How a little-known Arthur Alexander soul ballad became a showcase for young Lennon’s ability to sing heartbreak—even with a cold 🎤💔
When The Beatles recorded their debut album Please Please Me in 1963, they included several cover songs that showcased their musical influences and tastes. Among them was “Anna (Go to Him),” an Arthur Alexander soul ballad that John Lennon personally championed for inclusion on the album. But what made this particular song so important to Lennon, and how did The Beatles transform it into something uniquely their own? 🎸
Why “Anna” Mattered to John Lennon ❤️
“Anna (Go to Him)” was a personal favorite of John Lennon’s—significant praise from a Beatle who was already developing his own songwriting voice. The song had become part of The Beatles’ early live repertoire, meaning it was road-tested and audience-approved before they ever entered the studio. 🎤
The song’s appeal likely lay in its emotional complexity. Arthur Alexander’s original told the story of a man selflessly telling the woman he loves to return to her former boyfriend—a narrative of painful sacrifice and mature love. For Lennon, who was beginning to explore emotional vulnerability in his vocal performances, “Anna” provided the perfect vehicle. It wasn’t just another rock and roll cover; it was a genuine soul ballad that required emotional authenticity. 💫
The Original: Arthur Alexander’s Soul Masterpiece 🎹
Written and originally recorded by Arthur Alexander, “Anna” was released as a single by Dot Records on September 17, 1962. The song was based on Alexander’s real-life relationship with his girlfriend (later wife) Ann, and the attempts by her wealthy former boyfriend to win her back. Interestingly, Alexander’s biographer Richard Younger notes that while Alexander himself had been unfaithful in marriage, in the song he cast himself as the abandoned lover—an artistic reversal of reality.
The song became a modest hit, reaching #68 on the pop charts and #10 on the R&B listings. Music critic Dave Marsh rated it as one of the top 1001 singles of all time, praising its “gently swinging rhythm” and tough, syncopated drumming by Nashville drummer Kenny Buttrey. Marsh even suggested that Lennon may have learned to sing ballads like “In My Life” by listening to Alexander’s performance. 🌟
Critic Richie Unterberger called “Anna” “one of the great early soul ballads,” noting its distinctive “loping groove” that sat somewhere between mid-tempo and slow ballad territory. The song featured Floyd Cramer’s memorable piano phrase that would later be translated to guitar by George Harrison in The Beatles’ version. 🎼
Fun fact: Despite the song’s title, the actual lyric throughout is “go with him” rather than “go to him.” And regarding the extra syllable in the title? Alexander simply said, “it just fit better than Ann.” 😊
The Beatles’ Recording Session 🎙️
On February 11, 1963, The Beatles recorded “Anna (Go to Him)” in just three takes at EMI Studios, with Take 3 becoming the master. The session was part of the marathon recording day that produced much of their debut album. The track was later remixed on February 25. ⚡
(This essay continues below. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)
Please Please Me (Vinyl)
George Harrison took on the distinctive musical phrase that Floyd Cramer had played on piano in the original, translating it to guitar with his own touch. This choice gave The Beatles’ version a different texture while maintaining the song’s essential character. 🎸
The band also recorded the song for BBC radio on June 17, 1963, for the show Pop Go the Beatles, which was broadcast on June 25—demonstrating how much the song meant to them that they performed it multiple times across different contexts. 📻
Lennon’s Tortured Vocal Performance 😢
What makes The Beatles’ version of “Anna” truly special is John Lennon’s vocal delivery. Richie Unterberger praised the cover in his review, noting that while Ringo Starr faithfully replicated the unusual drum rhythm and hi-hat patterns from the original, Lennon’s vocal “added a tortured pain not present in Alexander’s model, particularly when he wailed in his upper register at the conclusion of the bridges.” The Beatles’ backup harmony vocals were also described as “superb, and more effective” than on Alexander’s version. 🎤💔
However, music critic Ian MacDonald offered a slightly different interpretation, describing Lennon’s performance as sounding like “a passionate youth grappling with a man’s song.” This observation touches on something fascinating: Lennon was only 22 years old when he recorded “Anna,” yet he was attempting to convey the emotional maturity and resignation of a man letting go of the woman he loves. 🌅
Adding another layer to the story, Mark Lewisohn’s The Beatles Recording Sessions notes that Lennon had a bad cold on the day of recording, which adversely affected his voice. Yet somehow, this physical limitation may have contributed to the raw, vulnerable quality that makes the performance so memorable. The slight rasp and strain in his voice only enhanced the emotional authenticity he was reaching for. 🤧
(The video shown in this post was created by the YouTuber “Kefeide.” You can see lots more great stuff on his channel.)
The American Releases
In the United States, “Anna (Go to Him)” appeared on multiple releases, reflecting the complicated landscape of Beatles releases in America during the early 1960s. Vee Jay Records included it on Introducing… The Beatles (January 10, 1964), and Capitol Records later re-released it on The Early Beatles (March 22, 1965). Vee Jay also featured the song on the EP Souvenir of Their Visit: The Beatles in the US, capitalizing on Beatlemania. 📀
Why This Cover Matters Today 💭
“Anna (Go to Him)” represents an important moment in The Beatles’ development. It showed that they weren’t just a rock and roll band—they could handle sophisticated soul material with emotional depth. For John Lennon specifically, it was an early demonstration of his ability to convey vulnerability and pain through his voice, qualities that would become central to his greatest work. ✨ Listeners today can still hear that pathos in Lennon’s voice.
The song also illustrates The Beatles’ excellent taste in cover material. They chose songs that meant something to them personally and that showcased different aspects of their musical range. Arthur Alexander’s “Anna” was the kind of song that demanded real feeling, and Lennon rose to the challenge, even while battling a cold and perhaps feeling somewhat overwhelmed by the emotional demands of the material. 🎵
The fact that this relatively obscure soul ballad became a personal favorite of John Lennon and earned a place on The Beatles’ debut album tells us something important about who they were as artists. They weren’t just picking hits or obvious choices—they were digging deep into American R&B and soul music, finding gems like “Anna,” and making them their own. 💎
In doing so, they helped introduce Arthur Alexander’s songwriting to a wider audience and created a version that, while different from the original, stands as a powerful piece of music in its own right—a testament to both Alexander’s songwriting and Lennon’s interpretive gifts. 🌟