He had minimal impact stateside, but many British bands were turned on by Arthur Alexander’s earthy sound, like the Beatles who did a version of “Anna” and the Rolling Stones who recorded “You Better Move On”. The Beatles also covered Alexander’s “Where Have You Been” and “Soldier Of Love”. Gospel-tinged Country Soul was Arthur’s specialty and he’s often been compared to Solomon Burke and O.V. Wright.
Despite receiving accolades from near and far, Arthur Alexander remained a troubled soul, riddled by self-doubts, and crippled by stage anxiety.
His British fans were especially disappointed when thirty minutes into a 1966 appearance, Arthur looked at his watch and abruptly walked offstage.
Alexander’s initial 1961 success “You Better Move On” b/w “A Shot of Rhythm And Blues” originated from within a converted tobacco warehouse in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. It charted #24, allowing producer Rick Hall to finance
the legendary Fame Studios with his percentage of the record’s earnings.
Other strong sides included “Where Have You Been” (a Weill-Mann tune), “Go Home Girl”, “Rainbow Road”, and “Anna (Go To Him)” which charted R&B Top 10. His 1963 royalties came primarily from “Every Day I Have To Cry”, a Top 40 entry composed by Alexander and recorded by Steve Alaimo.
Alexander abandoned the grind for nearly 20-years before releasing the warmly-received “Lonely Like Me” in 1993. The fates, however, cruelly put a halt to his promotional tour when a heart attack forever silenced this gentle and talented soul.
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