Album of the Day

The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan all covered Arthur Alexander's songs - for that reason alone, the Alabama-born singer-songwriter should be a household name. And yet Alexander was only afforded three albums in his lifetime; his eponymous second forms the core of RAINBOW ROAD: THE WARNER BROS. RECORDINGS. Cut in Memphis with producer Tommy Cogbill, that 1972 WB set is filled with terrific material ranging from new originals (“Thank God He Came”) and revisited favorites (“Go Home Girl”) to fit-like-a-glove covers (such as the title track and “Burning Love,” which Elvis Presley soon turned into a hit). But the interpretations are just as impressive, and Alexander's country-inflected delivery makes these often rueful songs unforgettable. Released in 1994 shortly after the performer's death, RAINBOW ROAD: THE WARNER BROS. RECORDINGS includes non-LP singles and is a must for any fan of Southern soul.