Arthur Alexander

Alexander was born in Sheffield, Alabama, United States. Working with Spar Music in Florence, Alabama, Alexander recorded his first single, "Sally Sue Brown", under the name of June Alexander (short for Junior), which was released in 1960 on Jud Phillips' Judd Records.{{cite book |last=Ward |first=Ed |date=2016 |title=The History of Rock & Roll, volume one, 1920–1963 |url=|location=New York |publisher=Flatiron Books |page=289 |isbn=978-1-250-07116-3 |author-link=Ed Ward (writer)}} (Phillips is the brother of music pioneer Sam Phillips).

A year later, Alexander cut "You Better Move On", at the fledgling FAME Studios, which at that point was located above the City Drug Store in Florence, Alabama. (The studio would shortly move to its more famous location in nearby Muscle Shoals, Alabama.) 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, the Hollies, George Jones & Johnny Paycheck, Gene Clark (from the Byrds) and Mink DeVille. "Anna (Go to Him)", a U.S. R&B Top Ten Hit, was covered by the Beatles, Roger McGuinn (from The Byrds) and Humble Pie. The Beatles did live recordings of "Soldier of Love" (also performed by Marshall Crenshaw and Pearl Jam), "A Shot of Rhythm and Blues", and "Where Have You Been" at the Star-Club in Hamburg in 1962.

In 1962, Steve Alaimo was the first to record Alexander's "Every Day I Have to Cry", which reached No.46 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. Dusty Springfield also recorded the song for her first UK solo EP, "I Only Want to Be With You", released in 1964.

In the mid-1960s, Alexander switched to another label, Sound Stage 7, but failed to find commercial success. 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 Some" on Buddah Records in 1975, but the success remained short-lived. The song was also covered by Ike and Tina Turner (produced by Phil Spector), the McCoys, Dusty Springfield, Joe Stampley, C.J. Chenier, Jerry Lee Lewis, the Gentrys and others. The follow-up single "Sharing The Night Together" (written by Muscle Shoals songwriters Ava Aldridge and Eddie Struzick) reached No. 92 on the R&B charts, but earned Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show a Top 10 hit in 1978; the Dr. Hook version was used in the 2012 Family Guy episode "Mr. and Mrs. Stewie".

That same year, he first recorded "Burning Love", which would be covered by Elvis Presley.Kaye, Griffin (2024) "Arthur Alexander: The Forgotten Inspiration to The Beatles", Lace Em Up (Accessed: 18 December 2024)

For many years, Alexander was out of the music business; he was a bus driver for much of this time. In 1990, he was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. He began to perform again in 1993 as renewed interest was shown in his back 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 on June 9, 1993, in Nashville, three days after performing there with his new band. He is buried in Florence City Cemetery in Florence, Alabama.Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14000 Famous Persons by Scott Wilson

Alexander is the only songwriter whose songs have been covered on studio albums by the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan (who recorded "Sally Sue Brown" on his 1988 LP Down in the Groove).{{cite web|last=Cochran|first=Jeff|date=November 30, 2009|title=Rhythm & Dews: Arthur Alexander and Bob Dylan|url=http://likethedew.com/2009/11/30/rhythm-dews-arthur-alexander-and-bob-dylan/|website=Likethedew.com|access-date=January 21, 2018|archive-date=June 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190623061939/https://likethedew.com/2009/11/30/rhythm-dews-arthur-alexander-and-bob-dylan/|url-status=dead}} In 1987, Paul McCartney claimed that "If the Beatles wanted a sound, it was R&B. That's what we used to listen to and what we wanted to be like. Black, that was basically it. Arthur Alexander."{{cite book |last1=Lewisohn |first1=Mark |title=The Beatles: All These Years |date=2013 |publisher=Crown Archetype |isbn=978-1-4000-8305-3 |page=587 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jl6NDQAAQBAJ&dq=%22Black,+that+was+basically+it.+Arthur+Alexander%22&pg=PA587 |access-date=30 August 2022 |language=en}}

(USA issues except where noted)

• Arthur Alexander, Dot 655 (Sweden) (1962) {{efn|Track list: "You Better Move On", "Lover Please", "Hey! Baby!", "The Wanderer"}}
• Alexander The Great!, London 1364 (UK) (1963) {{efn|Track list: "You Better Move On", "Where Have You Been", "Anna", "Go Home Girl"}}
• Arthur Alexander, London 1401 (UK) (1963) {{efn|Track list: "Soldiers of Love", "I Hang My Head and Cry", "You're The Reason", "Funny How Time Slips Away"}}
• A Shot of Rhythm and Blues, El Toro 15.086 (Spain) (2017) {{efn|Track list: "A Shot of Rhythm and Blues", "Lover Please", "Sally Sue Brown", "The Girl That Radiates That Charm", "You're The Reason"}}

• You Better Move On, Dot & London (UK) (1962)
• Arthur Alexander, Warner Brothers (1972)
• Lonely Just Like Me, Nonesuch/Elektra (1993)

• Story Of Rock 'N' Roll (LP, 1977) Ariola (Germany) (Reissue of You Better Move On)
• Arthur Alexander (LP, 1989) Ace (UK)
• You Better Move On (CD, 1993) MCA (UK) (Reissue of LP with 8 bonus tracks)
• You Better Move On (CD, 2014) Hoodoo Records (EU) (Reissue of LP with 14 bonus tracks)
• Rainbow Road: The Warner Bros. Recordings (CD, 1994) Warner Archives (Reissue of self-titled Warner LP above with bonus tracks)
• Lonely Just Like Me: The Final Chapter (CD, 2007) Hacktone (Reissue of CD with bonus tracks)
• Arthur Alexander: Expanded Edition (CD, 2017) Omnivore {{cite web|url=https://omnivorerecordings.com/shop/arthur-alexander/|title=Arthur Alexander – Arthur Alexander – Omnivore Recordings|website=Omnivorerecordings.com}}

• Various Artists – Greatest Rhythm And Blues Stars (1965) Guest Star (two tracks by Alexander)
• Carl Perkins – Sing A Song With Me (1979) Koala (four demos by Alexander)
• A Shot Of Rhythm And Soul (1982) Ace (UK)
• Soldier Of Love (1987) Ace (UK)
• The Greatest (1989 & 2006) Ace (UK)
• The Ultimate Arthur Alexander (1993) Razor & Tie
• Jon Tiven's Ego Trip – Blue Guru (1996) Fountainbleu (one over-dubbed demo by Alexander)
• Various Artists – Bill Haney's Atlanta Soul Brotherhood (1998) Kent (UK) (one track by Alexander)
• Various Artists – Bill Haney's Atlanta Soul Brotherhood Vol 2 (1998) Kent (UK) (one track by Alexander)
• The Monument Years (2001) Ace (UK)

• Various Artists: Adios Amigo: A Tribute To Arthur Alexander (1994){{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/adios-amigo-a-tribute-to-arthur-alexander-mw0000112019|title=Adios Amigo: A Tribute to Arthur Alexander – Various Artists – Songs, Reviews, Credits |publisher=AllMusic|access-date=October 20, 2019}} Razor And Tie (17 tracks by artists including Elvis Costello, Roger McGuinn; Graham Parker; John Prine; Nick Lowe; Marshall Crenshaw and Zucchero.)
• Donnie Fritts: June – A Tribute To Arthur Alexander (2018){{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/donnie-fritts-new-album-arthur-alexander-697352/|title=Donnie Fritts to Pay Tribute to Arthur Alexander on New Album|first1=Stephen L.|last1=Betts|date=July 9, 2018|magazine=Rolling Stone}}

;Discography notes

{{notelist}}

• "Sally Sue Brown" (co-writer), recorded 1960, covered by Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello
• "You Better Move On", recorded 1961, covered by the Hollies, the Rolling Stones, Tommy Roe, George Jones & Johnny Paycheck, Billy "Crash" Craddock, Mink DeVille
• "Anna (Go To Him)", recorded 1962, covered by the Beatles,{{cite web|first=Richie|last=Unterberger|author-link=Richie Unterberger|url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/anna-go-to-him-mt0001175554 |title=Anna (Go to Him) – Arthur Alexander | Listen, Appearances, Song Review |publisher=AllMusic|access-date=December 7, 2013}} Roger McGuinn, Humble Pie
• "Every Day I Have to Cry Some", written 1962, recorded 1975, produced by Phil Spector, covered by Ike and Tina Turner, Bee Gees, Johnny Rivers, Debby Boone, Bob Luman{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/every-day-i-have-to-cry-some-mt0004395827 |title=Every Day I Have to Cry Some – Arthur Alexander | Listen, Appearances, Song Review |publisher=AllMusic|date=June 15, 1993 |access-date=December 7, 2013}}
• "Go Home Girl", recorded 1962, covered by the Rolling Stones, Ry Cooder, Gary U.S. Bonds, Frank Black{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/go-home-girl-mt0008246027 |title=Go Home Girl – Arthur Alexander | Listen, Appearances, Song Review |publisher=AllMusic|access-date=December 7, 2013}}
• "In the Middle of it All", recorded 1987{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/in-the-middle-of-it-all-mt0008879246 |title=In the Middle of It All – Arthur Alexander | Listen, Appearances, Song Review |publisher=AllMusic|access-date=December 7, 2013}}

• Muscle Shoals Sound Studio
• Soul music
• Country music

{{Reflist}}

• Richard Younger; Get a Shot of Rhythm and Blues: The Arthur Alexander Story The University of Alabama Press (2000) {{ISBN|0-8173-1023-1}}

• {{Discogs artist|Arthur Alexander}}
• {{IMDb name|id=nm3906749}}
• [https://secondhandsongs.com/artist/782 Arthur Alexander], Secondhandsongs.com
• [http://www.personal.spentbrothers.com/Homepage/ArthurAlexander.html Comprehensive Arthur Alexander Discography]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20081206131743/http://www.alamhof.org/arthuralexander.html Alabama Music Hall of Fame]
• [http://www.allbutforgottenoldies.net/interviews/richard-younger/ Interview With Richard Younger, "Get A Shot Of Rhythm And Blues: The Arthur Alexander Story"]
• [http://www.richardyounger.com/author.php#.VLMyDmTF-Y8 "Arthur Alexander" by Richard Younger]
• [http://rubbercityreview.com/2012/05/the-country-soul-of-arthur-alexander/ "The Country Soul of Arthur Alexander" by Tim Quine]

{{Arthur Alexander}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alexander, Arthur}}

Category:1940 births

Category:1993 deaths

Category:People from Sheffield, Alabama

Category:American country singer-songwriters

Category:American soul musicians

Category:African-American male singer-songwriters

Category:American male singer-songwriters

Category:Dot Records artists

Category:Monument Records artists

Category:African-American country musicians

Category:Omnivore Recordings artists

Category:Country musicians from Alabama

Category:Country musicians from Tennessee

Category:20th-century African-American male singers

Category:20th-century American male singers

Category:20th-century American singers

Category:Singer-songwriters from Alabama

Category:Singer-songwriters from Tennessee