Black Moses is a double album by Isaac Hayes, released on Stax Records' Ent… Read Full Bio ↴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.
In addition to "Never Can Say Goodbye", other selections on Black Moses include covers of songs made popular by The Carpenters ("(They Long to Be) Close to You", Toussaint McCall ("Nothing Takes the Place of You"), The Friends of Distinction ("Going in Circles"), Dionne Warwick ("I'll Never Fall in Love Again"), and Little Johnny Taylor ("Part Time Love"). Hayes names Black Moses as one of his most personal works.
The very same sample of "Ike's Rap II" was used in four tracks at about the same time in the mid-1990s: Hell Is Around The Corner by Tricky, Glory Box by Portishead, Jorge de Capadócia and Salve both by Brazilian hip hop group Racionais MC's.
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. The then deeply Christian Hayes shied away from the nickname, finding it "sacrilegious", 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"
Larry Shaw, head of marketing and publicity at Stax, came up with the idea to name Hayes' LP Black Moses. 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".
Personnel
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
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.
In addition to "Never Can Say Goodbye", other selections on Black Moses include covers of songs made popular by The Carpenters ("(They Long to Be) Close to You", Toussaint McCall ("Nothing Takes the Place of You"), The Friends of Distinction ("Going in Circles"), Dionne Warwick ("I'll Never Fall in Love Again"), and Little Johnny Taylor ("Part Time Love"). Hayes names Black Moses as one of his most personal works.
The very same sample of "Ike's Rap II" was used in four tracks at about the same time in the mid-1990s: Hell Is Around The Corner by Tricky, Glory Box by Portishead, Jorge de Capadócia and Salve both by Brazilian hip hop group Racionais MC's.
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. The then deeply Christian Hayes shied away from the nickname, finding it "sacrilegious", 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"
Larry Shaw, head of marketing and publicity at Stax, came up with the idea to name Hayes' LP Black Moses. 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".
Personnel
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
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Black Moses
Isaac Hayes Lyrics
For the Good Times Don't look so sad, I know it's over. But life goes…
Going In Circles I'm an ever rollin' wheel Without a destination real I'm an …
Good Love 6-9-9-6-9 I'm bonified, socilitified, and qualified to do Anything you…
I'll Never Fall in Love Again What do you get when you fall in love? A guy…
Man's Temptation One more time to test the will power of me These…
Need to Belong to Someone Wo oh oh oh (need to belong) yeah, (to someone) M…
Never Can Say Goodbye I never can say goodbye, no, no, no, no, now Never…
Never Gonna Give You Up Never gonna give you up No matter how you treat me Never…
Nothing Takes the Place of You I moved your picture From my walls And I replaced them Both …
Part-Time Love You know I got to find me People, I got to…