Arthur Alexander
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| Arthur Alexander | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Arthur Alexander |
| Born | May 10, 1940 |
| Origin | Sheffield, Alabama, U.S.A. |
| Died | June 9, 1993 (aged 53) |
| Genre(s) | Country, soul |
| Occupation(s) | Recording artist, singer, songwriter |
| Years active | 1960 – 1975, 1993 |
| Label(s) | Judd, Dot Records, Buddah Records, Warner Brothers, Ace |
Arthur Alexander (May 10, 1940 – June 9, 1993), born in Sheffield, Alabama, was perhaps one of the biggest stars to arise out of the American country soul scene. Jason Ankeny, music critic for All Music Guide, said Alexander was a "country-soul pioneer" and though largely unknown, "his music is the stuff of genius, a poignant and deeply intimate body of work on par with the best of his contemporaries."[1]
Contents |
[edit] Career
Working with Spar Music in Florence, Alabama, Alexander recorded his first single; "Sally Sue Brown" which was released in 1960 on Jud Phillips' Judd Records. (Phillips is the brother of music pioneer Sam Phillips). A year later, Alexander cut "You Better Move On" at a former Tobacco Warehouse-turned-Recording Studio in Muscle Shoals. Released on Nashville's Dot Records, the song became a Soul/R&B chart hit, and laid the foundation for the modern recording studio FAME. "You Better Move On" is perhaps Alexander's best-known song, covered by The Rolling Stones, George Jones & Johnny Paycheck and Mink DeVille. "Anna (Go to Him)", a U.S. R&B Top Ten Hit, was covered by The Beatles and Humble Pie. Another song covered by the Beatles was "Soldier of Love", which was also performed by Marshall Crenshaw and Pearl Jam. "Set Me Free" (covered by Esther Phillips and Joe Tex) were also major hits and established Alexander as a pioneering arranger of others' tunes, as well as an established songwriter in his own right. He switched to another label, Sound Stage 7 founded by Fred Foster, and although a 1972 album for Warner Brothers was promising, the singer's potential seemed to wither. He secured a pop hit with "Every Day I have to Cry" on Buddah Records 1975, but the success remained shortlived.
For many years, Alexander was out of the music business; he was a bus driver for much of this time. He began to perform again in 1993 as renewed interest was shown in his small but important catalogue. His last album Lonely Just Like Me was his first in 21 years. He signed a new recording/publishing contract in May 1993 but suffered a fatal heart attack the following month, three days after performing in Nashville with his new band.
[edit] Legacy
Alexander deserves a special mention in pop and rock history for his particular influence, as indicated, on the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. It is believed that John Lennon, in particular, was heavily influenced in Alexander's singing style. The above-mentioned tracks such as "Anna", "You Better Move On" and "Soldier of Love", in particular, but maybe also "Go Home Girl" might confirm this artist's influence on the Beatles and his influence, if the listener needs further convincing after hearing "You Better Move On", recorded by the Rolling Stones. As further evidence of his influence, "Go Home Girl" was also recorded by the eclectic master Ry Cooder on his groundbreaking 1979 album Bop Till You Drop.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Singles
- "Sally Sue Brown"
- "The Girl that Radiates that Charm"
- "You Better Move On"
- "A Shot of Rhythm and Blues"
- "Soldier of Love (Lay Down Your Arms)"
- "Where Have You Been All My Life"
- "Go Home Girl"
- "You're the Reason"
- "You Better Move On"
- "Funny How Time Slips Away"
- "Young World"
- "Thousand Stars"
- "Anna"
- "I Hang My Head and Cry"
- "I Wonder Where You Are Tonight"
[edit] Albums
- You Better Move On (1962) Label: Dot Records
- Arthur Alexander (1972) Label: Warner Brothers
- Soldier of Love (1987) Label: Ace Records
- Lonely Just Like Me (1993) Label: Elektra
- Lonely Just Like Me: The Final Chapter (2007) Label: Hacktone
[edit] Compilation albums
- Greatest Hits (1989) Label: Ace Records
- The Ultimate Alexander (1993) Label: Razor & Tie
- Rainbow Road: The Warner Bros. Recordings (1994) Label: Warner Archives
- The Monument Years (2001) Label: Ace Records
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ Ankeny, Jason. Arthur Alexander Biography. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2007-03-18.
[edit] External links
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Alexander, Arthur |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | American singer-songwriter |
| DATE OF BIRTH | May 10, 1940 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Florence, Alabama |
| DATE OF DEATH | June 9, 1993 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | Nashville, Tennessee |
