Beatles – Money (That’s What I Want) ….Under The Covers Tuesday

John Lennon’s voice in this song is razor-sharp. He could sing a rock song like no other and could handle ballads well.

I first heard this song by the Beatles. They discovered the song in Brian Epstein’s NEMS record store before they knew Brian. It was not a hit in the UK. Many of the songs the Beatles covered were B sides or nonhits in the UK. They tried to stay away from songs that other beat bands were playing at the time. It worked out for them and later for the writers of all of these B sides.

This song was not written by the Beatles but by Berry Gordy with help from an assistant at the company, Janie Bradford.  Along with “You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me” and “Please Mr. Postman,” this was one of three Motown songs The Beatles released on their second album, titled With The Beatles in the UK and The Beatles’ Second Album in the US.

Barrett Strong Dead: Motown's First Hitmaker Was 81 - Variety

Barrett Strong has contested the writer’s credit. He stated that he helped write the song with Berry Gordy and Janie Bradford but his name was kept off of the credits. He WAS credited when the song was released but his name was removed three years later in 1962. Berry has maintained that his name was on there because of a clerical error.

Berry was thrilled that the Beatles thought enough of Motown songs to cover them. He also must have enjoyed the cash register Cha Chinging when their albums were sold. Barrett Strong’s signature tune is thought to have been among the first tracks recorded at Motown’s studio at 2648 West Grand Boulevard, Detroit, in the summer of 1959.

“Money (That’s What I Want)” was released as a Tamla single in August of ’59. The local reaction was so strong that Gordy opted to lease the track to his sister Gwen’s label, Anna, because it had national distribution via Chess Records. The song peaked at #2 on the Billboard R&B Charts in 1959 and #23 on the Billboard 100 Charts.

The Flying Lizards – Money; Money (1979, Vinyl) - Discogs

Another popular version of this song that charted was by the new wave band The Flying Lizards in 1979.  That version peaked at #5 in the UK, #7 in Canada, #50 on the Billboard 100, and #5 in New Zealand. 

Barrett Strong passed away recently on January 23, 2023, and he was 81 years old.

Money

The best things in life are free
But you can keep them for the birds and bees
Now give me money
(That’s what I want)
That’s what I want
(That’s what I want)
That’s what I want, yeah (that’s what I want)
That’s what I want

Your lovin’ gives me a thrill
But your lovin’ don’t pay my bills
Now give me money
(That’s what I want)
That’s what I want
(That’s what I want)
That’s what I want, yeah (that’s what I want)
That’s what I want

Money don’t get everything, it’s true
What it don’t get, I can’t use
Now give me money
(That’s what I want)
That’s what I want
(That’s what I want)
That’s what I want, yeah (that’s what I want)
That’s what I want, whoa

Money don’t get everything, it’s true
What it don’t get, I can’t use
Now give me money
(That’s what I want)
That’s what I want
(That’s what I want)
That’s what I want, yeah (that’s what I want)
That’s what I want

Well, now give me money
(That’s what I want)
A lot of money
(That’s what I want)
Wow, yeah, I wanna be free
(That’s what I want)
A lot of money
That’s what I want
That’s what I want, well
(That’s what I want)
Well, now give me money
(That’s what I want)
A lot of money
(That’s what I want)
Wow, yeah, you need money
(That’s what I want)
Now, give me money
(That’s what I want)
That’s what I want, yeah (that’s what I want)
That’s what I want

…

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

47 thoughts on “Beatles – Money (That’s What I Want) ….Under The Covers Tuesday”

  1. Barrett was one of the many great talents at Motown. The Beatles were so convincing that the covers sounded like original songs. As you say they often chose different songs, while they always gave credit at the same time creating the allusion that it could be their own.

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    1. They really did… the one cover that stands out in my mind (Twist and Shout not included) is You Really Got A Hold On Me…and I’m a huge Smokey fan but I do like the Beatles version of that one.

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      2. Oh I did also when I first heard it…I didn’t find out until the 80s when I was listening to an oldies channel.

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  5. Believe it or not, I heard the Flying Lizards do it first … I thought it was an original (and VERY original) by them, then eventually heard the Beatles version and thought that must be the original! Only recently did I notice it wasn’t even theirs. I’m amazed Madonna didn’t record this (maybe as a b-side to ‘Material Girl’)… seemed to fit her well.

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    1. lol yes it would have fit that single well. I wanted to post an early Beatles cover so this was a good way of doing it….
      They did covers well…of course they were road tested in Hamburg.

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  6. Wow never knew this was a cover tune. Beatles could make anything sound like they wrote it and when u see the amount of tunes Macca-JL wrote you would think they wrote it all….
    Cool stuff Sir

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    1. They really did a great job with covers…and they road tested everyone of those in Hamburg before they made it…they knew them backwards and forwards.

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  8. I like that early rocking Beatles stuff. Close to the music that inspired them. I think Robert Fripp had something to do with the Lizard cut. I actually do a mean lizard version. Sort of talk jazz. The original is very cool and I can hear where the Beatles copped it from.

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    1. You think about it…and all the versions are good…thats because the song is so good. They would pick the B sides usually…not big hits at all because every other band was doing A sides.
      I could set you up on the Lizard version!

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  9. Lots of good info on the song. I knew this wasn’t a Beatles original. I do prefer John’s singing to the other ones you’ve included, but I do like the first video as well. I will preface the next part with a please don’t get upset with it. I would keep John’s vocals *exactly* as they are, but I think this needs a quicker tempo and much more prominent drums.

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    1. I’m not upset at all! It would sound good with a quicker tempo….You know I like John’s voice in anything…it’s so sharp and cuts through the music. The funny thing is…he hated his voice.

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      1. He hated his voice??? So sorry to hear that as he is a kickass singer. I like how you describe it as “sharp and cuts through the music.” The worst thing for a piece of music is for mumbled lyrics that can’t be heard (unless it’s a Barry White song.)

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      2. Yes…If you notice his solo albums and many of his Beatle songs have heavy echo on his voice. He told George Martin to put ketchup and mustard on his voice to hide it lol. Think of his voice in A Day In The Life…that was to cover up his voice…to him anyway.

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  10. I hear the Flying Lizards’ version occasionally, and it’s really fun. I never knew the name of the band until now. I enjoyed Barrett Strong’s version. I hate reading about another writer who didn’t get the song credit he felt he earned.

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    1. I know…those writers back then got shafted. Also Johnnie Johnson with Chuck Berry…he wasn’t credited for anything and he helped write those classic songs.

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  12. Like many, The Flying Lizards was the first version I heard and now all the earlier versions somehow sound like covers of that… Anyway! The Stones do a good version too, but you’re right – Lennon sounds at his happiest when belting out some rock n roll!

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    1. Yea Lennon could make these covers come to life with that voice. The Flying Lizards I didn’t hear in the 1980s…I heard it on the Wedding Singer which I love to this day.
      I’ll be around soon!

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  13. Max, alert! alert! I was playing my weekly online game with the kids and younger son was playing a music program that can either speed up music or slow it down. I told them about this song and wanting it to go faster. Older son said you can change the speed on youtube in the settings, so I went there and sped it up. Sure enough it sounds FABULOUS just a little faster. Just an FYI 🙂

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      2. I love playing with things like that. Like recording everything in a slow speed…when you play it back it at regular speed it has different textures.

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      3. ❤ Sorry so late making all of these comments. We went on a summer solstice bike ride starting at 6 and I had a bunch of chores to do earlier today. But I'm all caught up on TOS (I think!)

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      4. Lisa…this is when I make a lot of comments…I get it believe me. No need to apologize. I’ve done better though becasue I’ve allowed myself time to myself….at one time I lived with this blog…now I’ve backed off a little.
        Well it sounds like you got a lot done so that is great.

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      6. One more thing…I have to be careful…right now I have Tuesday covers, power pop Fridays., Star Trek Weekends and Wednesdays….and I started a new thing today on Wednesdays after Star Trek. I’m filling up my week too much with preplaned things…but it’s nice having a guide now.

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      7. Wonderful, Max, just remember to pace yourself and keep time for away-from-keyboard and you’ll be fine. Ooh need to check out your new feature. Maybe in cooler weather when the paradise of summer has passed, I’ll start thinking of a new feature. I have POPO2023 starting up on July 1 and have yet to make one postcard yet. I bought 2 packs of pretty postcards so will probably use those.

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      8. Oh cool…I always like when you do those.
        No hurry…I thought until Star Trek is over I’ll run it on Wednesday after the Trek post. I made this one easy…simple and short…no chart positions just why I like whoever.

        This week I’m working with CB again on Saturday…I learn a lot working with him on posts.

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  14. Pingback: Beatles – Money (That’s What I Want) ….Under The Covers Tuesday – MobsterTiger

    1. I’m a huge Beatles fan but…yea I like the original as well. I’m a sucker for Lennon’s voice though.

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    1. Thats the first album by the Beatles I heard…Meet The Beatles in a clubhouse when I was 8. I then bought Hey Jude Again for my first album ever. Thanks for reading Jeff!

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