Money Won't Change You

"Money Won't Change You" is a song recorded by James Brown in 1966. It was released in edited form as a two-part single which charted No. 11 R&B and No. 53 Pop.[1] Both parts of the single were included on Brown's 1967 album Sings Raw Soul.

"Money Won't Change You Part 1"
Single by James Brown
from the album Sings Raw Soul
B-side"Money Won't Change You Part 2"
ReleasedJuly 1966 (1966-07)
RecordedJune 9, 1966, Talent Masters Studios, New York, NY
GenreSoul, funk
Length
  • 2:45 (Part 1)
  • 2:19 (Part 2)
LabelKing
6048
Songwriter(s)
  • James Brown
  • Nat Jones
Producer(s)James Brown
James Brown charting singles chronology
"It's a Man's Man's Man's World"
(1966)
"Money Won't Change You Part 1"
(1966)
"Don't Be a Drop-Out"
(1966)

An unedited version of the song appeared for the first time in the 1991 box set Star Time.[2][3]

Background

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It was his third message song, after "Don't Be a Drop-Out," and "Get it Together", songs recorded in the wake of the Civil Rights Movement.[4]

Billboard described the single as a "soulful wailer in the groove of the past Brown hits."[5] Cash Box said that it is a "pulsating, bluesy, danceable affair about a guy who appears to have serious problems with his gal."[6]

Cover versions

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References

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  1. ^ White, Cliff (1991). "Discography". In Star Time (pp. 54–59) [CD booklet]. New York: PolyGram Records.
  2. ^ Watrous, Peter (May 5, 1991). "Record Brief". The New York Times. Some tracks — "Money Won't Change You" and "Papa's Got a Brand-New Bag" — have been restored to their original length after being pruned for radio play, and it's wonderful to hear the band stretching out, flexing its muscles in service of the groove, the almighty rhythm.
  3. ^ Leeds, Alan, and Harry Weinger (1991). "Star Time: Song by Song". In Star Time (pp. 46–53) [CD booklet]. New York: PolyGram Records.
  4. ^ Vincent, Ricky. "Biography of James Brown" (PDF). Rock and Roll: An American Story. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2015. Brown wrote the first of his message songs, "Don't Be a Dropout," and followed it with "Get it Together," and "Money Won't Change You" within months. The rugged grooves and piercing screams of Brown became a trademark of the urgency and prideful presentation of the black man in full awakening.
  5. ^ "Spotlight Singles" (PDF). Billboard. July 23, 1966. p. 16. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  6. ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. July 30, 1966. p. 20. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  7. ^ Elias, Jason. "AllMusic Review by Jason Elias". AllMusic. Netaktion LLC. Retrieved November 12, 2020.