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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.[1] 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".
| 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 Anthony | Anna A-1125 (first issue - withdrawn) | ||
| Feb | "Benny the Skinny Man" | "Let's Talk It Over" | Lamont Anthony | Anna A-1125 (second issue) | |
| 1960 | Dec | "All I Want for Christmas (Is Your Love)" | "Take Me Back (I Was Wrong)" | Wreg Tracey | Anna A-1126 |
| 1961 | Feb | "I'm In Love" | "One of These Days" | David Ruffin | Anna A-1127 |
| Mar | "Ain't I a Mess" | "Baby You're Right" | Joe Tex | Anna A-1128 | |
