"Hot Buttered Singles Volume 2: 1972-1976" by ISAAC HAYES – Twenty 45-Single Sides on Enterprise, Stax Records and Hot Buttered Soul/ABC Records in their 7" Single Edited Forms – Musicians Include The Bar-Kays, The Isaac Hayes Movement and a Duet with David Porter (April 2025 UK Ace Records CD Compilation of Nick Robbins Remasters – Volume 2 of a Series) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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Content **** 

Audio and Presentation *****

"…Ike's Mood 20…"

Second Volume from those terribly with-it chappies over at Ace Records for the Singles Discography of all thangs Isaac Hayes on Enterprise, Hot Buttered Soul and ABC Records. 

Volume 1 hit us in October 2024 (Single CD, 2LP Vinyl set – the same here) and was something of an instant classic with fans and collectors alike. 

But - despite the NICK ROBBINS Remasters delivering big time and containing Enterprise and HBS/ABC single-sides that are difficult to find on CD – even the most die-hard shafting enthusiast would have to contend that Hayes pursued that Disco Dollar just a little too much in the later years (the "Juicy Fruit..." stuff isn't exactly my cup of Darjeeling) - so some of Volume 2 (like Volume 1) has not dated well. And there was the "Wonderful" 9-Track CD compilation that gathered up much of this stuff in Phil De Lancie Remastered form back in September 1994 (issued both in the USA and UK/Europe) which any self-respecting IH fan would already have. But here in April 2025 - that was more than 30-years ago – so updates ahoy.

This gold-chain-clanking beastie contains things like the sought-after B-side "Type Thang" that was featured in the Blaxploitation movie "Shaft's Big Score" but not on the vinyl album, the two single-edits of "Joy Pt 1" and "Joy Pt 2" that will allow fans to hear a more manageable eight-minutes of this wickedly good groove rather than the overdone near 16-minute LP version and the B-side instrumental 45-edit to "Hung Up On My Baby" from the "Tough Guys" Soundtrack of 1974. 

Fans and buyers alike should also note that although Volume 1 was dated 1969 to 1972 – space restrictions did not allow Ace to include his last 45 for that year in Volume 1. Thus Ike's last 45 of 1972 opens Volume 2 (September 1972 in the USA and November 1972 in the UK) - the rest concentrating on 1973 to 1976 on Enterprise Records and his own Hot Buttered Soul label (issued via ABC Records). 

So – and as it is with so many compilations - "Hot Buttered Singles Volume 2: 1972-1976" by Isaac Hayes has its highs and lows - but even the slips are not that bad. The UK VINYL 2LP Set (also issued 25 April 2025) on Ace Records HIQLP2 154 (Barcode 029667026116) offers the full 20-tracks/liner notes and will surely become a sought-after double. To the damn-right-baby details…

UK released Friday, 25 April 2025 - "Hot Buttered Singles Volume 2: 1972-1976" by ISAAC HAYES on Ace Records CDTOP 1660 (Barcode 029667112628) is a 20-Track Remastered CD Compilation of 45-Single Side Edits And Non-LP Material that plays out as follows (this review provides both US and UK 45-Single Discography details - 77:12 minutes total playing time):

1. Theme From The Men (Instrumental) (4:00 minutes)
2. Type Thang (3:49 minutes)
USA: released 18 September 1972, Enterprise ENA-9058, A&B-sides
UK: released 3 November 1972, Stax Records 2025 146, A&B-sides
A-side is a Leon Ware and Jacqueline Hilliard song. Later recorded by Third Creation and issued (Promo-only) in the USA on Motown M 1250F in 1973. The B-side Type Thang was featured in the "Shaft's Big Score" film but not on the soundtrack album.

3. Rolling Down A Mountainside (4:18 minutes)
4. (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right (4:43 minutes)
USA: March 1973, Enterprise ENA-9065, A&B-sides as above
UK: 20 April 1973, Stax 2025 117, sides reversed, A-side was (If Loving You…)

5. Joy Pt 1 (4:35 minutes)
6. Joy Pt 2 (3:41 minutes)
USA: released November 1973, Enterprise ENA-9085, A&B-sides
UK: released 8 February 1974, Stax Records 2025 220, A&B-sides
Note: A&B-sides is an Isaac Hayes song – the full length 15:55 minute album cut is on the October 1973 US LP "Joy" on Enterprise ENS-5007 (October 1973 UK on Stax 2325 111, reissued UK on Stax STX 1016 in August 1974)

7. Wonderful (3:37 minutes)
8. Someone Made You For Me (4:00 minutes)
USA: released March 1974, Enterprise ENA-9095
UK: no UK issue
Note: Non-LP track in the USA at the time of release. A -side by Isaac Hayes, B-side by Henry Glover (both produced by IH). Finally released on a US compilation CD album called "Wonderful" in September 1994 on Stax SCD-8585-2 (Stax CDSXE 112 in the UK). The 9-track "Wonderful" CD compilation gathered up seven of his Non-LP Enterprise US singles and added in two Live Songs from the "Wattstax/The Living Word" two double-albums - "Ain't No Sunshine" (a Bill Withers cover at 17:38 minutes) and a longer live take of "Rolling Down A Mountainside" at 5:27 minutes – both recorded in Los Angeles, 20 August 1972 (from Volume 1 and 2 respectively)

9. Title Theme (2:32 minutes)
10. Hung Up On My Baby (Instrumental) (3:37 minutes)
USA: released July 1974, Enterprise ENA-9104, A&B-sides
UK: released 30 August 1974, Stax STXS 2004, A&B-sides
Note: the A-side is the same length as the "Tough Guys" Soundtrack LP cut to the Paramount film "Three Tough Guys" – but the B-side is an edit to the full-length LP version of 6:15 minutes

11. Chocolate Chip (Vocal) (3:45 minutes)
12. Chocolate Chip (Instrumental) (4:05 minutes)
USA: released August 1975, Hot Buttered Soul/ABC Records ABC-12118, A&B-sides
UK: released 22 August 1975, ABC Records ABC 4076, A&B-sides
Note: written by IH, both tracks from the 1975 US LP "Chocolate Chip" on Hot Buttered Soul/ABC Records ABCD-874 - LP versions are 5:30 and 5:32 minutes respectively

13. Come Live With Me (3:24 minutes)
14. Body Language (3:45 minutes)
USA: released October 1975, Hot Buttered Soul/ABC Records ABC-12138, A&B-sides
UK: no UK issue
Note: written by IH, both tracks from the 1975 US LP "Chocolate Chip" on Hot Buttered Soul/ABC Records ABCD-874 – LP versions are 6:35 and 5:31 minutes respectively

15. Disco Connection (3:38 minutes)
16. St. Thomas Square (4:39 minutes)
USA: released 15 February 1976, Hot Buttered Soul/ABC Records ABC-12171, A&B-sides
UK: released 19 March 1976, Hot Buttered Soul/ABC Records ABC 4100, A&B-sides
Note: credited to ISAAC HAYES MOVEMENT – both tracks on the 1975 US LP "Disco Connection" on Hot Buttered Soul/ABC Records ABCD-923 – LP versions are 6:14 and 5:52 minutes respectively

17. Rock Me Easy Baby (Pt.1) (3:32 minutes)
18. Rock Me Easy Baby (Pt.2) (3:55 minutes)
USA: released April 1976, Hot Buttered Soul/ABC Records ABC-12176, A&B-sides
UK: released 11 June 1976, Hot Buttered Soul/ABC Records ABC 4111, A&B-sides
Note: from the 1976 US LP "Groove-A-Thon" on Hot Buttered Soul/ABC Records ABCD-925 – full LP version is 8:17 minutes

19. Juicy Fruit (Disco Freak) Pt. I (3:43 minutes)
20. Juicy Fruit (Disco Freak) Pt. II (3:07 minutes)
USA: released August 1976, Hot Buttered Soul/ABC Records ABC-12206, A&B-sides
UK: released 10 September 1976, Hot Buttered Soul/ABC Records ABC 4136, A&B-sides
Note: from the 1976 US LP "Juicy Fruit (Disco Freak)" on Hot Buttered Soul/ABC Records ABCD-953 – full LP version is 6:15 minutes

As it was with Volume 1 - the 16-page booklet of Volume 2 features fantastically detailed liner notes from Ace's long-standing Soul Expert and Scribe – TONY ROUNCE – a sure sign of quality – and clearly a big fan of the mighty Hayes. All pages are sided with US, UK and European label repros and rare picture sleeves (dig the Pic Sleeves for "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right" and "Joy" on Pages 5 and 7). By the time we get to 1974, 1975 and 1976 – most territories have dispensed with anything as elaborate as a picture sleeve and instead the booklet pops for 45 Promo Copies on the Hot Buttered Soul/ABC Records labels. A good read and fabulous Remasters from long-time Audio Engineer for Ace - NICK ROBBINS – this period featuring super clear Production values and a band in the pocket every time – even if the material does not reach the pinnacle of his earlier Stax output. To the tunes…

For 1972, "Theme From The Men" sounds like Disco four years before the charts caught on to its rhythms – gorgeous audio as those strings and brass jabs kick in. Loving the wah-wah and arrangement that has the slightest touch of 007 about its swagger. Followed by one of my fave-raves - you're a square type-thang if you're feet ain't moving to the so-period Soundtrack-meets-Soul of "Type Thang". Strings feature heavily before the Big Ike comes in with his winners-and-losers chocolate éclair vocals - "Rolling Down A Mountainside" – the Movement funking with those brass and strings backing up by a driving beat. I doubt there a wrong version of the right love song that is "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right" – a fabulous Homer Banks, Carl Hampton and Raymond Jackson song made famous by Luther Ingram and others. Many countries probably played this over the official A. 

You can feel the sophistication and era changes in "Joy" – a fabulous groove on an admittedly patchy album (of the same name). Whittled down from its marathon 16-minutes on the LP – Hayes cleverly gives Part 2 to DJs on the flipside so with two copies they could cue-in Part II as punters got into the groove they did not want to end. This joyful Funky pairing is my current go-to combo on this compilation. "Wonderful" is another cool groove even if the lyrics are a tad cheesy – a Non-LP 45 with the Bacharach/David-embracing smoocher "Someone Made You For Me" on the flipside. No such lurve shenanigans with the wild guitars and very Blaxploitation vibe to "Title Theme" (the movie Two Tough Guys) – warbling high-hats, fuzz licks and brass – the production though has always bothered me and still does. Way better is the high-stepping instrumental "Hung Up On My Baby" which feels like George Benson and Phil Upchurch with something funky going on in a sensual guitar way (brass joins the soloing about one and half-minutes in to fab effect, followed by a fuzzed-up Isley Brothers type guitar solo). You can so hear why this cut is sought after – all business and no bollox.

Both cuts of "Chocolate Chip" have a relentlessly Funky backbeat that must have torn up dancefloors - James Brown and Isaac Hayes melted into one brass-driving gem. Time to lurve baby - Ike has done a lot of playing around (big cities and smaller towns) but now he's found a girl he wants to settle with and she needs to "Come Live With Me". Gorgeous production values for sure and a clear Remaster - but this kind of soppy smooch is hard to hack in 2025. Better is the guitar, high hat and piano slink in "Body Language" where her action produces satisfaction (steady now Ike). And again - really great audio with presence and power as the strings lift things up about 1:25 minutes in. 

For me the ever-so-slight rot started in on "Disco Connection" - a half-decent groove but one that still feels somehow uninspired. But I had forgotten how good the instrumental B-side "St. Thomas Square" was - a pleasant surprise. 1976 and we're embracing a combo of Disco and Funk with (mostly) great results - his "Rock Me Easy Baby" and "Juicy Fruit (Disco Freak)" singles filled with loverman lyrics and sexy-lexy 'long as you please me' grooves (check out Part 2 of Rock Me Easy Baby – heavy on the Tablas and Heavy breathing). For sure "Juicy Fruit..." is the lesser of the two – but I know genre lovers who swear it's a forgotten deep cut that should be revisited. And again - fantastic audio filling your overheating speakers.

Like its predecessor Volume 1 - despite its occasional dips - I am going to keep coming back to "Hot Buttered Singles Volume 2: 1972-1976". This is another win-win compilation for Ace - suave Symphonic Soul and Funk making me dig it...easy baby...

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