Hayes, Isaac
Joy
Rare & Collectible Vinyl Records

1973 Original. “With Seven Massive Number One Records Trailing In His Wake, Isaac Hayes Donned His Stylin', Funky Gold-Chain Link Vest Once Again And Capped 1973 With Joy, A Set Which Might Have Proven The Lucky-Streak Breaker — It Missed The Top Spot By One Place — But Still Waded Into Gold-Record Waters With Ease. "Joy" Itself, Of Course, Was The Album's Crowning Glory, A Gargantuan 15-Minute Piece Which Essentially Devoured Side One Of The Album (The Accompanying "I Love You That's All" Is Merely An Afterthought). Heady, Smoky, Ubiquitous — An Instrumental And Vocal Foray Into The Land Of Good Grooves — It Was Sexy And Sassy, With Strings And Innuendo Stripped Bare And Smoothly Built To Lead Anyone Within Earshot Toward A Classic Climax. The Song Continued To Impact Via Sampled Revitalization From As Far Afield As TLC, Massive Attack, Eric B. & Rakim, And Big Daddy Kane. But Don't Forget That Joy Is An Entire Album, With Hayes Continuing His Silky Vocal Assault Across A Further Three Slow, Simmering Songs. The Best, And Perhaps Most Interesting, Is The Closing "I'm Gonna Make It (Without You)." Markedly Un-Steamy, The Song Finds Hayes Trading In His Come-Ons, Choosing Instead To Open Up And Lay Himself Down In The Wake Of A Broken Romance. It's Joy's Most Touching Moment, Equally On Par With The Opener. Indeed, With Those Two Glorious Bookends, This Album Becomes A Must-Have For Any '70s Soul Aficionado.” All Music Guide - Amy Hanson