AC/DC – Moneytalks—- Songs That Reference Money

This is the band’s highest-charting single to date in the United States. During their subsequent world tour, thousands of “Angus Bucks” were dropped on the audience during the song.

If you have one of those dollar bills…don’t’ quit your day job…they are worth around 3 bucks….of real money.

AC/DC Films Moneytalks Promo On This Day 6 November 1990 | AC/DC ...

This was somewhat of a comeback for AC/DC when they recorded The Razors Edge album, it outsold their previous three by a wide margin. On this album, Angus and Malcolm Young wrote not only the music but also the lyrics, a task that fell to lead singer Brian Johnson in the past. Johnson didn’t have a problem with it…he said he was out of ideas at the time.

Thunderstruck was popular but they never did release that as a single.

Moneytalks peaked at #23 in 1991 in the Billboard 100,

The Razor’s Edge peaked at #2 in the Billboard Album Charts, #4 in the UK, and #1 in Canada.

Razorsedge.jpg

 

From Songfacts

Money talks, bulls–t walks. But AC/DC has little regard for what Angus Young called “the rich and the faceless,” the guys in suits smoking cigars and enjoying their luxury lifestyles. The big chorus on its own sounds like a salute to money, but a listen to the verses reveals the opposite: it’s a takedown of those who flaunt their wealth, and commentary on how money divides us. AC/DC got very rich, but they stayed grounded.

“Thunderstruck” was the lead track on The Razors Edge and the most enduring song from the album, but it wasn’t sold as a single in America. “Moneytalks” was, reaching a very respectable #23 in the States.

Also, Malcolm Young got sober after a bout with alcoholism, and drummer Chris Slade joined the band, replacing Simon Wright. They also used a new producer, Bruce Fairbairn, a Canadian who helmed hit albums for Aerosmith, Bryan Adams and Bon Jovi.

AC/DC printed their own dollar bills to promote this song, putting Angus Young on the front in place of George Washington. On the Razors Edge tour, these “Angus Bucks” would blow onto the crowd; the music video opens with one set on fire.

AC/DC took some liberties with the title, turning the phrase “money talks” into one word. They also played fast and loose with the grammar on the album title, leaving out the apostrophe in The Razors Edge.

Around the same time, there was a song with a similar title on the charts: “Dirty Cash (Money Talks)” by The Adventures Of Stevie V. That one has a similar sentiment but is an R&B tune.

Moneytalks

Tailored suits, chauffeured cars
Fine hotels and big cigars
Up for grabs, up for a price
Where the red hot girls keep on dancing through the night
The claim is on you
The sights are on me
So what do you do
That’s guaranteed
Hey little girl, you want it all
The furs, the diamonds, the painting on the wall

Come on, come on, love me for the money
Come on, come on, listen to the moneytalk
Come on, come on, love me for the money
Come on, come on, listen to the moneytalk

A French maid, foreign chef
A big house with king size bed
You’ve had enough, you ship them out
The dollar’s up, down, you’d better buy the pound
The claim is on you
The sights are on me
So what do you do
That’s guaranteed
Hey little girl, you broke the laws
You hustle, you deal, you steal from us all

Come on, come on, love me for the money
Come on, come on, listen to the moneytalk
Come on, come on, love me for the money
Come on, come on, listen to the moneytalk

Moneytalks, yeah, yeah

Money talks, B.S. walks
Money talks, come on, come on

Come on, come on, love me for the money
Come on, come on, listen to the moneytalk
Come on, come on, love me for the money
Come on, come on, listen to the moneytalk

Come on, come on, love me for the money (moneytalks)
Come on, come on, listen to the moneytalk (moneytalks)
Come on, come on, love me for the money (I hear it talk)
Come on, come on, listen to the moneytalk (yeah, yeah)
Moneytalk

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball fan, old movie and tv show fan... and a songwriter, bass and guitar player.

42 thoughts on “AC/DC – Moneytalks—- Songs That Reference Money”

    1. I saw those while I was looking for these…actually they are worth more. I saw one signed by Alice worth around 150. Thunderstruck…that riff that he starts off with is better than great.

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      2. Dave and I were talking about the bucks…the Alice one would be cool.
        Yea man he was a master of molding those three chords into something different each time.

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Being a Grateful Dead fan, I never got into AC/DC even though I like some of their songs. To me it just looks like they are trying too hard, especially compared to the laid back sound of the Dead.

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    1. The thing I give them credit for…using the same three chords over and over and over…and still releasing albums. Yea I get neck aches just watching Angus Young play guitar.

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  4. Surprised that was their highest charting single. The dollar bill would be a neat collector’s item, especially for someone who’s more of a fan of theirs than I am.
    I am posting about ‘money’ in a way today too… but a different twist.

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    1. Yea that surprised me also about their highest charting song…it isn’t the most popular for sure but I did like it…and loved Thunderstruck.

      Deke mentioned he had an Alice Cooper bill similiar to this…that would be cool to have.
      Looking forward to it Dave.

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  5. Love this song. Love AC/DC. I stopped collecting their albums, though, after For Those About To Rock We Salute You. To me, AC/DC embodies the original spirit of rock n roll. It’s visceral not cerebral. I’m totally OK with that. Brian Johnson’s voice grinds on me though. Bon Scott was a much better singer–to me, anyway.

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    1. Bon Scotts voice grew on me…it took a little while but now I appreciate it much more. He did have an incredible upper range. Johnson is a screamer…he is good at what he does though.

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  6. Good tune. AC/DC hat a few no. 1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart but not the Hot 100.

    Hard to believe that classics like “Highway to Hell”, “You Shock Me All Night Long” and “Back in Black” didn’t chart higher!

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    1. I wish I would have seen them once…Mark had tickets to see them one time and got into an argument with his buddy…got mad and refused to go…it was to Bon Scott’s last performance in Nashvlle. He has regret

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      1. I never was a big fan of the Brian Johnson era. But “Thunderstruck” is absolutely epic! Love the way the opening riff and first verse build to the chorus.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. LOL… yea I don’t have one…though I would like one for snakes or whatever…to tell you the truth if a person has brains I don’t mind…it’s the dumb ones that worry me.

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    1. That is where I live…knock on wood…all of my life I’ve never needed one or have I seen anyone that used one.
      Now a .22 rifle yea I would love to have that for snakes or whatever. I don’t think any of my friends have one either.

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      1. Ok so you don’t see a threat from the carrying on. If you are content as is and willing to go like that, I’m all for you. As I said to Bruce, I’ve never supported the second amendment until these times. Now I get it. But I hope I’m, exaggerating.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. It happened on those two days but none since. I live in a small town with black and white…we have had no trouble here…just in Nashville.
        I live in a small town called Chapmansboro and I’m near a small town called Ashland City. It’s like Mayberry here. Now if I lived in Nashville I may consider.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. I agree…I was really happy with that. Funny how people want to paint the cops with a wide brush but get upset when the same is done to them.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Yep. They lack facts about the cops, Sam Harris who is a lefty from way back killed their argument in 2 hours with actual facts and evidence about the Cops in the US. What is happening is just ideological bs which Peterson warned would take over and now has.

        Liked by 1 person

      4. I agree totally. There are bad ones…like in every profession…did you see the slogan…”Defund the police?” Just so stupid…there are so many more good ones.

        Liked by 1 person

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