#7: Anna (Go To Him)

Written by: Arthur Alexander
Released: March 22nd, 1963
Appears on: Please Please Me
Lead vocal: John

The Beatles loved country music. Arthur Alexander, according to the Wikipedia page, was a pioneer of "country soul" and was born in Alabama. He started in 1960 with Judd Records and released "Anna (Go To Him)" in September 1962. The Beatles recorded their version just six months later. The Beatles' version is very similar to Alexander's except that there aren't any strings, of course. There is also another major difference: Alexander didn't have John Lennon singing the lead vocal.
I think this is probably one John's best vocal performances that he ever gave. It is so heart-breaking and powerful, that it makes the original feel dry. (By the way, the original is here.) The Beatles make another message all too clear: Yeah, we're covering our favorite material and we're gonna knock your socks off with it.