The Greatest

This is an outstanding compilation and worth getting for his version of You Better Move On alone. 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.