In out past seasons we had four shows where we featured songs that we identified as anthems of rock’n’roll. Those are the songs that bands keep turning to through the entire history of this music, tunes that define the very fabric of rock music. Previously we featured Louie Louie, I Fought The Law, Tobacco Road and Train Kept A-Rollin’. Today we have Money (That’s What I Want). The song originally came out in 1959. It is not completely clear who is the author. Around the same time, two nearly identical songs came out, one by John Lee Hooker and the other one by Barrett Strong, written by Berry Gordy and Janie Bradford. The latter version is definitely more famous and also it’s the earliest hit single on Tamla (which soon became Tamla Motown). It’s possible that song is neither Gordy/Bradford or Hooker’s, maybe it’s something that has traditional roots in early rhythm and blues. In any case, fantastic piano riff and material lyrics became one of the main inspirations and many various bands made covers, and it’s a rock standard that was covered both by Beatles and The Stones. Most recently, Peter Case reused this riff on his latest record and retooled it as I Ain’t Got No Dough. All in all, today we go through no less than 20 different versions of this fantastic songs that spans the entire history of rock.
Barrett Strong – Money (That’s What I Want);
Johnny Lee Hooker – I Need Money;
Backbeat Band – Money (That’s What I Want);
The Beatles – Money (That’s What I Want);
The Rolling Stones – Money (That’s What I Want);
Georgie Fame – Money (That’s What I Want);
The Sonics – Money (That’s What I Want);
Alarm Clocks – Money (That’s What I Want);
Buddy Guy – Money (That’s What I Want);
Etta James – Money (That’s What I Want);
Ike And Tina Turner – Money (That’s What I Want);
Dwight Twilley – Money (That’s What I Want);
The dB’s – Money (That’s What I Want);
John Belushi – Money (That’s What I Want);
The Stooges – Money (That’s What I Want);
Kingsmen – Money (That’s What I Want);
The Trashmen – Money (That’s What I Want);
Waylon Jennings – Money (That’s What I Want);
Jerry Lee Lewis – Money (That’s What I Want);
Johnny Lee Hooker – I Need Money;
Peter Case – Ain’t Got No Dough.
Here we are in another episode of The Little Lighthouse. We open up with a brand new song for legendary Husker Du drummer Grant Hart, which he posted to his myspace page. It’s great to see him back and perhaps this means that the new album is also in plans. New York’s traditionalists Endless Boogie, named after a Johnny Lee Hooker classic LP, debut at today’s show. The Moondoggies from Seattle WA also debut. Both bands are proof that rock’n’roll is here to stay. A cool compilation record came out this year – it’s called Thank You Friends and it chronicles the Memphis recording studio and label Ardent through a series of amazing and rare tracks. So, we check that out too in today’s show.