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The Ultimate Arthur Alexander

Arthur Alexander - The Ultimate Arthur Alexander Audio CD

A fair review of the Arthur Alexander "The Ultimate Arthur Alexander" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Arthur Alexander reviews here, or go back to the Arthur Alexander tabs.

Band: Arthur Alexander
Title: The Ultimate Arthur Alexander
Rating:

Release Date: 1993-06-15
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: You Better Move On 2: Soldier of Love (Lay Down Your Arms) 3: Shot of R&B 4: Anna (Go to Him) 5: Every Day I Have to Cry Some 6: Call Me Lonesome 7: Detroit City 8: In the Middle of It All 9: Pretty Girls Everywhere 10: Go Home Girl 11: Whole Lot of Trouble 12: I Hang My Head and Cry 13: You Don't Care 14: Keep Her Guessing 15: Where Have You Been (All My Life) 16: Black Night

Thank You Razor & Tie

On this one, however, they bobbled the ball just a bit by omitting three cuts, especially annoying to completist collectors when you consider that Arthur Alexander didn't have many hit singles to his credit to begin with. Razor & Tie is among the best out there, along with Rhino, Ace Records of London, and Bear Family of Germany at producing quality compilations of those artists sadly overlooked by mainstream DJs during the height of their artistic talents. In fact just five between 1962 and 1976, the first three for the Dot label and the last two for Buddah. But for some reason the producer left off his final charter - Sharing The Night Together - which made it to # 92 on the R&B charts in June 1976, as well as its flipside She'll Throw Stones At You. Obviously not a major hit by any standards [Dr. Hook would take it to # 6 in 1979], but even so, it WAS a hit and would have made this album more complete by its inclusion.

On the surface it might seem rather strange that a man whose seminal performance with the self-penned You Better Move On [# 24 Billboard Pop Hot 100 early in 1962 b/w A Shot of Rhythm And Blues] set the stage for many of the later southern soul hits, but could not even dent the Top 100 R&B. Nor did his follow-up Where Have You Been (All My Life) which peaked at # 58 Pop Hot 100 in June that year b/w Soldiers Of Love.

Strange, that is, until you find out that Dot's Randy Wood marketed Arthur as a straight pop singer. Just as strange, therefore, was the performance of his third Dot hit, Anna [Go To Him] which recorded a puzzling and mediocre # 68 Hot 100 late in 1962, b/w I Hang My Head And Cry, but which topped out at # 10 for his first R&B hit [later the song would be the focus of an entire episode on TV's Married With Children].

It would then be a long 13 years and several label changes [Sound Stage from 1965 to 1969, Monument in 1968, and Warner Brothers in the mid 1970s] before he registered his next charter: the Steve Alaimo [# 46 in 1963] and Gentrys [# 77 in 1966] hit Every Day I Have To Cry Some for the Buddah label. A # 45 Hot 100 in October 1975 b/w Everybody Needs Somebody To Love - also omitted by Razor & Tie - it too failed to make the Top 100 R&B. That was followed in 1976 by the above-mentioned final charter.

Arthur Alexander holds the distinction of being the only rock-era artist to have his or her compositions recorded by three of the giants of the industry: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan. From 1975 to 1993 he drove a bus for a social service organization in Cleveland and was just embarking upon a musical comeback in June 1993 when he died of a heart attack.

The 4 star limitation is purely from the point of view of this completist collector. Otherwise it easily rates the full 5 and should be part of your musical library if you love the southern soul sound.

Shades Of Old (High) School
If you're an early Beatles or Rolling Stones fan, check to see where they got "Anna" or "You Better Move On". If you grew up or were in school in the 'Nawlins area in the early 1960's, Arthur Alkexander's music should bring back old memories; memories of sock hops, hangin' at the local Lotta Burger shooting pool, trying to be cool. He's one of the roots of Rock & Roll!.

All in the Family
Authur Alexander was my uncle, and a very great person to be around. I was shocked to see this site! I happeded upon it by accident, and friend of mine at worked actually found it. I actually lived in his house in Cleveland, and my aunt still lives there. I never really heard him complain or say many bad things about anyone in his life. He was loved by all of us and we miss him very much. I am very happy that he touched so many people as he did our family for many years. Thanks for all of your kind words.

Good and Depressing
Artists like, Graham Parker, Robert Plant and even Frank Black sang some incredible sad Alexander penned tunes. I saw an Arthur Alexander tribute album when I was waiting in line for Rolling Stones tickets several years ago. Then I heard the real thing and was blown away! This is country-soul at its best!! You can hear the sadness in Alexander's voice as he sings about love and loss in songs like "Anna(go to him)" and "Call Me Lonesome". His voice is so vulnerable in some songs that it seems if he's going to cry at any moment. You can truly feel his pain during the course of these songs- the mark of a true soul singer. Only artists like O. V. Wright and Solomon Burke can compare. Along with Frank Sinatra's "In the Wee Small Hours", the "Ultimate Arthur Alexander" can put you in the mood for some great late night music listening.

Mixture of sounds of soul, rock, country! Excellent
He has since died. Can't recall where, but I read that in the 80s, Arthur Alexander was a busdriver in Chicago. I first heard about Arthur Alexander while listening to an oldies station, not the typical format 60's oldies. This was a station that played songs that didn't make the ALL Time favorite oldie list.

I remembered a song called "You Better Move On" and then heard another by him. I knew then that I had to find something by this man. He performs a wonderful rendition of the classic country crossover tune, "Detroit City". This is a combination of rock and soul, rhythmn and blues and a flair of country mixed. I took a chance on this CD and am pleased.

This is great music to "get in the mood" . . . . for housecleaning that is. It is fun, sing-along, backup singers crisp sound, "easy to dance to and I'll give it an 85. " . . . . . MzRizz.

You can see a complete list of all Arthur Alexander discography, or go back to the Arthur Alexander tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.