Isaac Hayes – Joy

Album Revolution #6:

By 1973, "Isaac Hayes" has Produced TONS of HITS and Released 6 albums, which includes a Soundtrack ("Shaft") and an appearance on the Soundtrack and Concert/Movie "Wattstax: The Living Word"....He even Produced a FANTASTIC Theme Song for the TERRIBLE "ABC" Series, "The Men", accompanied with a GREAT B-Side, "Type Thang".....This ALL happened with a 7 to 8 year span...I am inclined to agree with "mhnien" below, maybe, just maybe "Isaac" should have taken a BREAK!!!!

But, he didn't, so we come to the next offering in, "Joy"....

With this album, "Ike" seemed to go back to basics, in having only 5 songs...Even if that is the case though, it seems to have a slight dip compared to the other Classics he Released....

Starting with the LENGHTHY "Title Track", it starts in "Isaac Hayes Fashion", with it's LONG Intro...Then, almost around 2 minutes, "Ike" comes in with his Manly HUSKY Vocals, expressing his JOY for his Love...As usual, having "Hot, Buttered & Soul" (now named "Hot Buttered Soul Unlimited", "Pat and Diane Lewis" and "Rose Williams") on tap is RIGHTEOUS!!!! Then around 7:30, the song just gets LOST into the Groove, with "Ike" giving his "Thank You Baby's" until the 15:55 finish....

"I Love You That's All" has an interesting intro, with "Ike" and his "Lady" coming in from a Date, about to celebrate them being together...Then it breaks into a "Movie Type" Groove....."Isaac" never sings on this one, he just continues to express his Love, right until the end...Like I said, just like watching a Movie....

The second side are also ALL Ballads in "A Man Will Be A Man", "The Feeling Keeps On Coming" and the 11 minute "I'm Gonna Make It (Without You)"....They all have RIGHTEOUS Grooves, but honestly, these songs just don't compare to his other Classic "Isaac Hayes Movement Arrangements"....

I will say with "I'm Gonna Make It (Without You)", at least has an "Ike Rap" (even though not labeled)....It also sounds like it's a continuation of "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" with the subject matter...The ending also ends in "Isaac Hayes Fashion" with "Hot Buttered Soul Unlimited" helping out....

As expressed, this was a tad bit of a step down for "Isaac Hayes"...Maybe he was getting tired, or maybe he just COULDN'T STOP!!!! In any case, after this album, things would start to get HARDER, and if it was getting HARDER for him, it was GETTING HARDER for "Stax"...

Anyway, even with the step down, "Joy" STILL Plays a GRAND part in the "Isaac Hayes Saga"!!!!!

My copy doesn't appear to be listed on here.

The label on the record is yellow, but no Stax or Enterprise logo. All text in Black color. Joy on the top left, and Issac Hayes on the top right. With song names and credits going towards the center bottom. No "Enterprise Records..... 98 North Avalon, Memphis, USA" text printed on the bottom outer edge. Cover is embossed on the title area. On the back where the Photographer is credited. It does not have the "Courtesy of Penthouse Magazine" printed. On the bottom of the spine has Printed in USA printed.

Anyone out there know anything about this one? Thanks!

I... I dunno. Ike had put out so much music in such a short amount of time. Never mind all the tunes he wrote for Sam & Dave and other Stax artists before that. Somebody shoulda pulled him aside and told him to take a break for a year, go hang in Bali on David Crosby's schooner. Instead, he cranked out this. Kinda the last (almost) totally classic Ike Hayes record. Massive breakbeat on the massive title track. Crazy to think this and Big Star's Third were being made at the same studio at the same time. What was happening in Memphis in the 70s?? (See R. Gordon's 'It Came From Memphis" for the answers.)

Just found out I had the first US pressing of this. Though it's probably been played 3 million times, it still sounds fabulous. The stereo image makes it one of those vinyls that will always sound amazing.