He's A Complicated Man, But No-one Understands Him

Theme From "Shaft" by Isaac Hayes was released as a single in the USA on 30th September 1971.

The original, full length 4:39 vocal version was the opener of the double album soundtrack to the blaxploitation film, out in July the same year.

The single was edited to a more radio-friendly 3:15, whilst retaining the almost two-minute instrumental introduction. As an aside, I've love to see Richard Osman have the balls to include this in the 'Win When They're Singing' round on his House Of Games.

Theme From "Shaft" got to #1 in the Billboard Hot 100, and spent two weeks at #4 in the UK from 12th to 25th December 1971.  

Isaac deservedly won an Oscar for "Theme from Shaft" in 1972 for Best Original Song, itself becoming a historic moment. Hayes was not only the first recipient who had both written and performed the winning song, but he was also the first African American to win any Academy Award in a non-acting category. 

Apart from a slew of cover versions released around the same time as the single and film soundtrack, there have been relatively few since, and even fewer of note.

However, there are two in my collection that rate amongst my personal favourite covers, not least because given the artists involved, they are both surprisingly faithful versions.

Cabaret Voltaire are believed to have recorded their take on the Theme From 'Shaft" around 1981, though it didn't appear on an official release until the Eight Crépuscule Tracks collection in 1987.

The Wedding Present included their version of Theme From 'Shaft" as the B-side of Boing!, the eighth of twelve singles released every month during 1992, spending one week at #19 in the UK.

I've uncovered another couple of gems on t'internet, firstly a 1999 cover in Arabic by Malik Adouane, which adds a whole new layer of thrills, with a video that allows Malik to live his Richard Roundtree moment.

And lastly, an interpretive dance like no other by Lola Falana. You have never seen cops like this before... It's been recorded off the telly, so has the expected sound and vision glitches, but the arresting sight of Lola and her police squad provide ample distraction.

Did I say lastly? The last word has to be Isaac Hayes, naturally. If the 4:39 album still feels too short - DJDiscoCat clearly thought so - then how about his 2019 'Soul Purrfection' re-edit, all nine minutes of it?

I can dig it.