Money (That's What I Want)

"Money (That's What I Want)" is a rhythm and blues song written by Tamla founder Berry Gordy and Janie Bradford, which was the first hit record for Gordy's Motown enterprise. Barrett Strong recorded it in 1959 as a single for the Tamla label, distributed nationally on Anna Records. Many artists later covered the song, including the Beatles in 1963 and the Flying Lizards in 1979. [Wikipedia]

Money (That's What I Want) is a song by The Beatles, written by Bradford–Gordy and led on vocal by John Lennon. Barrett Strong cover; Lennon at full bray, album closer. Within the catalogue, its cover thread connects it to Anna (Go to Him), Chains, Boys; its motown thread connects it to Please Mister Postman, You Really Got a Hold on Me, Got to Get You into My Life; its closer thread connects it to I'll Be Back, Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby, Dizzy Miss Lizzy. A Berry Gordy composition first recorded by Barrett Strong in 1959, 'Money (That's What I Want)' was recorded for With the Beatles on 18 July 1963 with John Lennon on lead vocal. The song's brash celebration of financial ambition and its driving R&B arrangement provided a rock-and-roll counterweight to the album's softer material. Lennon's vocal captures the original's cocky, rhythmic delivery with characteristic energy (Lewisohn 1988, p.30). An aggressive cover of Barrett Strong's original that closes the With the Beatles album, featuring a back-and-forth 'yeah' call-and-response refrain; Kozinn notes irony in the song's money-obsessed lyrics coinciding with McCartney's emerging counter-theme about love transcending materialism (Kozinn 1995, p. 71, 88).

The session work falls within the band's Beatlemania (1962–1964) period, recorded 18 Jul 1963 at EMI Studios, Abbey Road. George Martin produced; Norman Smith engineered. For session-by-session detail, see Mark Lewisohn's account on p.34 of The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions (excerpt below). Take 3 provided the final version, with Lennon's vocal pushed to the front of George Martin's mix. The rhythm section of Ringo Starr's drums and Paul McCartney's bass anchor the arrangement, while the harmonic backing remains minimal to emphasize the lead vocal's aggressive character. Four-track recording allowed strategic separation of vocal from instruments (Lewisohn 1988, p.30). Emerick's memoir reflects on the studio economics and time-money pressures during recording sessions, including technical challenges like tape threading and playback logistics under musician deadlines (Emerick 2006, p. 158). MacDonald contextualizes the song within broader post-scarcity anarchist thought and cultural countercultural rhetoric that influenced Lennon and McCartney during their formative years (MacDonald 1994, p. 9).

In the canonical discography it appears on the LP With the Beatles; on the EP All My Loving. Mono and stereo histories vary by era — see the dedicated section below. John Lennon lead vocals appear in 73 canon songs (26 in Beatlemania), making this characteristic of his rock-and-roll approach. As a Berry Gordy composition, the track paid tribute to Motown's founder and catalog while showcasing the Beatles' familiarity with the label's back catalog. The song became a live favorite, emphasizing the group's roots in rhythm-and-blues (Lewisohn 1988, p.30). Recorded 18 July 1963 with additional vocals on 30 September, the master exists as a second-generation twin-track; stereo and mono mixes have different vocal and handclap centering, with the vocal track mixed center in stereo.

• Rolling Stone 500: Rolling Stone ' s " The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time "

Recognition mentions extracted from the Wikipedia article. Verify against the linked source before quoting.

Other recordings sharing era, vocalist, writer, key, studio, or producer with this one. Higher scores indicate stronger overlap on documented attributes.

• All I've Got to Do (score 10)
• Ask Me Why (score 10)
• I Call Your Name (score 10)
• It Won't Be Long (score 10)
• Anna (Go to Him) (score 8)
• Any Time at All (score 8)
• Baby It's You (score 8)
• Every Little Thing (score 8)