John Lennon's Jukebox

[Billy Freemantle]

Legend has it that at the time of his murder John Lennon kept a juke-box in his NY apartment that was stocked with nothing but Arthur Alexander singles.

If you listen to Arthur Alexander Dot recordings from the early sixties such as 'Where Have You Been' and 'Soldier of Love' the similarity to that sound and the early sound of the Beatles is remarkable. And of course the Beatles did record Arthur penned tunes such as 'Anna', as did the Rolling Stones with 'Better Move On.'

How many people out there have spent miuch time listening to this great country soul performer?

Edited November 11, 2004 by Billy Freemantle

[Chalky]

Keep Her Guessing

[Billy Freemantle]

Keep Her Guessing 

link

Yes. That seems to be the one that everyone on the NS scene seems to know. But there really is a lot more to Arthur Alexander than 'Keep her Guessing'. Ace put out an album of 60s stuff sometime in the 80s ( which included KHG ) - I think it was called 'A Shot of Rhythm & Soul'. And then there was a later LP iof 70s stuff. I can't remember who did that. But there were some very good notes by Clive R, the Radio dj who also posts on here I think, on it.

[FrankM]

Lennon and and a whole load of other sixties bands played Arthur Alexander songs. A few years ago Record Collector did a survey on what Merseybeat bands performed live and recorded. After I(I think) Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly, Arthur Alexander was the third most popular source of songs. Johnny Kidd and the Pirates must have been the first UK group to do a cover of "A Shot of Rhythm and Blues".

As you said the Beatles and the Rolling Stones covered his songs along with The Bee Gees.

Lennon did have a portable juke box which he carted about with him on tour and there was a film about it on The South Bank Show earlier this year. Unfortunately Arthur did not make the cut for the accompanying album probably because no film existed of him which they could have used in the documentary.

https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detai...=samples#disc_1.

FrankM

[Pete S]

What about the actual jukebox though - have you seen it - it's fantastic! I'd pay an awful lot of money for one of those, if any still exist.

[jocko]

Yes. That seems to be the one that everyone on the NS scene seems to know. But there really is a lot more to Arthur Alexander than 'Keep her Guessing'. Ace put out an album of 60s stuff sometime in the 80s ( which included KHG ) - I think it was called  'A Shot of  Rhythm & Soul'. And then there was a later LP iof 70s stuff. I can't remember who did that. But there were some very good notes by Clive R, the Radio dj who also posts on here I think, on it.

link

I really like his version of Rainbow Road, supposed to be about him, think I have this on album but not listened to it for a while, I am a fan of country soul so do like his stuff I have heard, although not actually heard as much as I should probably.

Cheers

Jock

[FrankM]

https://www.jukebox-world.de/Forum/Archiv/Discomatic.htm

https://freespace.virgin.net/slot.machines/...ent_adverts.htm

I am sure this is long gone

[Guest micksmith]

Keep Her Guessing 

link

NA- I NEED YOU BABY. MONUMENT. ONE RANDY'S FAV'S.

[jazzyjas]

I'm not really all that big on collecting Beatles stuff, but I do have a nice CD sampler of the BBC sessions with an in-studio version of "Soldier of Love", dated 1963. Pretty cool hearing that. Has John on the lead vocal.

KTF

Jas