Amazon.co.uk Review
This is an outstanding compilation. Remastered from material recorded between 1962 and 1965, what's instantly apparent on hearing Alexander's plaintive tones is what a debt groups like the
Beatles and the
Rolling Stones owed to this sweet-voiced Southern country-soul pioneer from Alabama. The former covered his tragic, harmony-laden "Anna", the latter romped through "You Better Move On". Other artists who've sung Alexander-penned songs include
Elvis Presley,
Robert Plant and
Tina Turner. Without exception, Alexander sang the originals better: in a soft, low crooning style somewhat akin to
Sam Cooke, but with more expression in his smouldering voice. And, always, he was the loser in his bittersweet love affairs. An album for romantics and lovers of soft-centred soul. --
Everett True
CD Description
In the mid-eighties, English reissue label Ace Records introduced the wonderful music of Arthur Alexander to a new generation of music fans. Though Alexander was known for having written songs that were covered by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, prior to the Ace reissues, Alexander's own music languished in near obscurity, with only the most dedicated soul music collectors being familiar with the sublime pop-soul records that he made in the early sixties.
Combining the best tracks from the two vinyl Arthur Alexander collections issued by Ace, THE GREATEST collects 21 of Alexander's greatest performances on one tidy CD. While there is a good deal of overlap with Razor and Tie's 16-song ULTIMATE compilation--particularly with the better-known tracks like "Anna" and "Shot Of Rhythm And Blues"--ULTIMATE contains six excellent tracks that are only available on this CD.