Isaac Hayes' epic 1971 album Black Moses, "is a wondrously crafted, intense evocation of the vagaries of love gone bad," in the words of Stax historian Rob Bowman. Hayes used songs popularized by such artists as the Jackson 5, Toussaint McCall, Curtis Mayfield, Kris Kirstofferson and Ray Price to express the heartbreak he was feeling about the breakup of his own marriage. "Isaac's ability to take other people's material and make it so deeply personal," Bowman observed, "is nothing short of brilliant."

Topping out at #1 on Billboard’s soul album chart and #10 pop and remaining on the charts for 40 weeks, Black Moses may be best remembered by its lead single, Hayes’ signature version of the Jackson 5’s “Never Can Say Goodbye,” which was on the radio months before the rest of the album had been completed. Other highlights include Toussaint McCall’s “Nothing Takes the Place of You,” Luther Ingram’s “Help Me Love,” Curtis Mayfield’s “Need To Belong To Someone,” and Kris Kristofferson’s “For the Good Times.” 

“I was going through some emotional turmoil. You can tell by the tunes on the album that I was going through a break-up of my marriage. It was the only way I could express myself.” - Isaac Hayes