Back catalogue: Funk

Review: By the time he was asked to compose the music for Blaxploitation movie Shaft, Isaac Hayes had already established himself as a talent on the rise. While he'd enjoyed modest success as a session musician, producer and vocalist, it would be his score for Shaft - a triumphant blend of dancefloor-friendly funk and soul, evocative downtempo moments, sweeping orchestration and rich, intricately composed musicality - that would turn Hayes into an internationally recognized star. 45 years after it was first recorded, Shaft still sounds superb, as this weighty double vinyl reissue - complete with MP3 download code - neatly proves. If it's not in your record collection already, it should be.

Review: The original motion picture soundtrack for The Truck Turner delivers a thrilling blend of gritty funk, soul and high-energy jazz that perfectly complemented the 1974 blaxploitation classic. Composed by the great Isaac Hayes, the soundtrack is a dynamic showcase of his signature style that blends soulful melodies with intense orchestral arrangements. Tracks like 'Main Theme' and 'Breaking Into The Business' capture the raw energy and tension of the film while Hayes' deep voice and lush arrangements bring an added layer of sophistication to the score.

Review: This is a bold, progressive funk album from one of the genre's masters in Isaac Hayes. Although Hayes who was rooted in r&b was often overlooked in favour of prog-rock bands like Emerson, Lake and Palmer, his music was just as expansive and expressive across his career. This album served as the soundtrack for Hayes' first major film role and perfectly matches the gritty, exaggerated tone of the movie. Over time, its tracks were reimagined and sampled and influenced works from Geto Boys to Quentin Tarantino films, which has ensured it a lasting legacy in both cinema and music history.

Review: Isaac Hayes, one of soul music's most iconic and influential figures, is celebrated in Hot Buttered Singles, a collection that captures his enduring impact as a singer, songwriter, and arranger. Known for his groundbreaking contributions to Stax Records' Enterprise label, Hayes pioneered the genre of "symphonic soul," blending lush orchestrations with the raw emotion of soul music. His albums remain masterpieces, sounding as great today as they did upon release. While Hayes is renowned for his albums, he also enjoyed immense success on the singles charts, with 16 consecutive r&b hits between 1969 and 1976, many of which also crossed over into pop. Hot Buttered Singles is the first collection to present all his Stax-era 45s in their original versions, including A and B sides in chronological order. Disc one features classics like 'Walk on By' and 'I Stand Accused', while disc two includes hits such as 'Theme from Shaft', 'Never Can Say Goodbye' and 'Let's Stay Together'. This collection is an ideal way to experience Hayes' music as it was originally heard on radio, preserving the legacy of one of soul music's true legends in a fresh, definitive way.

Review: Arguably Isaac's finest release, his sophomore album is just four tracks long but with two 10+ minute workouts on there, it's not the size of tracklist that counts. Famously igniting with his cover of Burt Bacharach and Hal David's "Walk On By" (a tune that found huge favour with Wu Tang many years later), it's 12 minutes of audio splendour that every collection should not be without. Ticking all the right Memphis boxes along the way, we're treated to the thriving uptempo funk, deep crooning, knicker-dropping soul and powerful spoken word blues that builds with an 18 minute dramatic crescendo. Truly seminal.