” Soldier of Love” is another song originally recorded by the great Arthur Alexander.
Cason co-wrote the song
Category: Music covers
Covers: Psychotic Reaction
Covers: A Shot of Rhythm and Blues
A Shot of Rhythm and Blues was first recorded by Arthur Alexander in 1961. The Beatles covered it in their BBC performances.
Covers: Anna
As far as I can tell, Arthur Alexander is one of five artists covered by the Beatles and Rolling Stones:
Arthur Alexander
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
Chuck Berry
Larry Williams
Buddy Holly
Alexander is the only songwriter whose songs were covered by the Beatles, Rollin Stones and Bob Dylan.
Alexander recorded his song Anna in 1962 and the Beatles covered it in 1963 on their first album. Alexander is a great singer who was later forgotten and made a comeback right before he passed away in 1993. His records are R&B with a strong infusion of country. Anna even has a Latin influence common in songs from that era like “Spanish Harlem”.
The cover by Roger McGuinn on the Alexander tribute album is wonderful.
Covers: M.T.A.
I know this song from my childhood and decided to write about it after reading this article.
Here’s more on “M.T.A” , best known from the Kingston Trio 1959 version.
It was based on older songs:
a variation:
and a sequel:
Covers: I’m Leaving It Up to You
“I’m Leaving It Up to You” was originally written and performed by Don & Dewey in 1957. Their version is a lot rougher (and, to me, better) than the later more popular recordings. I first heard their version on a Specialty Records anthology. Dale & Grace had a #1 hit with it in 1963 and Donny and Marie had a hit version in 1974. Both versions smoothed out the rough edges with strings in the background which is very unlike the Don & Dewey original. Most of the covers have a strong country influence not there in the original. I like the one by Roddy Romero and Yvette Landry who I had not heard of before finding this on YouTube.
Don was Don “Sugarcane” Harris who later played with Frank Zappa and John Mayall. He sure wasn’t like the Osmonds!
This has Don Sugarcane Harris on lead vocal and violin. It’s a Little Richard cover I already posted.
Covers: Cotton Fields
“Cotton Fields” was written by Lead Belly and recorded by him in 1940. There have been lots of covers by a wide range of artists. The strangest one I found was by Teresa Brewer and the Muppets.
The Beach Boys version (1969) was number 1 in Australia, South Africa, Sweden and Norway, and top five in other countries. The Creedence Clearwater Revival version (1970) was number 1 in Mexico.
Covers: Draggin’ the Line
“Draggin’ the Line” was a hit for Tommy James in 1971. I was surprised to find out today on Twitter that R.E.M. had covered it in 1999.
Covers: This Land Is Your Land
There’s a great new cover of the 1940 Woody Guthrie song “This Land Is Your Land” by the Avett Brothers.
Covers: Shakin’ All Over
“Shakin’ All Over” was originally recorded by Johnny Kidd & the Pirates in 1960. I know it best from the Who’s version on 1970’s Live at Leeds. I had not heard the song before. Try the Flamin Groovies version. They are a very underrated group from the the 1960s/1970s.
All versions have the distinctive guitar riff at the beginning.
Sad! 