‘But the Box Tops’ is still the version’

Mark Steyn writes:

I was stunned when I found out Alex Chilton was only 16. It’s such a mature voice, and with a real growl, like he’s living the situation. Young Chilton went on to influence all kinds of fellows – Cheap Trick, REM, Garbage – but nothing he did enjoyed the success of that Wayne Carson song.

Maybe “Always On My Mind” is Carson’s best shot at posterity, but on Monday, when I heard he’d died, it was “The Letter” that ran around my head until it hit the pillow…