Money (That's What I Want) - Single Version / Mono

This lighthearted song about the love of money earned lots of cash for Berry Gordy and helped get his Motown label off the ground. Gordy started Tamla Records in 1959, and "Money" was the eighth single released from the label, and the first to become a hit, making #23 on the Hot 100 and #2 on the R&B charts. The original release was in August 1959, but the song didn't hit until it was re-released in early 1960 on Anna Records, which was the label formed by Berry's sisters Anna and Gwendolyn Gordy along with the songwriter Billy Davis. Anna Records had a better distribution system in place at the time, which helped promote the single. Berry Gordy started calling his company "Motown Records" in 1960, and it became one of the most successful and respected labels of all time.

Berry Gordy wrote this song with Janie Bradford, who contributed to Motown as a writer and in an administrative role. She and Gordy had previously written two songs for Jackie Wilson's first album. On "Money," they turn the sentiment "money can't buy happiness" on its head, insisting that the best things in life are not free.

This was the only hit for Barrett Strong as an artist, but he wrote many classic songs with fellow Motown writer Norman Whitfield, including "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone," "War" and "I Heard It Through the Grapevine." Growing up, Strong was a member of a gospel group called The Strong Singers. He was just 18 when he recorded "Money."