Isaac Hayes – Truck Turner (Original Soundtrack)

Okay, it has been a long time since I saw a movie and instantly thought, “I need that soundtrack!” What was the last one? “Go!”? “Empire Records”? Something back thataway. And most of the time, it’s worked the other way around: I’ve found a soundtrack with some music I loved that inspired me to seek out the movie.

In 2022, The Criterion Channel was featuring a number of films starring Yaphet Kotto, whose work I pretty much only knew from “Homicide: Life on the Streets” and “Across 110th Street.” Not surprisingly, Criterion featured several blaxploitation films that Kotto had a prominent role in – and one was 1974’s “Truck Turner,” starring, and with music by, Isaac Hayes. (The movie also features Nichelle Nichols, Scatman Crothers, and Dick Miller – so you know you’re in for a time.)

All the music in the movie is by Isaac Hayes, following on his success with the “Shaft!” soundtrack. As we were watching the movie, I was thinking: This is pretty good. This is very good. This is something I need to own.

Then I did something I almost never do: I immediately went in search of it on Discogs, and ordered a copy that same night. (Not only was the shipper semi-local, they had several other things I wanted in their shop – so it was a bigger shopping expedition than usual on Discogs.) And: no regrets. This is a great background soul/funk soundtrack. I will say that here and there, one or two of the songs sound like Isaac Hayes parodies – really going over the top. But in an enjoyable way.

Imagine my shock and surprise that this record was on this the Black Friday RSD2024 rereleases!

Other than the Wattstax and Summer of Soul concerts, this is the only Isaac Hayes in my collection.