Black Moses (album)

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Black Moses
Black Moses cover
Studio album by Isaac Hayes
Released November 1971
Recorded March 1971–October 1971
Genre Soul
Length 93:38
Label Enterprise
ENS-2-5003
Producer Isaac Hayes
Professional reviews
Isaac Hayes chronology
Shaft
(1971)		 Black Moses
(1971)		 Joy
(1973)
Full unfolded cover
The LP's cover unfolds to create a poster-sized image of Hayes as "Black Moses"
The LP's cover unfolds to create a poster-sized image of Hayes as "Black Moses"

Black Moses is a double album by Isaac Hayes, released on Stax Records' Enterprise label in 1971. The follow-up to Hayes' successful soundtrack for Shaft (also a double album), Black Moses features Hayes' version of The Jackson 5's hit single "Never Can Say Goodbye". Hayes' version became a hit in its own right, peaking at number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Contents

[edit] Background

In addition to "Never Can Say Goodbye", other selections on Black Moses include covers of songs by artists The Carpenters ("(They Long to Be) Close to You", Toussaint McCall ("Nothing Takes The Place Of You"), The Friends of Distinction ("Going in Circles"), and Little Johnny Taylor ("Part Time Love"). Hayes names Black Moses as one of his most personal works. [1]

The album's title derives from Stax executive Dino Woodward's nickname for Hayes, which he bestowed upon the musician after comparing the effects of his music on black audiences to the leadership of the biblical figure Moses. [1] The then deeply Christian Hayes shied away from the nickname, finding it "sacrilegious", [2] although journalist Chester Higgins popularized the "Black Moses" nickname in an article he wrote on Hayes for Jet. Hayes came to see "Black Moses" as a symbol of black pride:

"Black men could finally stand up and be men because here's Black Moses; he's the epitome of black masculinity. Chains that once represented bondage and slavery now can be a sign of power and strength and sexuality and virility" [1]

Larry Shaw, head of marketing and publicity at Stax, came up with the idea to name Hayes' LP Black Moses. [1] He also devised, with the assistance of Bar-Kays member Ron Gordon, a gatefold album cover design which unfolded into a poster-sized image of Hayes, dressed in biblical-inspired attire as "Black Moses". [1]

[edit] Track listing

[edit] Side one

  1. "Never Can Say Goodbye" (Clifton Davis) - 5:07
  2. "(They Long to Be) Close to You" (Burt Bacharach, Hal David) - 8:58
  3. "Nothing Takes The Place Of You" (Toussaint McCall, Alan Robinson) - 5:29
  4. "Man's Temptation" (Curtis Mayfield) - 4:59

[edit] Side two

  1. "Part Time Love" (Clay Hammond) - 8:30
  2. Medley: "Ike's Rap IV" / "A Brand New Me" (Isaac Hayes, Kenneth Gamble, Thom Bell, Jerry Butler) -9:40
  3. "Going in Circles" (Jerry Peters, Anita Poree) - 7:02

[edit] Side three

  1. "Never Gonna Give You Up" (Gamble, Leon Huff], Butler) - 5:47
  2. Medley: "Ike's Rap II" / "Help Me Love" (Hayes, Johnny Baylor, Mickey Gregory, Luther Ingram, Tommy Tate) - 7:31
  3. "Need to Belong to Someone" (Mayfield) - 5:15
  4. "Good Love 6-9969" (Gregory, Hayes) - 5:15

[edit] Side four

  1. Medley: "Ike's Rap III" / "Your Love is So Doggone Good" (Hayes, Difosco Ervin, Rudy Love) - 9:15
  2. "For The Good Times" (Kris Kristofferson) - 5:20
  3. "I'll Never Fall In Love Again" (Burt Bacharach, Hal David) - 5:02

[edit] Credits

  • Isaac Hayes - lead and background vocals
  • "Hot", "Buttered", and "Soul": backing vocals
  • The Bar-Kays, instrumentation: "(They Long to Be) Close to You" and "Going in Circles"
  • Instrumentation on all other tracks by The Isaac Hayes Movement:
    • Piano, Vibraphone, Organ, Electric Piano - Isaac Hayes
    • Bass - Ronald Hudson
    • Bongos, Congas - Gary Jones
    • Drums, Tambourine - Willie Hall
    • Electric Piano - Lester Snell
    • Guitar - Charles "Skip" Pitts
    • Piano - Sidney Kirk
  • Arranged by Isaac Hayes & Johnny Allen, except "(They Long To Be) Close To You" by Isaac Hayes & Dale Warren
  • Engineers: Ron Capone, William Brown, Henry Bush, Eddie Marion, Dave Purple
  • Remix engineers: Ron Capone, Dave Purple and Isaac Hayes

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e Bowman (1997), p.237–240
  2. ^ Morgan Neville, Robert Gordon, and Mark Crosby [directors, writers, producers]. (2007). Great Performances - Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story [TV documentary]. New York City: Tremolo Productions, Concord Music Group, Thirteen/WNET New York.

[edit] References