Arthur Alexander: Classic or Dud/S & D?

One thing that's impressive about Arthur is that there are songs like "In The Middle Of It All" that he recorded several times in his career and in many cases the later versions are as good if not better than the earlier ones

This has turned into a really interesting thread! I don't have time at work to get into the whole "country soul" debate, but it made me think of this, so I'll stick it here: Johnny Adams singing Conway Twitty.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJXguMA_kyk&feature=related

Been intrigued by this country soul thing ever since I read that people like James Brown and Ray Charles saying that Little Jimmy Dickens was one of their favorite singers.

Dan Penn reared back and said, "NO, I DO NOT."

Have been listening to some of Arthur's individual tracks multiple times in a row. The thing about his understated style is that he really stays focused from the beginning to the end of a song- there is never a bump in the performance where it goes "OK, I laid back for a while, I set the scene, now I GOTTA SING!" Listening to him is like watching a film actor who really knows how to work with the camera, as opposed to a stage actor who is still emoting for the back rows.

Hoping ebbjunior is gonna come back soon. He is a pretty smart guy who usually says interesting things.

Wonder if he talked to Kris Kristofferson about Arthur. Whenever they came through Cleveland, Kris and Donnie Fritts would comp Arthur and his wife with front row seats and when Arthur died Kris sent a wreath with a card that said "See you at the end of the Rainbow Road, partner."

Got a hold of a copy of the book by the dude from England, will try to ascertain whether he knows what he is talking about.

What book is it?

Say It One Time for the Brokenhearted: Country Soul in the American South by Barney Hoskyns

Country music is a barely musical form with emphasis on the words; soul music is a barely verbal form with the emphasis on the music, and the groove.

I think Ebb Jr. is trying to be provocative here and using rhetorical exaggeration as noted above. I don't think Smokey Robinson or Curtis Mayfield or other soul songwriters or country songwriters would agree

I read that sentence a few times and even asked my girlfriend what it could mean. I still have no idea what that was supposed to me. Country music doesn't have a groove? Quiet storm is all about language. Anyway I really want to read that book.

Little writeup about him here. I knew the song Anna, but hadn't investigated him before. Lovely recording.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2013/02/11/arthur_alexander_and_the_beatles_forgotten_songwriter_also_inspired_the.html

Writer/author Holly-George Warren's Muscle Shoals presentation at the EMP Pop Conference in New Orleans focussed on Arthur. Fascinating stuff from the details she gave about Arthur's life to the mention about how John Lennon loved his voice and songs.

Country music is a barely musical form with emphasis on the words

this might rate as one of the top ten stupidest things ever posted to ILM

Some tough competition.

I just enjoyed listening to Bee Gees cover of "Everyday I Have To Cry," which I had not known existed. Now onto The McCoys version.

julie grant's "everyday i have to cry" is definitive for my money.

Country music is a barely musical form with emphasis on the words; soul music is a barely verbal form with the emphasis on the music, and the groove.

still the worst.

An overview from the guy who wrote the excellent biography of Arthur : http://www.richardyounger.com/arthur-alexander.php

― Another Muzak from a Diffident Lichen (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, June 9, 2011 3:08 PM (five years ago)

Which links to a very interesting interview about how he came to write the book

Which I meant to link. Here: http://www.allbutforgottenoldies.net/interviews/richard-younger/index.html

Even more versions of "Every Day I Have To Cry" floating around: Ike and Tina Turner, Dusty Springfield, Rick Nelson, to name three. Guess first recorded version was Steve Alaimo. Arthur himself didn't record it until 1975.

I forgot to mention Bon Scott.

somehow i'd never heard "anna" before, the original version. it's incredible! already thinking this might be one of my favorite vocal performances of all time.

This first step in the comeback version is pretty great too:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSTQ7HiN2TY

Good version of “Anna” sung by Roger McGuinn on the tribute album Adios Amigo. Whole thing is reasonably high quality.

I got the Ace compilation Greatest again last year to replace my old copy. Different (purposely updated) artwork but otherwise still the same exact CD and liner notes used over 30 years ago and it still holds up as the best place to hear his classic recordings.

I am an huge fan of the final record. He was still singing so great up until the end. The newer versions of older material are usually just as good and in some cases better.

The tribute album has "I Love You So" credited to Felix Cavaliere and Veronica. Unless some evil alchemist has untransmuted James Redd's Golden Ear, it's pretty clear that Veronica=Ronnie Spector.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50w_FErFdfY