“Shafted in Soul” — A Vinyl Tribute to Isaac Hayes’ 1971 Milestone

Let’s spin a vinyl-style playlist that celebrates Isaac Hayes’ groundbreaking moment on 20th November 1971. This playlist blends cinematic soul, gritty funk, and orchestral swagger, echoing the legacy of “Theme from Shaft” and its seismic impact on music and film.

Side A: Hayes in the Spotlight

1. Isaac Hayes – “Theme from Shaft” (1971)
   The iconic blend of wah-wah funk, strings, and swagger that redefined film scoring.

2. Isaac Hayes – “Walk On By” (1969)
   A lush, orchestral soul epic — turning a pop standard into a cinematic journey.

3. Isaac Hayes – “Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic” (1969)
   A psychedelic funk odyssey with hypnotic grooves and poetic fire.

4. Isaac Hayes – “Do Your Thing” (1971)
   Raw, extended funk from the Shaft soundtrack — pure attitude.

5. Isaac Hayes – “Never Can Say Goodbye” (1971)
   A tender, string-laced reinterpretation of the Jackson 5 hit.

Side B: Cinematic Funk & Soul Legacy

6. Curtis Mayfield – “Superfly” (1972)
   Social commentary wrapped in slick funk — a spiritual sibling to Shaft.

7. Bobby Womack – “Across 110th Street” (1972)
   Streetwise soul with cinematic grit — later revived in Jackie Brown.

8. James Brown – “The Payback” (1973)
   Revenge funk with orchestral flair — a blaxploitation staple.

9. Willie Hutch – “Brother’s Gonna Work It Out” (1973)
   Motown’s answer to Hayes — funky, cinematic, and empowering.

10. Ennio Morricone – “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (Main Theme)” (1966)
    A nod to orchestral film scoring — Hayes’ soul symphonies echoed this grandeur.