Money (That's What I Want)

Part of the performance repertoire before the recording session days, this 1959 hit sung co-written by Berry Gordy, later president of Motown Records, and performed by Barrett Strong. The Beatles' version was on the original Decca audition tapes from January of 1962. It was re-recorded in the summer and fall of 1963 for their second UK album. Since the rousing Twist and Shout had so well closed out side two of the debut album, producer George Martin wanted a similar song with which to conclude the Beatles' second album. Money (That's What I Want) was it.Money is a standard, rock version of a 12-bar blues, with several four-bar verses followed by an 8-bar chorus of "I need money . . . that's what I want." The intro and solo sections are just 8 bars, and the ending is a double-repeat of the chorus with a real ending (rather than a fade). The first two bars of the intro are George Martin alone on piano, introducing the now famous opening riff of this song.