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Overview
"Anna (Go to Him)", or simply "Anna", is a song written and originally recorded by Arthur Alexander. His version was released as a single by Dot Records on September 17, 1962. A cover version was performed by the Beatles and included on their 1963 debut album Please Please Me. [Wikipedia]
Background
Anna (Go to Him) is a song by The Beatles, written by Arthur Alexander and led on vocal by John Lennon. Cover of Arthur Alexander; one of John's most plaintive early vocals. Within the catalogue, its cover thread connects it to Chains, Boys, Baby It's You; its r-and-b thread connects it to When I Get Home; its heartbreak thread connects it to Misery. This Arthur Alexander cover was recorded during the Please Please Me sessions, reflecting the group's continued reliance on rhythm-and-blues and early rock standards for album filler. John Lennon's lead vocal captures the emotional weight of Alexander's original 1962 release, adapting the soul-blues phrasing to the British beat-music template. The inclusion marked a deliberate strategy to anchor the emerging Beatles sound in proven American roots material (Lewisohn 1988, p.24-25).
What's distinctive
One of 101 songs led primarily by John. A non-original — one of 23 cover versions in the canon. Recorded approximately 6 of 67 into the Beatlemania (1962–1964) sessions. Carries the rare tag 'r-and-b' — shared with only 1 other song(s). Take count: 29 (highest take number documented in Lewisohn (1988)).Opening line — "Anna, you come and ask me…" (brief identification excerpt; full lyrics © Sony Music Publishing — see Genius link in References.)
Pattern analysis
Recording
The session work falls within the band's Beatlemania (1962–1964) period, recorded 11 Feb 1963 at EMI Studios, Abbey Road. George Martin produced; Norman Smith engineered. For session-by-session detail, see Mark Lewisohn's account on p.24 of The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions (excerpt below). Recorded from take 7 'Anna' required efficient sessionwork as part of the marathon Please Please Me album recording day. The take count suggests quick alignment with the group's arrangement, likely derived from live club performances where covers formed the bulk of their Cavern repertoire. Norman Smith's engineering of the vocal line captures Lennon's blues-inflected phrasing with minimal studio intervention (Lewisohn 1988, p.25).
| Studio | EMI Studios, Abbey Road — predominantly Studio Two |
|---|---|
| Tape machine | Twin-track BTR-2 (1962); Studer J37 four-track from late-1963 |
| Console | REDD.37 / REDD.51 valve consoles |
| Microphones | Neumann U47, U48; AKG D19 (drums); STC 4038 (overheads) |
| Outboard / effects | EMI RS124 compressor (Altec 436B mod), EMT 140 plate reverb, STEED tape echo |
| Guitars | Rickenbacker 325 (Lennon), Gretsch Country Gent / Tennessean (Harrison), Höfner 500/1 violin bass (McCartney), Ludwig Oyster Black Pearl kit (Starr) |
| Amplifiers | Vox AC30 (TB & non-Top-Boost variants) |
| Producer | George Martin |
| Engineer / 2nd | Norman Smith • Richard Langham, Geoff Emerick (2nd) |
| Estimated takes | 29 (highest take number documented in Lewisohn (1988)) |
Legacy & release history
In the canonical discography it appears on the LP Please Please Me; on the EP The Beatles (No. 1). Mono and stereo histories vary by era — see the dedicated section below. As a cover song, it represents one of 18 non-original compositions in the Beatlemania era and stands among the 40 covers in the canon. Sung by John Lennon, it is part of his 73 lead-vocal canon songs. Though overshadowed by original compositions, Arthur Alexander's composition provided legal foundation for later Beatles publishing ventures and established precedent for licensing arrangement fees to cover writers (Lewisohn 1988, p.25).
Mono & stereo
- Mixed primarily in mono at Abbey Road; the Beatles attended only the mono mixes through Sgt Pepper.
- Stereo mixes from this period were prepared (often without the band present) and are now considered secondary by purists.
Documented alternate versions
No documented alternate versions.
Released on
- Please Please Me — LP, 22 March 1963
- The Beatles (No. 1) — EP, 1 November 1963
Cross-references
Other songs sharing themes (cover, r-and-b, heartbreak)
Other songs led by the same vocalist
Other songs from this era
coverr-and-bheartbreak
References & external databases
Frequently asked
Who wrote Anna (Go to Him)?
“Anna (Go to Him)” was written by Arthur Alexander.
Who sings lead on Anna (Go to Him)?
The lead vocal on “Anna (Go to Him)” is by John Lennon.
When was Anna (Go to Him) recorded?
“Anna (Go to Him)” was recorded 11 Feb 1963 at EMI Studios, Abbey Road.
How many takes did Anna (Go to Him) require?
Mark Lewisohn's session log documents up to 29 numbered takes for “Anna (Go to Him)”.