R&B

Money. It’s what we all want. No? Yes? And this rhythm and blues golden oldie earned plenty of it for Berry Gordy. So much that it helped finance his Tamla Records label that incorporated as Motown Record Corporation. “Money (That’s What I Want)”  was written by Janie Bradford and Berry Gordy. This golden oldie went to #2 on the R&B Chart and #23 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. There have been numerous covers, including versions by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Kingsmen, Richard Wylie and His Band, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Searchers, The Flying Lizards, The Sonics, and Buddy Guy. While Motown grew into a giant corporation, Barrett Strong stayed very much part of the outfit, as an R&B artists as well as writing hit songs, including “I Heard It Through The Grapevine,” “War,” “Papa Was A Rolling Stone,” and a very long list of many more.

Here are the lyrics to “Money (That’s What I Want)” by Barrett Strong:

“The best things in life are free
But you can give them to the birds and bees

I need 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)
That’s what I want
(That’s what I want)

Your love give me such a thrill
But your love don’t pay my bills

I need 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)
That’s what I want
(That’s what I want)

Money don’t get everything it’s true
But what it don’t get I can’t use

I need 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)
That’s what I want
(That’s what I want)

Money
(That’s what I want)
Lots of money
(That’s what I want)
Oh lot of money
(That’s what I want, that’s what I want)
(That’s what I want, that’s what I want)

Give me money
(That’s what I want)
Oh lots of money
(That’s what I want)
All I need free, yeah
(That’s what I want)
That’s all I need
(That’s what I want)
(That’s what I want)
(That’s what I want)
Give me money
(That’s what I want)”

For More Golden Oldies Music

The Daily Doo Wop Rec Room has daily featured doo wop, rock and roll, R&B, or rockabilly songs that were hits during the first era of rock and roll (that is, from about 1952 until the British invasion in 1964). After a song is featured, it then goes into the juke box. You are welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections there. Every weekend, there is a Golden Oldies Juke Box Saturday Night, and the juke box is full of song requests from the 1950s and 1960s.

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