Get a Shot of Rhythm and Blues: The Arthur Alexander Story

by Richard Younger

The first book-length biography of an influential country/soul legend whose songs have been recorded by the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan. Get a Shot of Rhythm and Blues chronicles the rise, fall, and rebirth of Arthur Alexander, an African American singer-songwriter whose music influenced many of the rock and soul musicians of the 1960s. Although his name is not well known today, Alexander's musical legacy is vast. His 1962 song "You Better Move On" was the first hit to emerge from the fledgling Muscle Shoals FAME studio in Alabama, and his fusion of country and soul and his heartfelt vocals on such songs as "Anna (Go to Him)" and "Every Day I Have to Cry" were revered by musicians including the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan, all of whom recorded his songs. Alexander's story is a tragic one, with a brief, redemptive finale. His meteoric rise after the release of "You Better Move On" gave way to lean years caused both by his drug and alcohol abuse and by the mishandling of his career by producers and managers. In 1977, he quit the music business, but his music lived on. In 1992, Alexander returned to
the studio and recorded the critically praised album Lonely Just Like Me. Just three months after the album's release in March 1993, he suffered a heart attack in the offices of his music publisher in Nashville and died three days later. In telling Alexander's story, Richard Younger captures the burgeoning music scenes in Muscle Shoals and Nashville during the 1960s and 1970s and recovers the life of a fascinating musician whose influence was international. Younger's account is enriched by his interviews with more than 200 artists, family members, and friends--such as Rick Hall, Billy Sherrill, Charlie McCoy, Chuck Jackson, Gerry Marsden, and Kris Kristofferson--and includes an abundance of never-before-seen photographs.

Genres: Music, Biography

247 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 2000

Reviews

[Brent · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fine book regards the first bright light of Fame Studios, the late, great Arthur Alexander. It explains so much... except the effervescent genius of his singing.
You may, like me, know his great songs through the great cover versions great artists made: first I heard was on Ry Cooder's LP, Bop til you Drop. It turns out Alexander may be the only songwriter to be covered by The Beatles, Dylan, and the Rolling Stones. Then, in early 1990s, with CD sales reviving careers, there was an amazing new recording from Alexander, Lonely Just Like Me (Elektra American Explorer series). Here's a sample from YouTube I was hooked. I heard his great onstage interview and performance on Fresh Air with Terri Gross, available, it seems on an updated version of Lonely Just Like Me. Then, the man died.
Here is the full story. God bless him. I am still humming his fine songs.
Highest recommendation.

[Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Arthur Alexander is best known as the composer of "Anna (Go To Him)" and "You Better Move On" covered by The Beatles and Rolling Stones respectively on their debut albums. Paul McCartney is quoted in the book saying that the Beatles wanted to be like Arthur Alexander. Like many biographies of musicians whose talent was not matched with success, the author presents the small triumphs along with the common frustrations of the music business.
As a fan of soul singers of the 60's, I learned that AA wrote more familiar songs than I realized. The author describes in detail the foundation of the Muscle Shoals, Alabama music scene just as the Fame Recording Studios was established. Arthur did not churn out songs, but every song he wrote has a distinctive soul and honesty about it. He always wrote from experience.