Album: Money Honey (1953)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This early R&B song was a big influence on the Doo-Wop sound that would emerge later in the '50s. McPhatter sings about wanting a girl who can support him, but she's not having it. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bertrand - Paris, France
  • This was written by Jesse Stone, who was a producer and songwriter for Atlantic Records.

Comments: 2

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn August 31st 1957, Elvis appeared at the Empire Stadium in Vancouver, Canada...
    He performed only four songs; "Money Honey", "That's When your Heartaches Begin", "Hound Dog", and "Jailhouse Rock"...
    After "Jailhouse Rock" Col. Tom Parker ordered Elvis off stage due to the surging fans; the concert lasted a total of twenty two minutes...
    It was Elvis' third and last time he would performed outside the U.S.A., earlier in the year {April} he did shows in Toronto and Ottawa...
    At the time of the concert Elvis had three songs on Billboard's Top 100 chart; "Teddy Bear" {at #3}, "Loving You" {at #34}, and "All Shook Up" {at #48}...
    Tickets for the Vancouver show ranged from $1.50 to $3.50 and the attendance was 26,000 fans...
    R.I.P. to The King {1935 - 1977}.
  • Nick from London, United KingdomIt didn't take Clyde McPhatter long to get off the mark with his new group. Written by Atlantic's ace producer/writer, Jesse Stone, Money Honey was the Drifters first record and it went straight to #1 in October 1953. The unusual bagpipe-like drone at the beginning soon gives way to the band launching into Stone's latin-influenced 'Atlantic Beat' with some gusto. It's an all star line-up as well, featuring not only Stone himself on piano, but also Mickey Baker on guitar and Sam "the Man" Taylor on tenor sax (listen out for Clyde's almighty scream in the middle of Sam's sax solo). Interestingly, their second single paired up the latin-influenced song Such A Night with the gospel-like Lucille, which was recorded with a completely different group. Because of his church backgound, McPhatter had the idea of mixing sacred and secular sounds on both sides of the same disc.
    Nick Duckett
    http://www.rhythmandbluesrecords.co.uk/
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Oliver Leiber

Oliver LeiberSongwriter Interviews

Oliver Leiber talks about writing and producing hits for Paula Abdul, and explains his complicated relationship with his father, the songwriter Jerry Leiber.

Harry Shearer

Harry ShearerSongwriter Interviews

Harry is Derek Smalls in Spinal Tap, Mark Shubb in The Folksmen, and Mr. Burns on The Simpsons.

Don Dokken

Don DokkenSongwriter Interviews

Dokken frontman Don Dokken explains what broke up the band at the height of their success in the late '80s, and talks about the botched surgery that paralyzed his right arm.

Gene Simmons of Kiss

Gene Simmons of KissSongwriter Interviews

The Kiss rocker covers a lot of ground in this interview, including why there are no Kiss collaborations, and why the Rock Hall has "become a sham."

Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell NdegeocelloSongwriter Interviews

Meshell Ndegeocello talks about recording "Wild Night" with John Mellencamp, and explains why she shied away from the spotlight.