 After a lengthy spell away from the best-sellers, one of black music's chief innovators, Mr. Isaac Hayes is back with a vengeance! With a new record contract with Polydor, a new album and some new ideas up his sleeve…
AS SO OFTEN is the case, the image that's projected of an artist by the media to the public can often, so often, be quite removed from the impression that's given in a face-to-face, one-to-one situation.
Take Isaac Hayes. The bald head, the chains and capes associated with his stage performances, the deep dark voice, an image that at times suggests the black macho he-man! Naturally, you might approach such an imposing figure with some awe, even some fear.
Imagine then, that when you get right down to it, the subject in question is cool, charming, warm and friendly. Doesn't bite, doesn't shout and doesn't look like he's about to give you a right hook! That's Mr. Hayes.
Isaac is naturally aware that he's hardly been raking in the gold in recent times and he's quick to point that out.
"Right now, I feel very optimistic about the future. It's like I'm fitting the pieces back into the puzzle, getting back to the level that was cemented in people's minds and souls of what I was all about before," he states.
"My major goals right now would be to be internationally accepted as an actor, as an artist, not just as a composer or singer. And in those roles too, I want to broaden my base to cover plays, musicals, things I haven't even begun to touch upon yet."
Certainly, Isaac's re-emergence with Polydor Records shows signs of putting him back on course after a hitless period with A.B.C. Records.
"I had to re-structure my whole business set-up to make provision for personal and business managers and they were responsible for negotiating the deal with Polydor. I'm very impressed this far with what the company has been able to do and I feel very comfortable with them. It's like there's more teamwork involved and I get a warm feeling from everyone that I've had to deal with so far in the company."
Isaac comments too on that bad patch with A.B.C. "It was very unfortunate because I was the victim of what you might call internal circumstances that the company was going through. There was just a lot of stuff, a lot of problems going on that held me back," he explains.
"You know, we had a total of five albums with the company and that includes the one we did with Dionne Warwick and I don't feel as if they did anywhere near as well as they might have done. True, some of it wasn't the very best product I've ever done, I would have to admit that. But I still feel they could have done better."
Whilst Isaac was without a big hit record, he nevertheless was publicly visible as a result of the successful tour he did with Ms Warwick, dubbed "A Man And A Woman" and he explains how it all came about.
"Dionne's been my idol for years now, I've always loved her music. I just felt that it would be good to try something new, something different and so we approached her manager with the idea and everyone seemed agreed. It was certainly a very enjoyable experience for me and it was working out so well that we mutually decided to go ahead and do the album."
Fans of Ms. Warwick will note that she has a track on her last Warners album which also appears on Isaac's Polydor album — a song he co-wrote entitled "Don't You Ever Take Your Love Away".
"What happened was that whilst we were touring, Dionne heard some of my demos and when she heard that particular song, she said she wanted to do it," Isaac states. "Now originally, my version was supposed to come out first, but I gave her the wrong release date so, after a period of grace, she just went ahead and released hers.
"I'm more than pleased with what she does to the song — I think it's great. In fact, I'd like to produce a whole album on Dionne and she wants to do it too — so it's always a possibility."
That song is just one of the cuts that has been generating a great deal of airplay on "New Horizons", Isaac's new set.
"Well, I was under a lot less pressure than I had been with other albums. We started working on it in April in Atlanta and that's my first time recording there and I must tell you, I love the city! In fact, I may possibly move there at some point in time. But to go back to the album: I gave it far more concentration. I was really concerned about the overall sound."
Isaac makes mention of a couple of the tracks: "We did 'Stranger In Paradise' because I'd sung it way back in grammar school and I always liked the song and with people these days — older people — getting into disco, we figured they would probably relate to it.
"Then there's the single, 'Out Of The Ghetto' which is based on that old saying about taking the country out of someone. It's like they say: you can take someone out of the country but that doesn't mean you can take the country out of someone! So that's basically what that's about, just applying it to the ghetto!"
The most controversial track on the album is, of course, Isaac's "Moonlight Lovin'" or as it's more commonly known now, "Menage A Trois". Since B&S isn't Playboy, we're not going to go into lengthy explanations of exactly what that is (for those who may not know) but let's just say that it refers to a particular sexual activity which, alongside things like wife-swapping, etc., has come somewhat into prominence in recent years. Mr. Hayes was naturally prepared for the question, since it is a cut that has been receiving heavy airplay in some areas and none in others!
"As a writer, I feel that I must write about what I see happening, reflecting what's going on in the world, in society. Writers are sensitive people and they must do that. Fortunately, we are in an age when people are far more open-minded and free-spirited. Sex is spoken of much more openly.
"Now in reference to the song, all I can say is that it's aimed at sophisticated adults. There will be people who don't dig the subject matter but who may dig the beat. As far as the kids are concerned, no, I don't think it presents any problems," Isaac explains.
"I don't think most of them will know what the phrase refers to so I don't think it will make any difference. Sure, some of them may ask. Which is cool because generations of people are wiser now, more intelligent and it's important that our children are taught about what's going on. I do have to say that no one is pulling anyone's arm to play the track or to listen to it."
Isaac concludes that the controversy "may help sell more records" and notes that if the Rev. Jesse Jackson (who has spoken out against the sexual innuendos and implications of some of today's r&b material) has any comments, "I do have an answer for him"!
With his album taking off, Isaac is already formulating plans to go out on the road again after an absence of some time (aside from his jaunt with Dionne). "Let's see, we've kicked the year off with trips to Australia and some selected dates here at home. But I don't expect to really get into touring properly until around the spring by which time, the album should really have taken off the way we want it to — it will be out there."
Since there is so much emphasis put now on visual presentation, we wondered exactly what kind of show Isaac was planning.
"Well, you must remember that when I first went out on the road, we had a very visual thing happening then with the chains and capes and so on. Really, we were doing a lot of things before other people cottoned on. So what I think I'll probably do is take me a survey of what's happening out there, what people are responding to and I'm sure we'll come up with something that's innovative and fresh."
Having been in many ways an innovator himself, Isaac just may have felt somewhat bitter about having seen so many people take his ideas and use them so successfully. Not so: "I don't feel bad about the fact that others have capitalized on some of the things we did first because I realize that I was with a company that wasn't able to do that. That's just the way it goes and Stax wasn't able to do many of the things that other companies are able to do.
"But I must say that now, people are commenting in a very positive way about my being back out front, being visible again. It seems that people have missed me and that naturally makes you feel good. So what we want to do now is spend some time with the people. Go out there, let people see us and make sure we bring them quality product."
Isaac's other future plans include working with acts that he's produced in the past such as The Masqueraders and doing an album with Hot, Buttered & Soul Unlimited. He no longer has the studio that he owned in Memphis because of his bankruptcy last year but he says on that subject, "I learned a lesson from it, a big lesson. And you can be sure, it won't ever happen again."
Currently, he's putting together plans for his next album which he expects to begin within the next few months but allows that he does want some time to himself to spend at a new home he's purchased in The Bahamas.
"Whenever I can go down there, I'm going! To relax, keep in good physical shape and of course, compose. You never know, maybe I'll come up with a masterpiece whilst I'm down there!"
There seems every likelihood that he might do just that and it led us to wonder whether Isaac ever reflects back to those early days when he was with Stax and churning out hits for everyone from Sam & Dave to Carla Thomas, The Soul Children, William Bell, Eddie Floyd, Judy Clay and The Mad Lads.
"Oh sure, man! There are times when I think back and I do genuinely miss those good old times. I'm reminded of just how I've gotten to where I am and that's always healthy!"
About the Writer
David Nathan is the founder and CEO of SoulMusic.com and began his writing career in 1965; beginning in 1967, he was a regular contributor to Blues & Soul magazine in London before relocating to the U.S. in 1975 where he served as U.S. editor for the publication for several decades and began being known as 'The British Ambassador Of Soul.' From 1988 to 2004, he wrote prolifically for Billboard, has penned bios, produced and written liner notes for box sets and reissue CDs for over a thousand projects. He returned to London in 2009 where he has helped create SoulMusic.com Records as a leading reissue label.
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