Money Won't Change You

{{Infobox song

| name = Money Won't Change You Part 1

| cover =

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = James Brown

| album = Sings Raw Soul

| B-side = Money Won't Change You Part 2

| released = {{Start date|1966|07}}

| recorded = June 9, 1966

| studio = Talent Masters Studios, New York City

| genre = Soul, funk

| length =

{{Duration|m=2|s=45}} (Part 1)
{{Duration|m=2|s=19}} (Part 2)

| label = King

| writer =

James Brown
Nat Jones

| producer = James Brown

| chronology = James Brown charting

| prev_title = It's a Man's Man's Man's World

| prev_year = 1966

| next_title = Don't Be a Drop-Out

| next_year = 1966

}}

"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.White, Cliff (1991). "Discography". In Star Time (pp. 54–59) [CD booklet]. New York: PolyGram Records.

Both parts of the single were included on Brown's 1967 album Sings Raw Soul.

An unedited version of the song appeared for the first time in the 1991 box set Star Time.{{cite web| url= https://www.nytimes.com/1991/05/05/arts/record-brief-955591.html | title= Record Brief | first= Peter|last= Watrous | date= May 5, 1991 | work= The New York Times | quote= 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.}}Leeds, Alan, and Harry Weinger (1991). "Star Time: Song by Song". In Star Time (pp. 46–53) [CD booklet]. New York: PolyGram Records.

Background

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.{{cite web| url= http://www.teachrock.org/media/handouts/James_Brown_bio.edited.pdf| title= Biography of James Brown| first= Ricky| last= Vincent| work= Rock and Roll: An American Story| quote= 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.| access-date= 2015-05-01| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304032331/http://www.teachrock.org/media/handouts/James_Brown_bio.edited.pdf| archive-date= 2016-03-04| url-status= dead}}

Billboard described the single as a "soulful wailer in the groove of the past Brown hits."{{cite news|newspaper=Billboard|accessdate=2021-03-03|date=July 23, 1966|page=16|title=Spotlight Singles|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/60s/1966/Billboard%201966-07-23.pdf}} Cash Box said that it is a "pulsating, bluesy, danceable affair about a guy who appears to have serious problems with his gal."{{cite magazine |title=CashBox Record Reviews |date=July 30, 1966 |page=20 |access-date=2022-01-12 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1966/CB-1966-07-30.pdf |magazine=Cash Box}}

Cover versions

Aretha Franklin covered "Money Won't Change You" on her 1968 album Lady Soul.

Popular culture

The song would be remade as "Sexy, Sexy, Sexy" for the film Slaughter's Big Rip-Off. {{cite web |last1=Elias |first1=Jason |title=AllMusic Review by Jason Elias |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/slaughters-big-rip-off-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-mw0000468784 |website=AllMusic |publisher=Netaktion LLC |access-date=12 November 2020}}

References

Category:1966 singles

Category:Aretha Franklin songs

Category:James Brown songs

Category:Songs written by James Brown