Saturday, February 02, 2013

Record #0254: Money (That’s What I Want) / Oh I Apologize – BARRETT STRONG



Anna 1111 (original, kind of) USA, Nov. 1959
Words & Music by:  Side AJanie Bradford, Berry Gordy, Jr.; Side BWilliam Robinson, Berry Gordy, Jr.
Musicians: Barrett Strong (vocals and piano), Benny Benjamin (drums), Brian Holland (tambourine), others unknown
Recording sessions: Produced by Berry Gordy, Jr. in Detroit, MI, 1959
Highest chart positions:  US #23, US R&B #2


This was the first hit record for Motown corporation. The single was originally released on Tamla label (Aug. 1959), but it was leased for Anna label where it really took off (due to a better national distribution).

This song made Strong a one-hit-wonder as an artist, but he did score more hits as a writer and co-writer of songs like “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” (US #1 for Marvin Gaye in 1968), “War” (US #1 for Edwin Starr in 1970), “Just My Imagination” (US #1 for The Temptations in 1971) and “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” (US #1 for the Temptations in 1972).

“Money” has been covered by many artist and groups such as The Beatles, The Searchers and Jerry Lee Lewis.

This is at #288 in Rolling Stone magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs.

List price:  Very Good+ is $15, Near Mint is $30

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