MONEY (THAT'S WHAT I WANT)

"'Money (That's What I Want)'" is a 1959 hit single by Barrett Strong for the Tamla label, distributed by Anna Records. The song was written by Tamla founder Berry Gordy and Janie Bradford, and would become the first hit record for Gordy's Motown flagship label.
Anna Records was operated by Gwen Gordy, Anna Gordy and Billy 'Roquel' Davis Roquel Davis. Gwen and Anna's brother Berry Gordy had just established his Tamla label (soon Motown would follow), and had the ANNA label in 1960 distribute nationally this single to meet the demand which was resounding success in the Midwest. The song features Strong curtly demanding that money is what he needs, more than anything else. The single became Motown's first hit in June, 1960, making it to #2 on the US R&B charts and #23 on the US pop charts.
The song has been covered by a plethora of artists, including Buddy Guy, The Beatles, John Lennon during his solo career, The Kingsmen, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Pearl Jam, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Flying Lizards, Shonen Knife, Secret Machines, The Sonics, The Smashing Pumpkins, Hanson, Cheap Trick, Josie and the Pussycats, Great White, The Blues Brothers, The Avengers, and Motown labelmates The Supremes, Jr. Walker & the All Stars and The Miracles.
The song was also featured in the movie ''Animal House'' in which it was performed by John Belushi. When the Blues Brothers band covered the song 18 years later on their album it was performed by John's brother Jim Belushi in the role of ''Brother Zee Blues'' along with Elwood Blues and Sam Moore.
Also, the song was used in the Beatles biopic ''Backbeat'' performed by a band composed of alt-rock musicians (including REM's Mike Mills, and Nirvana's Dave Grohl. It was mimed in the film by the actors playing the Beatles.
The song was listed as #288 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Contents

''I Need Some Money''

Cultural references

References

''I Need Some Money''

"I Need Some Money," a song John Lee Hooker may have been performing live for some time previous to 1959, has lyrics that are more than coincidentally similar to "Money (That's What I Want)". For example, the first verses are "The best thing in life are free/But you can give it to the birds an' bees/ I need some money/ Need some money/ Oh yeah, what I want" versus "The best things in life are free/But you can keep 'em for the birds and bees/
Now give me money, (that's what I want) that's what I want". The music is, however, different.
The question of which lyrics came first never seems to have been settled in any formal way; John Lee Hooker has full composition credits for this song, and it has been independently covered by other artists such as James Blood Ulmer and The Doors.

Cultural references

★ In a musical episode of Tiny Toon Adventures, Perkins' version of the song was featured using Montana Max (a spoiled brat millionaire) as the "singer".

★ The Flying Lizards' version of the song was featured in Lord of War, as well as Charlie's Angels, Empire Records, The Wedding Singer and the American television series Nip/Tuck.

★ The Beatles cover of the song was used on the 1992 Christmas special of UK sitcom Only Fools And Horses

★ ITV weathergirl Siân Lloyd sung this song on a celebrity edition of Stars in their Eyes.

★ Chumbawamba borrowed the chorus of this song for their tune "Snip Snip Snip." However, for legal reasons, this portion of their song had to be removed from the version released on the album Shhh. (The original version, which also samples a number of other money-related songs, can be found on their unreleased album Jesus H. Christ.)

References

★ Lenny Carlson, "John Lee Hooker Vintage Blues Guitar", Mel Bay Publications, 1996.