MOG Editorial Review

Though the funky, fluid instrumentals on the Shaft soundtrack were custom-made for the movie, they've come to embody much, much more. There's no other way to describe the "Theme From Shaft" than to call it iconic. The buttery smooth selection has become synonymous with the idea of casual badass cool, a proud trophy of the '70s blaxploitation film movement. The fact that many critics point to this album as an example of composer Isaac Hayes' greatest work speaks volumes: the deep-throated soul singer had at least as much to do with making Shaft a legend as original actor Richard Roundtree.