Southern soul singer Arthur Alexander was always something of a square peg, making music that often split the difference between soul and country. His early work exerted more influence in the UK than in the U.S., and some of his best songs were immortalized in cover versions by the Beatles and Rolling Stones (“Anna” and “Soldier of Love” by the former, “You Better Move On” by the latter). In the late 80s I picked up a copy of the indispensable Ace compilation A Shot of Rhythm & Soul, and it’s remained a favorite for three decades. I’ve also collected his less consistent later work, and I was heartened to see him rediscovered in the early 90s, after which he cut a wonderful album, the 1993 Elektra/Nonesuch release Lonely Just Like Me. He seemed on the brink of the late-career renaissance he deserved, but on June 3 of that year, just a few weeks after the record dropped, he suffered a fatal heart attack at age 53.
