Money
(That’s What I Want)
Written by Berry Gordy and Janie Bradford
(c. 1959) 1
Table of Contents
Decca Audition Version
Recording Details
Decca Recording Studios, London – Studio 2
Recorded: 1 Jan 1962
John: lead vocal, guitar
Paul: backing vocal (higher harmony), bass
George: backing vocal (lower harmony), guitar
Pete: drums
First recorded by Barrett Strong and released on Berry Gordy’s Tamla Records (later Motown) in 1959, Money (That’s What I Want) became the label’s first hit in the US in June 1960.1 Money was issued in the UK on London Records in 1960 and though not a hit, it caught the attention of The Beatles and it didn’t take long before it was added to their live act. 2
“Brian [Epstein] had had a policy at NEMS of buying at least one copy of every record that was released. If it sold, he’d order another one, or five or whatever. Consequently he had records that weren’t hits in Britain, weren’t even hits in America. Before going to a gig we’d meet in the record store, after it had shut, and we’d search the racks like ferrets to see what new ones were there … ‘Devil In Her Heart’ and Barrett Strong’s ‘Money’ were records that we’d picked up and played in the shop and thought were interesting.”
– George Harrison, The Beatles Anthology 3
This version recorded by The Beatles for Decca is pretty good but nothing special. John’s voice sounds somewhat tired and weak at times but Pete’s drumming is surprisingly propulsive.
Instruments 4
John Lennon
1958 Rickenbacker 325 Capri with Bigsby vibrato
George Harrison
1957 Gretsch PX6128 Duo Jet with Gretsch Bigsby vibrato
Paul McCartney
1961 Höfner 500/1
Pete Best
1960 Premier Marine Pearl (14″ x 22″ bass drum/ 8″ x 12″ rack tom/ 16″ x 16″ floor tom/ 5.5″ x 14″ “Super Ace” snare); Zyn cymbals (16″ crash/ 18″ custom “sizzle” ride)/ Zildjian cymbals (18″ crash/ 14″ hi-hats)
Releases Overview
Like the majority of the Decca Audition, this version of Money has never been officially released, however it is widely available on bootlegs.
With The Beatles Version
Recording Details
Location
Recorded: Date with LINK
Mono Mix: Date with LINK
Stereo Mix: Date with LINK
John: ***
Paul: ***
George: ***
Ringo: ***
Lorem Ipsum
Instruments
Name
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Releases Overview
Mono/Stereo? |
Release |
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References:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Money_(That%27s_What_I_Want) ↩︎
- Lewisohn, Mark, 2013, Tune In (pp. 329, 365) ↩︎
- The Beatles, 2000, The Beatles Anthology (p. 107) ↩︎
- Hammack, Jerry, 2017, TBRRM: Vol 1 (pp. 230-231) ↩︎