1967/ 1976
There are albums that can not be classified in one single movement/ music genre. Albums that are a symbol of an era, born to artists who were unaware of what they were creating. In the recent history of music, sorry to say, is sold as a novelty that novelty is not (Elivis Presley and Nirvana... Two examples, trivializing maximum). And, if you let me vent, you forget that there were artists out of at least 10 or 20 years that have not been successful. Isaac Hays was an innovator and has been successful. Why? Why? Why? Mysterious Mystery! Ok, but that does not mean, then, a band like Grave Digger Heavy Metal could not copy the Rolling Stones (in their own way) and be innovative and inventor of a new sub genre. In the case of Isaac Hayes have to emphasize everything is sacrosanct. I do not have to say. Is the story. Bastard, but true.
Basically, "Hot Buttered Soul" is a new twist on the album Funky Funky and turns it into what today we call Hip Hop! However this is significance of extreme trivialization. And a little knowledge of music, primarily. Since "Walk On By" was a hit for Dionne Warwick, wilt thou that the version of Isaac Hays was a trivial thing? Hmmm, no! And, indeed, here it is transformed into a sensual Psychedelic Power Soul. But it is not distorted. "Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquendalmistic" presents one of the most beautiful moments in the history of black music, with its mix of Funky Jazz and Hip Hop becomes a prototype without being one. Psychedelic, Rock... Think of it as you want but... That is. Simply it is a song. Innovative without being innovative. "One Woman" is another cover, which is described as a traditional Memphis soul ballad. Of course, it is. But it has a power and magic that we rarely find in other compositions. The album is closed by the extraordinary "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" (a 1967 hit for Glen Campbell), famous for the long intro and hypnotic organ, vocals (one of the first example of Rap music) and drums, true and last attempt at jam sessions. And the song, then starts without noticing, as if the version of Isaac Hayes was so natural and innovative (and the magic it contains ... can not be described).
In short, "Hot Buttered Soul" is not a Soul album. Or rather, it is a Soul album. But like many similar albums can not be inserted into a specific genre. In a sense, "Hot Buttered Soul" made innovation in music, randomly. Even now it is innovative and fresh sounds and powerful, magical and bastard. And few albums can be innovative and to pierce the time clapping mode. And all this by accident.