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. (Phillips is the brother of music pioneer Sam Phillips). A year later, Alexander cut "You Better Move On", For many years, Alexander was out of the music business; he was a bus driver for much of this time. 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. ==Legacy==

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). 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." ==Discography==

(USA issues except where noted) Singles EPs • Arthur Alexander, Dot 655 (Sweden) (1962) • Alexander The Great!, London 1364 (UK) (1963) • Arthur Alexander, London 1401 (UK) (1963) • A Shot of Rhythm and Blues, El Toro 15.086 (Spain) (2017) Studio albums • You Better Move On, Dot & London (UK) (1962) • Arthur Alexander, Warner Brothers (1972) • Lonely Just Like Me, Nonesuch/Elektra (1993) Album reissues • ''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 Compilation albums • 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) Tribute albums • Various Artists: Adios Amigo: A Tribute To Arthur Alexander (1994) 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) ;Discography notes ==Songs written by Alexander==

• "Sally Sue Brown" (co-writer), recorded 1960, covered by Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello • "You Better Move On", recorded 1961, 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 • "Go Home Girl", recorded 1962, covered by the Rolling Stones, Ry Cooder, Gary U.S. Bonds, Frank Black • "In the Middle of it All", recorded 1987 ==See also==