Inspiration Information, the brainchild of guitar prodigy Shuggie Otis, more than justifies the cult following garnered in the years since its (largely ignored) 1974 release. Son of R&B legend Johnny Otis, Shuggie was a late-'60s celebrity due to his Super Session duets with Al Kooper. Opting out of arena rock -- he reputedly refused an offer to join the Rolling Stones -- the 19-year-old Otis spent three years in the studio generating this one-man opus. His multitracked rhythms recall the laid-back funk of the Meters embroidered with psychedelic filigree, and his voice resembles Allan Toussaint's. But in every other regard, this is singular, sexy music, dislocated in time. Drum machines propel "Island Letter" and the beat-box-plus-organ stabs of "XL-30" predate England's Young Marble Giants by several years. Also featured are four bonus cuts from the artist's 1971 set Freedom Flight, including "Strawberry Letter 23," which was later a hit for the Brothers Johnson. Heard here in its original form (with a surprise prog-guitar coda), the song conveys the impression of "Good Vibrations" being played by a lone musician. Unbelievably wonderful. - Billboard

The Incredible Bongo Band, also known as Michael Viner's Incredible Bongo Band, was a project started in 1972 by Michael Viner, a record artist manager and executive at MGM Records. Viner was called on to supplement the soundtrack to the B-film The Thing With Two Heads

阿爾伯特·「阿爾」·格林尼是一位美國歌手，在1970年代早期有多首靈魂樂歌曲在榜單上取得佳績，包括《Tired of Being Alone》、《I'm Still In Love With You》、《Love and Happiness》和他的代表作《Let's Stay Together》。

70年代的blaxploitation（黑人電影風潮）一掃白人硬漢稱霸好萊塢一面倒的英雄傳奇，『Shaft殺戮戰警』的銀幕現身終於為黑人扳得銀幕上鬥狠耍帥的瀟灑顏面，這一波的影像文化最近幾年隨著Paul Thomas Anderson執導的『Boogie Nights不羈夜』與瑪丹娜冠軍單曲Muisc的音樂錄影帶重新在美國閃亮復興，『殺戮戰警』的世紀末新潮改版當然也不在話下，山繆傑克森一襲shining黑色披風著實霹靂，鍥而不捨追逐一件牽扯種族歧視的兇殺案件，還夾雜幫派毒梟搶地頭、內神通外鬼的條子，『Boyz N' The Hood鄰家少年殺人事件』奧斯卡提名黑人導演約翰辛格頓其實有機會經營出正義與司法的糾結無奈，惜除了山繆傑克森的造型外，其他都很普普，若要回應Shaft的口頭禪any question? 那問題可是不小呢!
71年用音符為Shaft塑造神秘威風性感英雄形象的靈魂樂歌手Isaac Hayes重新將當年榮獲奧斯卡肯定且躍登全美排行冠軍的主題旋律Theme From Shaft絲毫不差的性感誘惑口白襯著那如在彈簧線上華麗滑動的節拍裏，鋼琴、爵士樂、放克樂、沙龍音樂、鼓擊、big band、小喇叭加上弦樂各類元素精巧融聚，在30年後依然是如此的道地，Isaac Hayes果真still the man，靈魂樂中的sex machine呢! 為這張原聲帶創造凡人無法擋的節奏魔力，環伺原聲帶的卡司，唯有R. Kelly這號才子稍能媲美，Bad Man外強中柔的漢子無奈，福音歌曲般的虔誠懺悔詞意，讓原本很緩的節奏藍調歌曲帶進深沉的意義，如同釋放沉重包袱的Up And Outta Here從另外一個角度摸索Shaft的硬漢內心掙扎，儘管兩首歌意相近，仍可聽見匠心水準。
这部影片被评为《首映》杂志史上最具胆识的100部影片，足以见得这部黑人影片的影响力。Isaac Hayes也凭借《夏福特(Shaft)》的主题歌《Theme from Shaft》成为一位获得奥斯卡最佳原创歌曲奖的说唱歌手。

Digipak reissue of 1971 album. 2001.

该专辑收录的都是萨姆 库克的现场表演。本专辑在滚石评出的500强中被排名443位.美国民谣歌手Art Garfunkel(民谣传奇组合Simon & Garfunkel的主唱)在2004年接受滚石杂志采访时是这么评价Sam Cooke的：“Sam Cooke唱歌的方式非常简单：纯净优美，声线饱满，格外地直率。他拥有一个歌手具备的所有素质与自信，调子应该这么定，唱出来的声音应该这个样子，这些正是Sam所擅长的。

Japanese limited edition pressing includes 3 bonus tracks packaged in a miniature LP sleeve. By the time Santana arrived on the San Francisco scene in 1968, the Grateful Dead's freeform antics were already legendary. But Santana was a jam band of another order, fueled by Latin rhythms, blues, bebop, and straight-ahead rock. Having set the audience at the 1969 Woodstock festival on its collective ear, the band did the same for the nation with its self-titled debut. Songs such as 'Evil Ways', 'Jingo' and 'Soul Sacrifice' contain extraordinary ensemble playing, powered by percolating congas and timbales and topped by the grippingly human cry of Carlos Santana's guitar. CBS. 2006.