Arthur Alexander: The musician The Beatles tried and failed to copy
When discussing the monumental impact of The Beatles, it’s usually in relation to their originality. After all, the Fab Four managed to execute many things others couldn’t, no matter the immediate simplicity of their technique. However, not everything the band did was entirely theirs. In fact, most things they are considered to have revolutionised actually started as different versions of something else entirely.
When it comes to originality, especially when analysing and assessing legendary acts as monolithic as The Beatles, it’s almost easy to enter a more forgiving mindset where it doesn’t really matter what was theirs and what wasn’t. What means more to some is that they did do those things, and they often did them better than those claimed to have appeared before their reign.
And while many continue to compare the band to other distinctive groups like The Rolling Stones, The Beatles were never oblivious to such critical discourse. In fact, they were entirely privy to what others thought of them, the good and the bad. Sometimes, they even played into this, embracing all rumblings as part of their complex aesthetic and identity, not only exuding a different type of self-awareness but one that seemed immune to potential scrutiny.
This often fed into their mystique, too. Despite the overarching narrative that The Beatles were the cleaner and safer alternative to the more controversial nature of bands like the Stones, others regarded their off-kilter honesty as refreshing and not at all conducive to a band that existed to serve perfect strangers for the sheer sake of it. This attitude likely also stemmed from some of their idols.
Like most popular acts that trailblazed their way through the 1960s, The Beatles were enamoured with many originators of soul and rock ‘n’ roll. Elvis Presley, for instance, was a figure all four members looked up to, not just musically but also charismatically, in how he held himself on stage and captivated an entire audience from start to finish. However, once they covered his songs, their process revealed a more natural affinity for challenging certain aspects and moulding them to fit their own style.
Most of the time, this is where The Beatles’ sound thrived—the strange in-between space where distant replicants of beloved greats existed. During these moments, their failure to imitate their favourites transformed into accidental genius, paving the way for all those quintessential Beatles moments we now consider sheer originality. One of these pivotal moments occurred when they tried to copy country-soul legend Arthur Alexander.
Discussing Alexander in The Beatles Anthology, George Harrison recalled owning “several albums” by him, while John Lennon attempted to sing a handful of the songs, including ‘Soldier Of Love’. However, while trying to imitate the singer’s rhythms, they accidentally stumbled upon their own. “Arthur Alexander used a peculiar drum pattern, which we tried to copy; but we couldn’t quite do it, so in the end we’d invented something quite bizarre but equally original,” he said.
Candidly discussing how this is something they often did, Harrison added: “A lot of the time we tried to copy things but wouldn’t be able to, and so we’d end up with our own versions.”
Evidently, The Beatles didn’t just repurpose old sounds; they reinvented the definition of authenticity, shaping their artistic expression by refreshing methods that others considered tried and tested. Rather than emerging as poor imitations, however, they recalibrated the stage for a new audience, spotlighting everything great about music with a renewed fervour that demanded immediate attention.
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out Beatles Newsletter
All the latest stories about The Beatles from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.