Joy (Remaster) Isaac Hayes

• 1 Joy 15:58
• 2 I Love You That's All 06:15
• 3 A Man Will Be A Man 07:23
• 4 The Feeling Keeps On Coming 06:52
• 5 I'm Gonna Make It (Without You) 11:13
• Total Runtime 47:41

Info for Joy (Remaster)

Released in the fall of 1973, Joy is the most erotic of all Isaac Hayes albums. It was also his first non-soundtrack album to be made up entirely of original compositions. The title track, which runs nearly 16 minutes, is a mesmerizing masterpiece of strings and horns swirling and Hayes rapping seductively over a funky vamp--a style pioneered by Hayes that had a huge impact of the similarly symphonic soul sounds of Barry White. An edited version of the song rose to No. 7 on Billboard's r&b chart, while the album itself peaked at No. 16 on the magazine's list of best-selling pop LPs.

Recorded the same year as Live At The Sahara Tahoe 1973, Joy came out at the height of Isaac Hayes '70s fame. The same year he appeared in the film Wattstax '73 and the following year in the grimmest, most violent of the so-called blaxploitation movies Truck Turner. His distinctive shaven head, dark glasses, cape, tights, chains, back to Africa accoutrements and use of large orchestra (at a time when lush sounds were definitely out) gave everything Hayes touched his own unique trademark.

„With seven massive number one records trailing in his wake, Isaac Hayes donned his stylin', funky gold-chain link vest once again and capped 1973 with Joy, a set which might have proven the lucky-streak breaker -- it missed the top spot by one place -- but still waded into gold-record waters with ease. "Joy" itself, of course, was the album's crowning glory, a gargantuan 15-minute piece which essentially devoured side one of the album (the accompanying "I Love You That's All" is merely an afterthought). Heady, smoky, ubiquitous -- an instrumental and vocal foray into the land of good grooves -- it was sexy and sassy, with strings and innuendo stripped bare and smoothly built to lead anyone within earshot toward a classic climax. The song continued to impact via sampled revitalization from as far afield as TLC, Massive Attack, Eric B. & Rakim, and Big Daddy Kane. But don't forget that Joy is an entire album, with Hayes continuing his silky vocal assault across a further three slow, simmering songs. The best, and perhaps most interesting, is the closing "I'm Gonna Make It (Without You)." Markedly un-steamy, the song finds Hayes trading in his come-ons, choosing instead to open up and lay himself down in the wake of a broken romance. It's Joy's most touching moment, equally on par with the opener. Indeed, with those two glorious bookends, this album becomes a must-have for any '70s soul aficionado.“ (Amy Hanson, AMG)

Isaac Hayes, vocals, keyboards
Memphis Strings
Movement Horns
Hot Buttered Soul Unlimited, background vocals

Produced by Isaac Hayes

Digitally remastered

Isaac Hayes
Born in Covington, Tennessee august 20, 1942, died august 10, 2008 in Memphis.

He made his first session at Stax in 1963 as a saxophonist on Floyd Newman's 'Frog Stomp' then stayed as a keyboardist, even replacing Booker T. Jones on MG's recordings. He was also a great composer and producer, along with David Porter. He was a longtime songwriter and arranger for Stax Records in Memphis, playing in the studio's backup band and crafting tunes for artists such as Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Carla Thomas and Johnnie Taylor in the 1960s.

Among the songs he wrote for Stax artists, often with his partner David Porter, were 'Hold On, I'm Comin',' 'Soul Man,' 'When Something Is Wrong with My Baby' and 'B-A-B-Y.'

'Isaac Hayes embodies everything that's soul music,' Collin Stanback, an A&R executive at Stax, told The Associated Press on Sunday. '

Hayes released his first solo album in 1967, and his 1969 follow-up, 'Hot Buttered Soul,' became a platinum hit. 'Hot Buttered Soul' was notable for its lengthy, richly orchestrated covers of 'Walk On By' and 'By the Time I Get to Phoenix,' and became a hit.

In 1971, the theme from 'Shaft' topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks and won an Academy Award for best original theme song. The song and the movie score also won Grammy awards for best original score and movie theme.

Hayes won a third Grammy for pop instrumental performance with the title track to his 1972 'Black Moses' album.

From the late 1990s through 2006, Hayes provided the voice of 'Chef' for Comedy Central's raunchy animated series 'South Park,' as well as numerous songs.

The role introduced him to a new generation of fans, but he left after the show lampooned his own religion, the Church of Scientology.

Hayes' other acting roles included 'Tough Guys,' 'I'm Gonna Get You Sucka' and 'Hustle & Flow.' He played himself in the forthcoming 'Soul Men,' with Samuel L. Jackson. 'Soul Men' also stars Bernie Mac, who died Saturday.

Hayes was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.

Booklet for Joy (Remaster)