- Album This song officially appears on the With the Beatles (Mono) LP.
Related sessions
This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions
Jan 01, 1962
Jul 18, 1963
Jul 30, 1963
Aug 21, 1963
Sep 30, 1963
Oct 29, 1963
"With The Beatles" session #10
Oct 30, 1963
Get Back sessions - January 3, 1969 - Day 2
Jan 03, 1969
Get Back sessions - January 6, 1969 - Day 3
Jan 06, 1969
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Song facts
From Wikipedia:
“Money (That’s What I Want)” is a 1959 song by Barrett Strong for the Tamla label, distributed nationally on Anna Records. It was written by Tamla founder Berry Gordy and Janie Bradford and became the first hit record for Gordy’s Motown enterprise. It went on to be covered by many artists including the Beatles, the Rolling Stones (1964) and the Doors, and with covers by the Kingsmen (1964), the Sonics (1965) and the Flying Lizards (1979) reaching high chart positions.
Overview
The song was originally released on Tamla in August 1959. Anna Records was operated by Gwen Gordy, Anna Gordy and Roquel “Billy” Davis. Gwen and Anna’s brother Berry Gordy had just established his Tamla label (soon Motown would follow) and licensed the song to the Anna label in 1960, which was distributed nationwide by Chicago-based Chess Records in order to meet demand; the Tamla record was a resounding success in the Midwest. The song features Strong curtly demanding that money is what he needs, more than anything else. In the US, the single became Motown’s first hit in June 1960, making it to number 2 on the Hot R&B Sides chart and number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was listed as #288 on Rolling Stone ’s “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.” […]
The Beatles’ version
The Beatles recorded “Money” in seven takes on July 18, 1963, with their usual lineup. A series of piano overdubs was later added by producer George Martin. The song was released in November 1963 as the final track on their second UK album, With the Beatles.
According to George Harrison, the group discovered Strong’s version in Brian Epstein’s NEMS record store (though not a hit in the UK, it had been issued on London Records in 1960). They had previously performed it during their audition at Decca Records on January 1, 1962, with Pete Best still on drums at the time. They also recorded it six times for BBC radio. A live version, taped at a concert date in Stockholm, Sweden in October 1963, was included on Anthology 1. […]
From The Usenet Guide to Beatles Recording Variations:
- [a] mono 21 Aug 1963. edited.
UK: Parlophone PMC 1206 With the Beatles 1963.
CD: EMI CDP 7 46436 2 With the Beatles 1987.- [b] stereo 30 Oct 1963. edited.
UK: Parlophone PCS 3045 With the Beatles 1963.- [b1] stereo remixed from [b] 1964, by Capitol.
US: Capitol ST 2080 Second 1964.- [b2] mono made from [b] 1964, by Capitol.
US: Capitol T 2080 Second 1964.This recording is not well described by Lewisohn, but see his Chronicle for the July 18 session sheet and his Recording Sessions for the July 30 session sheet. The mono and stereo each have sound not heard in the other, indicating two final-generation tapes made from a common earlier generation. The piano intro appears to be the same on both mixes, but with tapping in [a]. The other differences are the raspy guitar sound in mono [a] and the more prominent piano sound throughout in stereo [b].
Lewisohn reports that the mono [a] was made by editing take 6 (called “edit (piano)” on the session sheet) and take 7 (called “complete”), both July 18, while [b] was made from take 7 possibly including unnumbered piano overdubs made Sept 30. That the tapping intro is take 6, used only in mono [a], and that the louder piano all the way through is the Sept 30 work used only in stereo [b], makes sense but does not explain all. How is the guitar louder in mono [a]? Both takes 6 and 7 are marked “track 2”, i.e. second generation. It could be the second generation of take 6 added the tapping; we don’t know what was added for take 7. (No use of the July 30 session’s “track 3” is reported, when more piano intro was recorded. Even use of the Sept 30 overdubs is implied but not actually stated.)
The most difficult question is how the stereo [b] happens to have the vocal and handclap track mixed center, resulting in a true stereo mix without the hole in the center. The only other twin-track recording with anything mixed equally into both channels is the harmonica overdubs in From Me to You, done sound-on-sound as an overdub. Lewisohn says Money is two separate mono mixes on two tapes. Other reports in his book and George Martin’s indicate they had no way to synchronize two tapes reliably for more than few seconds at a time until 1967, making it seem incredible that Money could be two tapes, and yet, why did it take 3 hours to mix this one song to stereo on Oct 30, if it was just a twintrack source? Was it perhaps synchronized in short sections that were then edited together?
Capitol’s ST 2080 has heavyhanded “mixing” on all tracks, and this song, rebalanced like the rest of the album, ends up with the vocal off-center.
Last updated on February 14, 2016
Lyrics
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 (that's what I want)
That's what I want (that's what I want) yeah
That's what I want
Your loving give me a thrill,
But your loving 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 (that's what I want) yeah
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 (that's what I want) yeah
That's what I want
Well, now give me money (that's what I want)
Whole lot of money (that's what I want)
Whoah yeah, I wanna be free (that's what I want)
Oh, money (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)
Whole lot of money (that's what I want, whoo)
Whoah, yeah, you know I need money (that's what I want)
Now give me money (that's what I want, whoo)
That's what I want, yeah (that's what I want)
That's what I want
Officially appears on
LP • Released in 1963
2:49 • Studio version • B • Stereo
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums
- John Lennon :
- Rhythm guitar, Vocals
- George Harrison :
- Backing vocals, Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Piano, Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Jul 18, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Recording:
- Jul 30, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Overdubs:
- Sep 30, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Oct 30, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road
LP • Released in 1963
2:50 • Studio version • A • Mono
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums
- John Lennon :
- Rhythm guitar, Vocals
- George Harrison :
- Backing vocals, Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Piano, Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Jul 18, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Recording:
- Jul 30, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Aug 21, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road
The Beatles' Second Album (Stereo)
Official album • Released in 1964
2:52 • Studio version • B1 • Stereo • Stereo remixed from [B] by Capitol
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums
- John Lennon :
- Rhythm guitar, Vocals
- George Harrison :
- Backing vocals, Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Piano, Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Jul 18, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Recording:
- Jul 30, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Overdubs:
- Sep 30, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Oct 29, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road
EP • Released in 1964
2:52 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums
- John Lennon :
- Rhythm guitar, Vocals
- George Harrison :
- Backing vocals, Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Piano, Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Jul 18, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Recording:
- Jul 30, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Aug 21, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road
The Beatles' Second Album (Mono)
Official album • Released in 1964
2:50 • Studio version • B2 • Mono • Mono made from [B] by Capitol
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums
- John Lennon :
- Rhythm guitar, Vocals
- George Harrison :
- Backing vocals, Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Piano, Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Jul 18, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Recording:
- Jul 30, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Overdubs:
- Sep 30, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Oct 29, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road
Official album • Released in 1995
2:52 • Live • L1
- Klas Burling :
- Producer
- Hans Westman :
- Recording engineer
Concert From "Pop '63" in Stockholm, Sweden on Oct 24, 1963
The Beatles' Second Album (2004 remaster)
Official album • Released in 2004
2:50 • Studio version • B2.2004 • Mono • 2004 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums
- John Lennon :
- Rhythm guitar, Vocals
- George Harrison :
- Backing vocals, Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Piano, Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Jensen :
- Remastering
- Session Recording:
- Jul 18, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Recording:
- Jul 30, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Overdubs:
- Sep 30, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Oct 29, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road
The Beatles' Second Album (2004 remaster)
Official album • Released in 2004
2:52 • Studio version • B1.2004 • Stereo • 2004 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums
- John Lennon :
- Rhythm guitar, Vocals
- George Harrison :
- Backing vocals, Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Piano, Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Jensen :
- Remastering
- Session Recording:
- Jul 18, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Recording:
- Jul 30, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Overdubs:
- Sep 30, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Oct 29, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road
With the Beatles (Mono - 2009 remaster)
Official album • Released in 2009
2:50 • Studio version • A2009 • Mono • 2009 mono remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums
- John Lennon :
- Rhythm guitar, Vocals
- George Harrison :
- Backing vocals, Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Piano, Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Paul Hicks :
- Remastering
- Guy Massey :
- Remastering
- Steve Rooke :
- Remastering
- Allan Rouse :
- Project co-ordinator
- Session Recording:
- Jul 18, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Recording:
- Jul 30, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Aug 21, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road
Bootlegs
The Beatles At The Beeb - Volume 2
Unofficial live • Released in 2003
2:10 • Live
Concert From "Saturday Club" in London, United Kingdom on May 25, 1963
The Beatles At The Beeb - Volume 2
Unofficial live • Released in 2003
2:53 • Live
Concert From "Pop Go The Beatles" in London, United Kingdom on Jun 18, 1963
The Beatles At The Beeb - Volume 3
Unofficial live • Released in 2003
2:31 • Live
Concert From "Saturday Club" in London, United Kingdom on Jun 29, 1963
The Beatles At The Beeb - Volume 6
Unofficial live • Released in 2003
3:13 • Live
Concert From "Pop Go The Beatles" in Manchester, United Kingdom on Sep 03, 1963
Live performances
“Money (That's What I Want)” has been played in 98 concerts and 1 soundchecks.
Latest concerts where Money (That's What I Want) has been played
Sep 18, 2012 • USA • New York City • Steinway Hall
Bristol • Colston Hall • United Kingdom
Nov 10, 1964 • Part of 1964 Autumn UK Tour
Sheffield • City Hall • United Kingdom
Nov 09, 1964 • Part of 1964 Autumn UK Tour
Liverpool • Empire Theatre • United Kingdom
Nov 08, 1964 • Part of 1964 Autumn UK Tour
Cardiff • Capitol Centre • United Kingdom
Nov 07, 1964 • Part of 1964 Autumn UK Tour
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