Anna 1111 (original,
kind of) USA, Nov. 1959
Words & Music by: Side A – Janie Bradford, Berry Gordy, Jr.; Side B – William Robinson, Berry Gordy, Jr.
Musicians: Barrett Strong (vocals and piano), Benny Benjamin (drums), Brian Holland (tambourine), others unknown
Recording sessions: Produced by Berry Gordy, Jr. in Detroit, MI, 1959
Highest chart positions: US #23, US R&B #2
Words & Music by: Side A – Janie Bradford, Berry Gordy, Jr.; Side B – William Robinson, Berry Gordy, Jr.
Musicians: Barrett Strong (vocals and piano), Benny Benjamin (drums), Brian Holland (tambourine), others unknown
Recording sessions: Produced by Berry Gordy, Jr. in Detroit, MI, 1959
Highest chart positions: US #23, US R&B #2
This was
the first hit record for Motown corporation. The single was originally released
on Tamla label (Aug. 1959), but it was leased for Anna label where it really
took off (due to a better national distribution).
This song
made Strong a one-hit-wonder as an artist, but he did score more hits as a
writer and co-writer of songs like “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” (US #1 for
Marvin Gaye in 1968), “War” (US #1 for Edwin Starr in 1970), “Just My
Imagination” (US #1 for The Temptations in 1971) and “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone”
(US #1 for the Temptations in 1972).
“Money” has
been covered by many artist and groups such as The Beatles, The Searchers and
Jerry Lee Lewis.
This is at
#288 in Rolling Stone magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs.
List
price: Very Good+ is $15, Near Mint is $30
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