Customer Reviews

Branded

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Possessing one of the most distinctive voices in recorded music history, Hayes's "Branded" is a cool collection of up-tempo tracks and mellow ballads. Mixing his traditional and passionate love songs (such tracks as "Thanks to the Fool," and "Soulsville," a remake of his classic from "Shaft") with funky jams (a reworking of "Summer in the City" and "I'll Do Anything (To Turn You On," to name a few), Hayes shows what made him an icon of the 70's and 80's and a sought after "voice" frequently heard today.

Each of the first four songs that start the album segues into each other, making for an extended fourteen-minute masterpiece, containing Sting's "Fragile," performed in a manner that only Hayes could do. The presentation is a triumph of vocal and instrumental arranging. This release is the companion piece to "Raw & Refined," released the same year. Both complement each other and are essentials for fans of the artist.

Why he is not a continued presence on the music charts is one of the great mysteries of the new millennium.

By the time Isaac Hayes signed with Virgin Records and released this comeback CD in 1995, he really had nothing to prove. This CD has quite a few highlights but your real reason for buying it is Isaac's stunningly-beautiful remake of Sting's "Fragile"--a version so beautiful that it should have become a Quiet Storm classic.

I hate to do it... i want so badly to give Uncle Isaac 5 stars as i always do but i cant.

The album is a great album to own..and in many ways it shows Ike coming full circle.. reuniting with his former songwriting partner David Porter for "Thanks To The Fool" and slipping into a classic rap before singing his heart out.

As well as re visiting 2 songs that were very much apart of his 2 defining moments in his Career

The Remake of "Hyperbolicstllabicsesquedelymistic" From his ground breaking album "Hot Buttered Soul" that revolutionized soul music and the music industry as a whole especially concerning Black Artist.

And "Soulsville" from what is Probably his Most Notable Defining moment "The SHAFT Soundtrack"

My other personal favorites on the album are "I'll Do Anything (To Turn You On)" and The Title Track Branded.

Me being a Isaac Hayes Finatic i couldnt help but notice that there was a slight decline in his vocal presence.. i believe that he had Suffered a stroke before this album or not long after it.

The other problem i have is with the song "Hyperbolic"... i wouldnt doubt that the tempo was sped up so that Legendary Rapper Chuck D could drop his rap verse but it seems as if Ike is struggling to keep up with the tempo.

Overall considering that Ike had been away from the music scene for so long with the exception of his numerous greatest hits compilations and collections this was a damn good and very succesful attempt at a comeback and showed very impressive sales figures and received critical praise.

One critic called it "A Return To Form"

Although in my eyes there are a few faults on this album i still say it is a must have in your collection.. it shows Ike walking the comeback trail and once again making the world stand up and take notice.. one of many succesful comebacks Ike would have in his Career.

Isaac Hayes was and still is one of my biggest influences and my favorite Artist.

If some asked me to name one artist in the music industry that i would want to be like.. that was a prime example of everything i want to be and do in the business.. without hesitation i would say Isaac Hayes.(Rest In Peace)

cd with a wonderful version of sting's fragile, that have a good speaking
introduction of mr. hayes. very good

I haven't reviewed an album in a while. I stumbled across this disc while loading CDs into my Itunes. I picked this CD up when it first came out in the mid 90's. I was doing a college radio show at the time. The show was a psychedelic 60's rock show. Somehow during that time I stumbled across Isaac Hayes boundary breaking Hot Buttered Soul album.

This album has many of the same characteristics. It's part rock, part soul, part jazz with the long extended jams.

Hayes version of "Fragile" is a classic in my mind. The other one that steals the show is "Thanks to the Fool". It starts out with a little rap. One thing I like about Hayes is that he puts you right into the center of the situation. Whether it be a break up or in this case stealing the girl - you're right there as the action happens.

On my show I used to refer to Hayes as the forgotten man of classic soul. Between all the tunes he co-wrote for Sam and Dave (universally recognized classics) or his early 70's era classics, to me his work stands up better than some of the over played Motown that we're always hearing about.

I respect Motown but for my money I'll take Memphis Soul (preferably STAX) anyday. I went and saw Hayes in Oakland opening up for Al Green in 2004. Hayes was the opener but to me he was the headliner - no disrespect against Al Green (both were great). Hayes had presence and was in top form.

I'm not a big fan of soul music, but this CD is worth a listen. Hayes' voice glides over the music like magic.

I didn't like "Let Me Love You" because it never really took off. Some of the songs are staggeringly drawn out.

But when listening, this CD gave me peace of mind, in a strange way.

After listening this album, I thought, God, I've to listen it one more immediately... Isaac's "Fragile" (originally Sting) blew my mind away, because I could never even imagine that there could even be a better version of that. There's one more new version of "Summer In The City" with its typical Isaac Hayes' sounding. But After hearing the first 7 tracks, Isaac puts down his 'suprise box'. The end of the record is a little bit for sleeping-time, but this not means, that this album is not worth it - especially from this soul legend...