Anna Records was a short-lived record label, known as a forerunner of Motown, founded by sisters Anna and Gwen Gordy and Roquel Billy Davis in 1959 and located in Detroit, Michigan. Gwen Gordy and Davis had written hit songs for Jackie Wilson and Etta James prior to founding the label. Anna Records recorded acts like David Ruffin, future lead singer of the Temptations, Joe Tex, Herman Griffin, Johnny Bristol and his partner Jackey Beavers (the original duo behind The Supremes' "Someday We'll Be Together"), and future Motown hit-making songwriter-producer Lamont Dozier (who went by the name Lamont Anthony at the time). They hired future Motown star Marvin Gaye as drummer for the label.
Anna Records is most notable for issuing the first national Motown hit, "Money (That's What I Want)", recorded by singer-songwriter Barrett Strong, which hit number two on the R&B chart in early 1960. The label wasn't so successful afterwards and in 1961 Anna and all its artists were absorbed by Gwen and Anna's brother Berry Gordy into Motown. Gaye, in particular, became a solo artist and signed with the corporation's oldest label Tamla while still serving as a session drummer, and Ruffin later joined the Temptations, having signed a separate contract with the Gordy subsidiary just prior to signing with Anna. Ruffin's brother Jimmy also briefly recorded for the label.
The label had national distribution through Chess Records. The label issued no albums.
After the label wound up, Anna Gordy joined Motown's staff writing team and Gwen later separated from Davis, going on to form a partnership with singer Harvey Fuqua, whom she married. The couple later formed Harvey Records and Tri-Phi Records. Both labels were also absorbed by Motown in 1963. Gwen and Harvey later joined the Motown songwriting staff. Davis found success as a staff songwriter for Chess Records shortly after Etta James released his co-composition, "All I Could Do Was Cry".
Discography
Singles YearMonthTitleArtistCatalogue NumberA-sideB-side1959Apr"Hope and Pray""Oop's I'm Sorry"Voice MastersAnna A-1101"Needed""Needed (For Lovers Only)"Voice MastersAnna A-1102Jun"Hit and Run Away Love""Advertising for Love"Hill SistersAnna A-1103Aug"Peppermint (You Know What to Do)""Never More"Bob Kayli Anna A-1104Oct"All I Want Is You""Take Me Back (I Was Wrong)"Wreg TraceyAnna A-1105Dec"The Hunch""Hot Cross Buns"Paul GaytenAnna A-1106"Hot Cross Buns""The Hunch"Paul GaytenAnna A-11071960Feb"Lonely and Blue""Let's Go to a Movie Baby"Johnny & JackeyAnna A-1108"With Tears in My Eyes""I'll Get Along Somehow"Larry DarnellAnna A-1109"Just for Your Love""This Heart of Mine"FalconsAnna A-1110Mar"Money (That's What I Want)""Oh! I Apologize"Barrett StrongAnna A-1111"Beatnick Beat""Scratch Back"Paul Gayten & his OrchestraAnna A-1112May"I Need You""I Got That Feeling"Letha Jones with The RivalsAnna A-1113 (first issue)"I Need You""Black Clouds"Letha Jones with The RivalsAnna A-1113 (second issue)Jul"Orphan Boy""Everything About You"Ty Hunter with The Voice MastersAnna A-1114May"Hurry Up and Marry Me""Do You Want to See My Baby"Herman Griffin & The Mello-DeesAnna A-1115Jun"Yes, No, Maybe So""You Knows What to Do"Barrett StrongAnna A-1116Jul"I Feel It""So Good"Ruben FortAnna A-1117"Blue Moon""Don't"Allen "Bo" StoryAnna A-1118Aug"All I Could Do Was Cry Pt. 1""All I Could Do Was Cry Pt. 2"Joe TexAnna A-1119Sep"Hoy Hoy""No One Else But You"Johnny & JackeyAnna A-1120"The Big Time Spender Part I""The Big Time Spender Part II"Bill Murray & George CopelandAnna A-1121Oct"Tight Skirts & Crazy Sweaters""I'm Afraid"Cap-tansAnna A-1122Dec"Free""Everytime"Ty Hunter & The Voice MastersAnna A-11231961Jan"I'll Never Break Your Heart, Pt. 1""I'll Never Break Your Heart, Pt. 2"Joe Tex & The VibratorsAnna A-1124"Popeye (The Sailor Man)""Let's Talk It Over"Lamont AnthonyAnna A-1125 (first issue - withdrawn)Feb"Benny the Skinny Man""Let's Talk It Over"Lamont AnthonyAnna A-1125 (second issue)1960Dec"All I Want for Christmas (Is Your Love)""Take Me Back (I Was Wrong)"Wreg TraceyAnna A-11261961Feb"I'm In Love""One of These Days"David RuffinAnna A-1127Mar"Ain't I a Mess""Baby You're Right"Joe TexAnna A-1128
See also List of record labels Motown Records Gordy family
References