Money Honey

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"Money Honey", written by Jesse Stone, was the first record and the first hit for Clyde McPhatter and The Drifters. It was released in September 1953. McPhatter's voice, but not his name, had become well-known as the lead singer for Billy Ward and the Dominoes and the song was an immediate hit and remained on the rhythm and blues charts for 23 weeks.

The song tells the story of a man who has run out of money, and hopes his woman will help him out:

I was clean as a screen and so hard pressed

I called the woman that I love best

In the chorus, he threatens to leave her if she doesn't help him out:

Money Honey

Money Honey

Money Honey, if you want to get along with me

She is literally not buying, she has another man, one who already has money.

The recording features Mickey Baker on guitar and Sam "the Man" Taylor on tenor sax. The arrangement starts with a bagpipe-like drone from the Drifters setting up a shuffle rhythm. McPhatter's voice is clear and bright and in the midst of the sax solo he gives off a monumental scream.

The song was covered by Eddie Cochran and, most notably, by Elvis Presley, who was still in his R&B phase and had not yet been transformed into a teen idol.

[edit] Elvis Presley singles chronology

• Last single = "Blue Moon" (1956)
• This single = "Money Honey" (1956)
• Next single = "Shake, Rattle and Roll" (1956)