Lay Down Your Arms

This compilation includes all of Arthur Alexander Jr.'s early recordings for the Dot label in 1961-62, notably "You Better Move On", "A Shot Of Rhythm And Blues", "Where Have You Been", "Soldier Of Love", "Anna (Go To Him)", "Go Home Girl", and the stereo version of his LP, 'You Better Move On'. Arthur Alexander Jr. was perhaps the catalytic figure in the birth of Muscle Shoals as an important musical hotbed, "You Better Move On" being the first national hit recorded at Rick Hall's legendary Fame Studios, in late 1961. A profound influence on the early 60s Beat Boom/British Invasion, Alexander's songs have been recorded by artists like The Beatles (who recorded three of his songs), The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ike & Tina Turner, Dusty Springfield, Ry Cooder, Robert Plant, The Searchers, Johnny Kidd & The Pirates, Dave Edmunds, Johnny Rivers, etc. Also included on this set is his unfeasibly rare debut single, "Sally Sue Brown" / "The Girl That Radiates That Charm", on which he was billed as 'June Alexander' ('June' being an abbreviation of 'Junior'). Alexander died unexpectedly in 1993 on the verge of a major comeback, at the age of just fifty-three, which led to a massive revival of interest in his early recordings.