Anna Records
| Company type | Record label |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1959 in Detroit, Michigan, United States |
| Founder | Anna Gordy, Gwen Gordy, Roquel Billy Davis |
| Defunct | 1961 |
| Fate | Integrated into Motown Records |
| Headquarters | Detroit , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Anna Gordy, Gwen Gordy, Roquel Billy Davis, Berry Gordy (brother) |
| Products | Singles (no full-length albums) |
Number of employees | Unknown |
| Parent | None (independent until integration into Motown) |
Anna Records was a brief-lived record company and a precursor to Motown, established in 1959 by sisters Anna and Gwen Gordy, together with Roquel Billy Davis in Detroit, Michigan. Before launching the label, Gwen Gordy and Davis had penned hits for performers such as Jackie Wilson and Etta James. The roster of Anna Records included artists like David Ruffin, who later became the lead vocalist of the Temptations, Joe Tex, Herman Griffin, Johnny Bristol and Jackey Beavers (the duo responsible for The Supremes' "Someday We'll Be Together"), as well as future Motown producer-songwriter Lamont Dozier (then known as Lamont Anthony). The label also featured future Motown icon Marvin Gaye in the role of drummer.
Anna Records is historically significant for releasing the first Motown hit to achieve national acclaim, "Money (That's What I Want)" by Barrett Strong, which climbed to number two on the R&B charts in early 1960. Despite this success, the label faced difficulties afterward, and in 1961 it, along with its artists, was integrated into Motown by Gwen and Anna's brother Berry Gordy. Marvin Gaye moved on to pursue a solo career under Motown's Tamla imprint while maintaining his work as a session drummer. Ruffin signed with Motown's Gordy subsidiary before joining the Temptations. His sibling, Jimmy, also recorded briefly for Anna.
National distribution for Anna Records was handled by Chess Records. The label did not produce any full-length albums.
Following the closure of Anna Records, Anna Gordy became part of Motown's songwriting team. Gwen Gordy ended her partnership with Davis and joined forces with singer Harvey Fuqua, whom she eventually married. Together, they founded Harvey Records and Tri-Phi Records, both of which were acquired by Motown in 1963. Gwen and Harvey subsequently contributed to Motown's songwriting division. Meanwhile, Davis found success as a staff songwriter at Chess Records after Etta James recorded his co-written song "All I Could Do Was Cry".
Singles
| Year | Month | Title | Artist | Catalogue Number | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A-side | B-side | ||||
| 1959 | Apr | "Hope and Pray" | "Oop's I'm Sorry" | Voice Masters | Anna A-1101 |
| "Needed" | "Needed (For Lovers Only)" | Voice Masters | Anna A-1102 | ||
| Jun | "Hit and Run Away Love" | "Advertising for Love" | Hill Sisters | Anna A-1103 | |
| Aug | "Peppermint (You Know What to Do)" | "Never More" | Bob Kayli | Anna A-1104 | |
| Oct | "All I Want Is You" | "Take Me Back (I Was Wrong)" | Wreg Tracey | Anna A-1105 | |
| Dec | "The Hunch" | "Hot Cross Buns" | Paul Gayten | Anna A-1106 | |
| "Hot Cross Buns" | "The Hunch" | Paul Gayten | Anna A-1107 | ||
| 1960 | Feb | "Lonely and Blue" | "Let's Go to a Movie Baby" | Johnny & Jackey | Anna A-1108 |
| "With Tears in My Eyes" | "I'll Get Along Somehow" | Larry Darnell | Anna A-1109 | ||
| "Just for Your Love" | "This Heart of Mine" | Falcons | Anna A-1110 | ||
| Mar | "Money (That's What I Want)" | "Oh! I Apologize" | Barrett Strong | Anna A-1111 | |
| "Beatnick Beat" | "Scratch Back" | Paul Gayten & his Orchestra | Anna A-1112 | ||
| May | "I Need You" | "I Got That Feeling" | Letha Jones with The Rivals | Anna A-1113 (first issue) | |
| "I Need You" | "Black Clouds" | Letha Jones with The Rivals | Anna A-1113 (second issue) | ||
| Jul | "Orphan Boy" | "Everything About You" | Ty Hunter with The Voice Masters | Anna A-1114 | |
| May | "Hurry Up and Marry Me" | "Do You Want to See My Baby" | Herman Griffin & The Mello-Dees | Anna A-1115 | |
| Jun | "Yes, No, Maybe So" | "You Knows What to Do" | Barrett Strong | Anna A-1116 | |
| Jul | "I Feel It" | "So Good" | Ruben Fort | Anna A-1117 | |
| "Blue Moon" | "Don't" | Allen "Bo" Story | Anna A-1118 | ||
| Aug | "All I Could Do Was Cry Pt. 1" | "All I Could Do Was Cry Pt. 2" | Joe Tex | Anna A-1119 | |
| Sep | "Hoy Hoy" | "No One Else But You" | Johnny & Jackey | Anna A-1120 | |
| "The Big Time Spender Part I" | "The Big Time Spender Part II" | Bill Murray & George Copeland | Anna A-1121 | ||
| Oct | "Tight Skirts & Crazy Sweaters" | "I'm Afraid" | Cap-tans | Anna A-1122 | |
| Dec | "Free" | "Everytime" | Ty Hunter & The Voice Masters | Anna A-1123 | |
| 1961 | Jan | "I'll Never Break Your Heart, Pt. 1" | "I'll Never Break Your Heart, Pt. 2" | Joe Tex & The Vibrators | Anna A-1124 |
| "Popeye (The Sailor Man)" | "Let's Talk It Over" | Lamont Dozier (as Lamont Anthony) | Anna A-1125 (first issue - withdrawn) | ||
| Feb | "Benny the Skinny Man" | "Let's Talk It Over" | Lamont Anthony | Anna A-1125 (second issue) | |
| Dec 1960 | "All I Want for Christmas (Is Your Love)" | "Take Me Back (I Was Wrong)" | Wreg Tracey | Anna A-1126 | |
| Feb 1961 | "I'm In Love" | "One of These Days" | David Ruffin | Anna A-1127 | |
| Mar 1961 | "Ain't I a Mess" | "Baby You're Right" | Joe Tex | Anna A-1128 | |