Genre: soul
Rating: ** (2 stars)
Title: Tough Guys
Company: Enterprise
Catalog: ENS 7504
Year: 1974
Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+
Comments: gatefold sleeve
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 4122
Price: $10.00
Cost: $1.00
The mid 1970s were prime time for so called "Blaxploitation" films. Given his international success with "Shaft", it probably wasn't a major surprise to find singer/songwriter Isaac Hayes getting a chance to not only star in a film, but to also contribute the accompanying soundtrack. Written, produced and arranged by Hayes, 1974's "Tough Guys" isn't bad, though it fails to match Hayes groundbreaking earlier work - notably "Shaft". Mostly instrumental, tracks such as "Randolph's Dearborn", "Hung Up On My Baby" and "Burns O' Plenty" are okay, but were probably much more effective when seen in combination with the film. In spite of backing from the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and The Movement (Stax's in-house rhythm section), most of the album sounds like backing tracks that were awaiting vocals. Even the one vocal (the title theme) sounds somewhat flat. Surprisingly, commercially the set didn't do too bad, hitting # 148 on the pop charts.
By the way, if you wondering, produced by Duccio Tessari, the parent film featured Hayes as an ex-cop, who with help from a priest (played by Lino Ventura), tries to nail the crook who cost him his job. Usually cast as the good guy, Fred Williamson played the bad guy this time around.
"Tough Guys" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Title Theme (Isaac Hayes) -
2.) Randolph's Dearborn (instrumental) (Isaac Hayes) -
3.) The Red Rooster (instrumental) (Isaac Hayes) -
4.) Joe Bell (instrumental) (Isaac Hayes) -
(side 2)
1.) Hung Up On My Baby (Isaac Hayes) -
2.) Kidnapped (Isaac Hayes) -
3.) Run Fay Run (Isaac Hayes) -
4.) Burns O' Plenty (Isaac Hayes) -
5.) The End Theme (Isaac Hayes) -