Customer Reviews
Oh joy! - By: , 27 Dec 2005 
I think of this as an Isaac Hayes fights back at Barry White album. Aside from the film soundtracks, Hayes was mostly covering other people’s material at the time. Then along came Barry White who wrote virtually everything he sang. And so, hot on the heels of White’s cracking ‘I’ve Got So Much To Give’ album, we have Joy.
This is a good album, with a truly great opening track. The orchestration on Joy is simply wonderful. Pounding rhythm, hard hitting brass & strings that feel like a more accomplished version of what Hayes did on Walk On By on the Hot Buttered Soul album. And if you like long tracks, this one goes on for a good 15 minutes (although the song is pretty much finished after the first eight minutes).
What was side two on the original vinyl release comprises three pretty good ballads that seem to reveal more each time you listen. But these are very different from the upbeat extended title track.
Finally there is A Man Will Be A Man. I not sure how comical this soundedin 1973, but it sure feels cringe-making now. Of course, it might just be me – other people might like to hear a studio ‘recreation’ of Hayes sweet-talking his lady. Listen out for the creaking leather sofa & popping Champaign cork! I might have given this album 5 stars if it weren’t this one.
If you like any other Isaac Hayes album, you’ll probably like this one. And if you like sitting through a whole Barry White album from the same period, you’ll probably enjoy Joy.
Is it Hot Buttered Soul - By: G. Aldrich, 15 Jan 2004 
I am a big big big fan of Isaac Hayes, the orchestration to be found on Hot Buttered Soul & Isaac Hayes Movement is other wordly. He is a genius at combining elements of sound & building emotions, real emotions, emotions that get you waving your arms around. at times Motown, at times Hendrix, at times Massive Attack!!.... Timeless & beautifull. Raw & soulful, with more rift & tempo changes than you can shake a Led Zeplin at! Its a shame that the other review here is for Hot Buttered Soul & not for Joy which is what i was looking at. Oh Well. If its half as good as Black Moses or live at the Sahara its CLASS
Sunday Soul Reviwer - By: Franky-C, 03 Nov 2002 Isaac Hayes has a unique placein Soul music. His career has being going from the late sixties to the present day. Hot Buttered Soul his second album for the brilliant Stax label, is his finest body of work. It was seen at the time as commercial suicide, though the piece only contains 4 songs it ran out at over 45 minutes.
What makes the album so special is the way the tracks are built up. Take the first track - Walk on by - everyone knows the Dionne Warwick version of this Bacharach classic. A two minute plus song. Isaac's version weighsin at 12 plus minutes. The wall of sounds created throughout this song is simply genius. From the slow build up with the wailing voices to the heart felt delivery mid way through to screaching guitar finish it's simply class.
Hyperbollicsyllabicsesquedalymistric, gathers pace through out, the drums getting more energetic as the track progresses. Isaac shows of his piano skillsin a style reminiscent of a rock 'n' roll player. Real soul emotion can be felt oozing from your speakers.
One Woman, showcases Isaac's sensitive side, as he opens his heart about his love for 2 women. A classic soul song where he puts his feelings on the line. Doing what all great soul songs have done, he is exploring relationships. With fantastic female backingin the chorus this song has all the operatics soul fans love.
By the time I get to Phoenix, is another song about love. Here Isaac asks the listener, to join him on a journey. As with most soul songs the song is about lost love. The feelings sung about are feelings we have all felt. The Isaac Hayes Orchestra provides a sonic soundscape with the piercing horns just adding to the Memphis soul stew brought by the strings & percussion sections. The song rises towards the end matching the emotion of the song!! Classic.
This album established Isaac Hayes as one of the legends of soul & ensured Stax's continuing relavence to soul music. Do I like this album???
Damm right, just go & buy it!!!!!!!!
