Isaac Hayes' 1969 solo debut Hot Buttered Soul set a soulful tone for the decade that followed, influencing innumerable artists and turning on a more conventional audience to the genre. Therefore it comes as no surprise that three quarters of that record are included on this compilation from his 1968-'77 Stax Records resume (though they are heavily edited to fit the 32-song, two-CD format). Renowned as one of his generation's greatest songwriters and arrangers, Hayes punctuates his creations with hints of r&b, funk, jazz and soul. Examples here include the indelible "Theme From Shaft," a funked-up cover of Burt Bacharach's and Hal David's "The Look of Love," the slow-grooving "Do Your Thing" and a previously unreleased gospel standard, "His Eye Is on the Sparrow." The inspired packaging includes a four-track DVD that features a trio of Hayes' performances from the 1972 WATTSTAX Festival at the Los Angeles Coliseum--providing as much evidence of the magnitude of Hayes' esteem as this starter set for anyone seeking an introduction to a legendary artist. --Scott Holter
