10 Greatest Songs Written For Movies
8. Shaft - Isaac Hayes (Shaft)
When it comes to some of the greatest crime films of all time, Shaft really belongs in a category of its own. Many moviegoers had gotten used to seeing crime on screen as far back as the movie serial days, but this was the first of its kind to be a blaxploitation film, bringing an African-American presence to the forefront. You'd probably expect a movie like this to have a hard-edged soundtrack, but in reality, everything was right in the groove.
Rather than go with a blown out score or loud guitars, Shaft's main theme was crafted by soul legend Isaac Hayes, who brings every single bit of R&B he can into this track.
While the initial rhythm of the track gets you into the groove, the real allure of the track comes when Hayes starts speaking, with a voice like butter. Combining his voice with the sound of his wah wah guitar, everything suddenly feels much more laid back than the gritty crime drama you're about to see.
Even with the more dated backup singers providing the call and response for Hayes, the song stands on its own as one of the most infectious musical accompaniments to be featured in a movie. Hayes may have already been a legend at that point, but this little bit of score could be his opus.