Black Moses is the fifth studio album by American soul musician Isaac Hayes. It is a double album 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. The album reached number one on the Billboard R&B album chart on January 15, 1972.
Ike's Rap II became a popular track to sample, most notably by Portishead in their song "Glory Box"; other artists who have also sampled the track include Tricky, Alessia Cara, Snoh Aalegra, and Racionais MC's.
Background 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 named Black Moses as one of his most personal works.Bowman (1997), p.237–240
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 title Hayes' LP Black Moses. He also devised, with the assistance of Bar-Kays member Ron Gordon, a gatefold album cover design that unfolded into a poster-sized image of Hayes, dressed in biblical-inspired attire as "Black Moses".
Track listing
Note: Some of the vinyl pressings (and all CD releases) have a non-standard arrangement of the sides: sides 1 and 4 are pressed on one disc along with sides 2 and 3 on the other. This practice, known as "automatic sequence", was intentional on vinyl.
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 - Ronnie Hudson Bongos, congas - Gary Jones Drums, tambourine - Willie Hall Electric piano - Lester Snell Guitar - Charles "Skip" Pitts Piano - Sidney Kirk Arranged by Isaac Hayes & Johnny Allen, except "(They Long To Be) Close to You" by Isaac Hayes & Dale Warren Engineers: Ron Capone, William Brown, Henry Bush, Eddie Marion, Dave Purple Remix engineers: Ron Capone, Dave Purple and Isaac Hayes
See also List of number-one R&B albums of 1972 (U.S.)
References
Notes Bowman, Rob (1997). Soulsville U.S.A.: The Story of Stax Records. New York: Schirmer Trade.