Sunday 17 March 2013

Money (That's What I Want) - Decca Audition Version

Composer: Berry Gordy Jr / Janie Bradford

John Lennon rhythm guitar (Rickenbacker 325 guitar), Lead Vocal
Paul McCartney bass (Hofner 500/1 bass), Backing Vocal
George Harrison lead guitar (Gretsch Duo Jet guitar), Backing Vocal
Pete Best drums (blue Premier kit with 26" kick drum)

Mike Smith: Producer
Peter Attwood: Engineer

Recorded: Monday 1 January 1962, Decca Studios, 165 Broadhurst Gardens, London
Recording Medium: Two Track

UK Release: December 1979 (LP: The Decca Tapes [Circuit Records LK 4438-1])
US Release: February 1978 (B Single / Sure To Fall [Deccagone PRO-1104])

Running Time:
  • Mono Mix: 2:23

Available on:
(Source: Revolution in the Head, Ian MacDonald, Vintage 2005, and Beatles Gear: All the Fab Four's Instruments from Stage to Studio, Andy Babuick, Backbeat Books 2002)
The Beatles' version of Berry Gordy's Money (That's What I Want), one of the highlights of their second album, With The Beatles, was one of their best known covers. Next to that ferocious rocker, this version is weak and anaemic. The second song recorded for The Beatles' Decca audition, this version is much more rushed than the EMI recording.
The distortion that was present in the previous song, Like Dreamers Do, is not present here, suggesting that the swap to Decca's own amplifiers took place between these two songs.

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