Ever since I started this blog, I have been planning to write a post about one of my favorite singers, Arthur Alexander. I have been putting it off because I feared I could not do justice to his story. But since Arthur Alexander Jr.’s birthday is this week, the least I could do was to post my favorite Arthur Alexander song, “Every Day I Have to Cry.” And then maybe we will return to more of his music at another time.
Alexander — who was born on May 10, 1940 in Sheffield, Alabama –should be much more famous than he is. His songs have been covered by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, George Jones, Otis Redding, Bob Dylan, Dusty Springfield, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and many others. The country soul singer began recording music in the early 1960s. Some of his songs became well-known, like “You Better Move On” and “Anna (Go to Him),” the latter recorded by The Beatles.
Several singers covered “Every Day I Have to Cry” before Alexander got around to recording it. Steve Alaimo first recorded it in 1962, and the Bee Gees recorded it in 1965. Ike and Tina Turner covered it in 1966. Alexander finally recorded “Every Day I Have to Cry” in 1974.
Unfortunately, Alexander’s career never took off like it should have. After his 1972 album Rainbow Road found little success, he left the music business. By the 1980s, he was working as a bus driver for the Center for Human Services in Cleveland, Ohio.
But as interest in his catalog begin to grow, he returned to his music in the early 1990s. In 1993, he released his first album in 21 years, Lonely Just Like Me. He kept his bus driving job as the album was released, but as the record began to gain attention, he prepared for a tour.
At the time of the album’s release, Alexander welcomed the renewed interest in his career “I’m finding out the seeds I planted all that time ago were good seeds. That’s really something – I was gone for such a long time.”
Alexander finally was on the verge of the success he deserved. But then, soon after the album’s release, he had a fatal heart attack and died on June 9, 1993.
Alexander’s birthday is a great day to track down and listen to more of his music, as are the other 364 days of the year. There are plenty of good seeds to find. One of my favorite albums is the special edition of his 1990s comeback album, Lonely Just Like Me
What is your favorite Arthur Alexander song? Leave your two cents in the comments.
Arthur Alexander: The Midnight Blues Man:
The first time I ever heard him sing was back in Sixty Two
He wore his voice like a silk suit that was coloured midnight blue
Some people said he was R&B and a little bit Country too
While others said he sang off key, but I knew every note was true
The first verse of my poem about Arthur, who I heard in NEMS in Liverpool UK…
Nice poem, thanks. I imagine it was pretty awesome to have seen him live. Thanks for the comment.
One of my favorite artists, as well. A personal all time favorite of mine has to be his “You Better Move On” later covered impressively well by The Stones. Of course I remember Mr. Alexander’s “Anna” blasting loud from my GE transistor radio in the early ’60’s, also later to be covered brilliantly by The Beatles.
According to Wiki, Arthur Alexander is the ONLY Songwriter to be covered on a studio album by The Beatles, The Stones, and Bob Dylan (“Sally Sue Brown”)
He is sorely missed.
Yes, I love “You Better Move On” too. The special edition of his last album, “Lonely Just Like Me,” features a nice live version of the song he did for Fresh Air (as well as a demo for “Anna”). What a great talent. Thanks for the comment.