Comments on: Money (That’s What I Want)

By: EchoNov

EchoNov — Sun, 16 Dec 2018 23:59:42 +0000

Definitely one of the greatest of the group’s cover versions. This song was also covered by the Rolling Stones.

By: MikeP

MikeP — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 00:24:23 +0000

I definitely hear the word “green” at the end, though I can’t understand the previous words.
I never heard it as “I wanna be free”, and still don’t.

By: FAX

FAX — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 22:52:00 +0000

Personally, I think BE was correct in how he wanted the band to behave on stage. You have to remember that, at the time, this music (performed by white musicians with electric guitars) was outrageously new. Had the Beatles not demonstrated a kind of respect for the audience (via the bow) or moved like Elvis (or MJ or EB), they would have had a much more difficult time winning America. As it was, the KKK wanted to burn everything Beatles-related including the boys themselves. It was a sad fact in those days that they had to present themselves as perfectly “respectable” or it would have made their acceptance in the USA much, much more difficult.

By: Jay

Jay — Fri, 29 Dec 2017 19:12:22 +0000

That’s because Pete Best was their drummer on that Decca Audition.
Ringo’s drumming was more lively & prominent alternately filling in some toms unlike Pete’s doing just straight drumming. Although the version on With The Beatles album was much slower, it is clearer & snappier than that on the Decca tapes.

By: mr678mr678

mr678mr678 — Fri, 17 Nov 2017 06:06:49 +0000

That is the stereo version

By: Graham Paterson

Graham Paterson — Mon, 04 Jul 2016 00:30:50 +0000

John Lennon’s vocals coupled with George Martin’s brilliant piano intro, make this one of The Beatles great covers.

By: jennifur Sun

jennifur Sun — Fri, 25 Dec 2015 01:00:08 +0000

sorry John deviates from the song and it is i wanna be free. have heard the origional but this song just ROCKS. one of my fav Beatles tunes. really love George Martins piano and Harrisons guitar.

By: barry smith

barry smith — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 18:11:29 +0000

The EMI version of “Money” completely blows the Decca audition version out of the water!!! The January 1962 recording is very stiff. Definitely a weaker moment of the audition. John’s vocals seemed to be mastered at an incorrect speed, and he sounds like he’s a chipmunk!!

By: Graham Paterson

Graham Paterson — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 10:33:24 +0000

This is one of my favorite tracks off “With the Beatles “. John Lennon’s vocal is amazing. It is another great cover and brilliantly finishes off “With the Beatles” the way “Twist and Shout” does “Please Please Me”.

By: Bungalow Bill

Bungalow Bill — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 04:26:53 +0000

To me, this the ultimate early Beatles raver, better than “Twist and Shout” and Long Tall Sally”. Ringo’s beat is relentless, John is just out of his mind in the last 2 choruses, and listen to Paul’s Little Richard high harmony on the very last “that’s what I want” background vocal….doesn’t get better than that.

By: WooltonEvent

WooltonEvent — Sat, 25 Oct 2014 04:24:49 +0000

Normally when Paul and George do backing vocals, Paul’s voice dominates, but on the ‘With The Beatles’ version of this, George’s voice is more prominent, maybe because of subject matter engaged him (think Taxman)?

By: Mark Spark

Mark Spark — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 02:18:00 +0000

Brian Epstein wouldn’t let the Beatles move on stage. That was for the Stones. Brian, with his theater background, also made them give those deep bows after every song. Another way they were differentiated from the more sexual Stones. John said by the time they got to America, the music was dead. Brian killed it with the suits and strict rules. The Beatles weren’t always forced to act like mannequins. In Germany they moved and gyrated. Bruno Koschmider their Hamburg impressario demanded it. “Mak show Beatles!”. The stronger the stage act, the more the kids, gays and sailors would drink and stay to watch the group.

By: Jay

Jay — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 21:32:16 +0000

Hi guys! I’ve just discovered a nice live video of ‘Money’ with a short dance move/ step by George just after the second chorus & before the third verse here at 3:59 mark on these video clip. I watch it a number of times. I really like to see George move like this. It’s really nice! 🙂

By: metzgermeister77

metzgermeister77 — Sat, 21 Sep 2013 03:13:41 +0000

One of my favorite Beatles covers, and a fantastic rip-roaring closer to With The Beatles. If you listen closely to the solo, there’s a great McCartney scream buried way in the back.

By: Bill

Bill — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 16:05:20 +0000

The line is NOT “I wanna be free”, it’s “all that ‘lean green'”… Barrett Strong does it in the original, also.

By: David

David — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:58:09 +0000

Years ago, I remember hearing a mix of Money in which the bass comes in just before the end of the first line of the piano intro. George M plays DA-da-da-da-DA da-da-DA da-da-DA, and then Paul’s bass plays the next three notes with the piano before the first note of the second line of intro (ba-ba-ba BOOM), which is different from the standard mix.
Does anyone know what I’m talking about? It’s a brilliant cover, but bringing in the bass just a touch earlier seemed to make it even better!

By: Caroline

Caroline — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 03:55:51 +0000

I read in on of those unauthorized fan books “Treasures of the Beatles” that Martin played the guitar in this song… I’m wondering if they meant to write piano in the book? I wouldn’t see why they would need him to play the guitar.
Regardless love this website and check on it regularly! Thanks Joe!