Isaac Hayes, Shaft
That Shaft is a bad mother—
Isaac Hayes injected flair and a soulful edge into the film world with this innovative, Oscar-winning 1971 milestone. Hayes superbly tailored the music's pace, mood and sound to reflect the murky, dangerous world of private eye John Shaft, penning some sensual and suggestive tunes ("Early Sunday Morning," "Ellie's Love Them"), a couple that were hard-hitting and visceral ("Shaft Strikes Again," "Bumpy's Blues") and others that proved lush and inviting ("Cafe Reggio's," "Be Yourself," "Friend's Place"). But beyond the array of tunes with prickly wah-wah guitar lines, swaying strings and bright horn/brass counterpoint, the Shaft score had an intensity and electricity that perfectly mirrored the onscreen adventures of the film's hero. The gem here is the 20-minute "Do Your Thing." This was one of only two cuts featuring Hayes 'commanding baritone (something that has led a few critics to devalue the entire affair), and he quickly established the song's assertive air with a defiant lead vocal urging Shaft to "do his thing." From there, the number constantly shifts through numerous choruses, the legendary Stax house band the Bar-Kays jamming and interacting before Hayes returns to decisively conclude the proceedings. Despite bagging an Academy Award, Shaft remains among the more underrated releases in the Isaac Hayes catalog, something that's baffling considering the music's surpassing quality.
