understanding arthur alexander

I have a new essay up at 2 Quarks Daily about the great 60's songwriter Arthur Alexander: 

Nothing kills the enjoyment of music for some people faster than trying to analyze it.  But I’m obsessed with solving the mystery of Arthur Alexander.  His body of work is small.  His songs are musically and lyrically simple, even simplistic.  Almost nobody but the most dedicated music lovers remember his name today.  Yet he was the only songwriter to win pop music’s Triple Crown:  His songs have been covered by the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan, arguably the three most respected songwriting acts in rock and roll history.   Dusty Springfield, Ry Cooder, Roger McGuinn, and dozens of others¹sang them too.

I’ve been wondering about these tunes for 45 years now, since I was ten years old.  Maybe I’m getting closer to understanding them, But I’m not there yet.  After all, his chord progressions were basic.  His lyrics seem banal on paper:  “Every day I have to cry some/wipe the water from my eyes some.”  “Oh my name is Johnny Heartbreak …”  “Me and Frank were the best of friends …”  But by at least one objective measure – the artists who covered him – he was the greatest rock songwriter who ever lived.  Subjectively, his best songs are impossible for me to resist as a listener and indescribably rewarding to sing. 

So who the hell was this guy, and what made him so good?

Feel free to give it a read.