‘Money (That's What I Want)’ is a rhythm and blues song written by Tamla founder Berry Gordy and Janie Bradford, which was the first hit record for Gordy's Motown enterprise. Barrett Strong recorded it in 1959 as a single for the Tamla label, distributed nationally on Anna Records. Many artists later recorded the tune, including the Beatles in 1963 and the Flying Lizards in 1979. We will be focusing on the Flying Lizards’ version for this article. In July 1979, the British band the Flying Lizards released a new wave version of the song, as a single and on their first album, The Flying Lizards. An unexpected hit, this version peaked at number 5 in the UK chart and at number 50 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also peaked at number 22 on the US dance charts.
The Flying Lizards were an experimental English new wave band, formed in 1976. They are best known for their eccentric cover version of Barrett Strong's ‘Money,’ featuring Deborah Evans-Stickland on lead vocals, which reached the UK and North American record charts in 1979. They followed this with their self-titled album that year, which reached number 60 on the UK Albums Chart.
In August 1979 the Flying Lizards appeared twice on the BBC's Top of the Pops performing their hit single ‘Money (That's What I Want)’. They also appeared in February 1980, performing follow-up single "TV". Virgin Records extended the band's recording contract after the success of ‘Money’. The group released their début album The Flying Lizards in 1979. The album included two songs – ‘Her Story’ and ‘The Window’ – written and sung by Goldman. Their single issues included their postmodern cover versions of songs such as Eddie Cochran's ‘Summertime Blues’ and ‘Money’.
The Flying Lizards version of Barrett Strong's ‘Money’ has remained popular, and was used in the film soundtracks for The Wedding Singer, Empire Records, Charlie's Angels and Lord of War, as well as in the Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning American television medical drama Nip/Tuck, documentary series People's Century, and in Ashes to Ashes, the follow-up to the UK TV drama Life on Mars. It was also used in the episode "Venus Rising" of WKRP in Cincinnati, the episode "Follow the Money" of Family Guy, and in a commercial for Taco Bell in 2011.
Label – Virgin
Songwriters – Janie Bradford, Berry Gordy
Producer – David Cunningham
SONG LYRICS
The best things in life are freeBut you can give them to the birds and bees
I want 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 gives me such a thrill
But your love won't pay my bills
I want 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 want 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)
(That's what I want) I want money
I want lots of money
(That's what I want) In fact I want so much money
(That's what I want)
(That's what I want) Give me your money
(That's what I want) Just give me money
(That's what I want)