this is on the list. Soundtracks are an odd choice, and if you’ve got this one why not Saturday Night Fever or Who Made Who as well? Massively over long and a bit shit does not make me love this.

"...And we can dig it!"

Groovy and sweeping. A great soundtrack but doesn’t rise to the level of an album I’d revisit often.

One of the most 70s sounding pieces of music I've ever heard, and we love it for that. 3.5/5

amazing chill

...

Acho que ouvi esse disco nas condições perfeitas. Tinha acabado de chegar em casa, cansado depois de um dia de trabalho de 10 horas. Dei play no album, tirei o tênis, me servi um copo de uisque, e deitei no sofá ouvindo e olhando pro teto. Os grooves entraram por cada poro do meu corpo, e me infectaram completamente. Antes de terminar o lado 1 do disco eu ja estava flutuando. O album é duplo e tem mais de 1 hora, mas ele faz o tempo passar em instantes. Sonoridade extremamente agradável. Um disco soul que rejuvenesce o espirito e acalma a alma 3.5/5

Good instrumentals

Had a review typed out but forgot to submit... From my memory, I thought it was odd having a movie soundtrack included as an "album" but can you really go wrong with the combo of Chef and Shaft? Hell no. Really fun, funky, and soulful collection here. I found myself enjoying the instrumental stuff quite a bit. There's just something about the classic sound of the funky guitar in this theme song that puts a smile on my face. Solid 4.

I don't have a lot of words for this one, but damn it was tasty. Mostly instrumental with compositions the soulful/funk spectrum with plenty of external influences peppered in. Bumpy's Lament is a familiar sounding melody -- certain I've heard it elsewhere interpreted. Love the guitar tone on Cafe Regio's. Soulsville is a good reminder of how quality Hayes' vocals are. No Name Bar absolutely fucks; the saxophone through the back section can have its way with me any time. This is one of those albums that just gets better as it goes... Absolutely loving the distinctly psychedelic guitar on Bumpy's Blues balanced by the jazzy saxophone. Do Your Thing is also entirely delightful and expansive. Going into this I did not look at the playtime -- now 7 minutes in I see that this is an absolute side-consuming jam session. And what a fat and wonderful groove it is. Love whatever the effect it is that the guitar is being fed through during the beginning. Guitar throughout is fantastic, but the drumming through the 11 minute mark is wonderful. Not that I'm complaining, but no soundtrack has any right being this good. Enjoyed this start to finish and as I said above, it only got better as it played out. This is a very high 4 for me.

Grooooovy. Loved every second of this. High 4.

I know we had an Isaac Hayes album before, but this one just straight up sounded like Chef way more than the last. These sounded like songs straight from South Park, but all incredibly good. I really liked the mixture of all instrumental tracks with some with singing. Do Your Thing was a pretty incredibly good song. SHAFT!

There were some songs in the middle that took me out of it for a bit, but ended super strong and overall a really pleasant soul album. Will always love Chef's Chocolate Salty Balls.

A masterpiece! Combines funk with the symphony to define a whole sound of the 70s. Will want to relisten because of airplane background noise. A four, for sure.

The late 60's sonically epitomized and performed masterfully. What a wonderful and moving romp.

I struggle with albums that are soundtracks because much like Superfly, these are enjoy both within and without the movie or series they're attached to, but also unlike Superfly I never really see this soundtrack necessarily overshadowing the movie its originally from (I mean I really haven't seen anyone talk about this so...). So, hearing this soundtrack without the original images it accompanied the movie is fine but probably makes me less familiar with some of the themes and how they were accentuating the movie or how the mellower tracks were a part of the vibe of the movie. It's a lot of things that if I had watched it I probably would appreciate the soundtrack more, but when I'm sitting in my room just listening to it doing menial tasks it doesn't feel like it carries the same impact. The vibes are immaculate though, the softer songs are very pretty and the more funk/psych soul jams are probably my favorite parts from this so I do want to check more things Isaac Hayes made in his own albums.

Damn right! One of the best albums ever.

The music is great, but without the context of the film it doesn’t really work for me 3/5

Best in its instrumental, jazzier moments but much better than I would have expected!

It was fine, but listening once was enough

The title track is an all time classic, the rest is some pretty decent background music

I listened to the Deluxe version to get all the songs and because everyone recommends it and....Meh. This was a fun jazz album by "Chef" (I can't believe this is the same guy who voices that South Park character) but this album just sounds like hotel lobby/elevator music. Most of the songs never go anywhere or develop. There are fun songs and good ideas here, just too long and boring at times. Maybe this would be better if I saw the movie. Liked Songs: "Cafe Regio" , "Ellie's Love Theme" , "Shaft's Cab Ride" , "Early Sunday Morning" , "Soulsville" , "No Name Bar"

This was fine for a soundtrack. I do like the overall sound, but it didn't particularly do anything groundbreaking in a musical sense. Maybe watching the movie would make me appreciate it more. 2.5

The main theme song is iconic, but the rest is not required.

I'm not gonna say I disliked this album, because it would be a lie. I juste didn't think it was nearly as good as many other albums on here. I don't think it is one of the best soundtracks ever, which to me makes its position in the list really questionnable. Still, it was an easy listen, just not a fantastic one.

This was fun for a soundtrack. I didn’t mind that there weren’t many “songs” on it.

Smooth and groovin'

Enjoyed the funk sound!

This album surprised me. Twice. Of course the title track is classic and stands out. No surprise there. But I was surprised how that leads into a series of relaxed, bluesy instrumentals, many of which have string arrangements and some with a pretty romantic feel. Walk from Regio's with its heavy bass groove and aggressive horn section does change the mood somewhat. The next 7 or 8 songs are pretty standard soulful songs pretty typical of 70s soul music. But then a bomb goes off in the form of Do Your Thing; a nearly 20 minute amazingly funky explosion of groove that takes hold and won't let go. The guitar is absolutely incendiary and the playing and production is first rate. What a song! There's plenty here to enjoy but not really enough to justify a double album, a single album might have been a 5 star but as a double I gotta knock off a star. 4 stars

I mean, he's no Black Dynamite...

Chad bald music

Nothing special about this, not at least in 2024. Also, I didn't see the movie so I don't even consider this fun, as other reviewers pointed out.

I haven't bothered to check if there are any other soundtracks on this list and nor can I really remember as we approach the end but I do love a good soundtrack and Theme from Shaft is a fantastic opener that really sets the scene. Everything else is quite cool and I'm sure it would have more effect if I had recently watched the movie. Other fave: Be Yourself

Pretty cool stuff, alright, but I just recently had Curtis Mayfield's "Superfly" soundtrack on here, and Curtis wins that particular contest! Although to be fair, this sounds more like an actual soundtrack, with a bunch of tracks covering different moods for different scenes, whereas "Superfly" just sounds like a badass soul album. Fave tracks - "Theme from Shaft" is obviously one of the stars. I like the bleepiness of "Walk from Regio's" and the storytelling of "Soulsville". "No Name Bar" and "Do Your Thing" are pretty groovy.

This is a fun, punchy album, always with a driving beat and interesting instrumentals.

Groovy start. Expositional intro music. Easy listening. ...Feels kinda like an Austin Powers movie, except they're not being satirical about it. 3,5/5

Un peu bizarre à noter, puisque c'est la soundtrack d'un flim que j'ai pas vu, mais l'énergie soul d'Isaac me transmet quand même une bonne vibe groovy

Tolerable but barely so.

It’s great and perfect and funky.

What is this even doing on the list? Yes, the Theme from Shaft is an undeniable funk classic with its iconic wah-wah guitar and slinky groove, but beyond that, this soundtrack feels more like an exercise in background music than an essential album. The bulk of Shaft is made up of long, meandering instrumentals that, while slickly arranged, don’t really stand on their own outside of the film. Tracks like Cafe Regio’s and Ellie’s Love Theme are pleasant but unmemorable, often drifting into repetitive jam territory without ever really going anywhere. The few vocal moments—when Hayes finally steps up to the mic—are strong, but they’re so sparse that they feel like an afterthought. As a film score, it does its job, setting the mood with smooth orchestrations and deep bass grooves, but as a standalone album, it’s a slog. The tracks blur together, rarely offering anything as dynamic or engaging as the famous theme song. There’s no doubt that Hayes was a gifted arranger and a key figure in soul and funk, but Shaft feels more like an overlong movie cue than an album worth revisiting. If this weren’t attached to an iconic film, no one would be talking about it.

It was a small town. Houses were close together and rusty. Bears were after us. That memory is starting to fade. Two things stick with me. Maybe 3. It was an eventful night. First there was myself and others being taken by a cult. It was led my a faceless man and his followers were all women. None of them wore clothes and they all had long hair with frizzy tight curls. They dropped me in a lake with intentions of killing me but I made it out and home. Now I don't know if it was the same man but I was being hunted by a Michael Myers type serial killer without the get up. He made his way into the house and I hid under the bed. I was still caught and taken to someplace but I made an escape. I ended up in a boys girls house. The girls were all pretty and the boys were from my past. I spent a lot of time with the girls but in that quiet boy I don't want anything from you but I want you to be interested way. It was hard to tell. A lot happened but the memory is fading. The last thing to happen is we all were sent out and we found a truck full of weed. I ran off with a sample as another truck came down the road for the truck full of weed. That's the last thing to happen.

The title track is classic, and I think the record is well worthy for an inclusion on the 1001 because of how early of a soundtrack record it was for a major major hit. Conversely, the rest of the album is sort of filler to me, I'd much rather listen to P-Funk from this era.

Who's the black private dick that's a sex machine to all the chicks? Anyone who gives this less than 3 stars knows their chick would rather be eating chocolate salty balls than their limp bizkit. Laid back funk and groove for days on this album. You're damn right this is 5 stars.

No suena mal, pero me ha resultado aburrido excepto el tema principal que es un clásico de esta época, lo he guardado. Entiendo que hay que escucharlo alguna vez en la vida.

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.

I really wanted to prove the haters wrong, but the haters were right: without the movie this is missing so much.

It's a fun listen. Didn't mind it as background music driving around all day. Cheesy without going overboard. But there's a ceiling to instrumental soundtracks.

Enjoyed some of the instrumental funk. Would prefer a full album of songs

3.5

i am really struggling to get through this. it doesn’t hold up on its own without being in the movie, that i haven’t seen btw. but i am just very bored, and it just feels.. bland. it doesn’t sound bad, it’s just.. bland and boring. it’s prob great in the actual movie.

A bit loungy.

According to the wiki page, this was released as a double album, however the app has it as a single album with only six tracks. So I listened to the six tracks on the app. For me the first few tracks were great but by the end it got less interesting.

This was also pleasant, although very hard to track down all the songs of online. I like the instrumentals better than the singing ones, but both are mildly enjoyable. I already know 'Theme from Shaft' because it's on some compilation CD (of movie/TV themes), so I particularly like that one, but whether it's due to familiarity or inherent bangerness, I cannot say.

I feel too white to listen to this but I also don't care. Cause this makes me feel like a baaaaad son of a something.

Good soundtrack

Favorite Track: Ellie's Love Theme

2 seconds and I already love this. This album is amazing oh my god, jazzy, funky, and a bit experimental. you bet I'd fell in love. Every part of the musical body is well fufilled, there's always something to keep the music going. the narrative and singing voice is amazing too. Beautiful. Can't tell it's a 1971 album, age so well! 5/5.

4/5

Perfectly cheesy in every mother _______ (Shut your mouth) way!

Pretty good soul

Audible porno Ellie’s Love Theme is 5/5

Soundtracks aren't really my thing but this did have a cool 70s feel

It's alright for a soundtrack, but I don't think they should have broken the "No Soundtracks" rule for this. There are much better soundtracks out there that are more historically significant to music than this one. It's not bad music, I just don't think it belongs on the list. That being said....

good sound, forgot about some of these

The issue with soundtracks is they include incidental music, which is fine in the context of the movie but less so on record. Fifty years on, it has a nice retro feel and it's a perfectly pleasant soundtrack but lacks that something to elevate it any more than this.

The main theme is iconic but the rest is a bit so so

Some enjoyable smooth jeopardy, but on the whole the ratio of funk to lift tilts too far towards lift!

Simultaneously awesome and cheesy which is quite an achievement. Sadly mostly the latter, never lives up to the awesome promise of the opening track

Smooth funk. The title track is amazing, and the rest is some good blaxploitation-era fun. Being a film soundtrack a lot of it is quieter music and not as upbeat as I would like, but also that may just be Isaav Hayes for you. Needs more chocolate salty balls!

Theme from Shaft is so iconic, but I don't think that alone is worthy of including the entire soundtrack on the 1001 list. I'm sure it's included on the 1001 Songs list.

I've listened to a third of this about three times and I just can't listen to more at any one time. There's no way I've listened to this whole album and this is the first time I'm not finishing one. I just can't.

Is kind of refreshing to have a mostly instrumental album, and they are great, a wide range of emotions, and great instrumentation. Favourite songs: theme from shaft, bumpy’s lament, Ellie’s love theme Café Regio’s, early Sunday morning, a friend’s place, no name bar, shaft strikes again Overall around 8:10

Don't think I like it as much as Hot Buttered Soul but tough to compare since this is a soundtrack. I liked it more than I thought I would Rating: 3.6