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Money (Pink Floyd song)
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"Money" is the sixth track from British progressive rock band Pink Floyd's 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon. Written by bassist Roger Waters, it opened side two of the original vinyl LP, and is the only song on the album to make it into the top 20 on the United States singles charts. "Money" is particularly notable for its unusual 7/4-4/4 time signature, and the seven-beat "loop" of money-related sound effects that opens the track: coins clinking, a cash register ringing, etc.
ite relatively recent remarks by bassist and principal composer Roger Waters and guitarist David Gilmour, that the song had been composed primarily in 7/8 time, it was actually composed in 7/4, as Gilmour previously acknowledged in an interview with Guitar World magazine in 1993.
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"Money" is the sixth track from British progressive rock band Pink Floyd's 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon. Written by bassist Roger Waters, it opened side two of the original vinyl LP, and is the only song on the album to make it into the top 20 on the United States singles charts. "Money" is particularly notable for its unusual 7/4-4/4 time signature, and the seven-beat "loop" of money-related sound effects that opens the track: coins clinking, a cash register ringing, etc.
Composition
Despite relatively recent remarks by bassist and principal composer Roger Waters and guitarist David Gilmour, that the song had been composed primarily in 7/8 time, it was actually composed in 7/4, as Gilmour previously acknowledged in an interview with Guitar World magazine in 1993. Most rock music is written in 4/4, or common time, and most of the exceptions are in 3/4 or a similar triple meter. The typical rock offbeats on two and four are instead on two, four and six, leaving two notes in a row without a beat.
The song is also notable for its dramatic change to 4/4 time for an extended guitar solo, after which the song returns to 7/4, then ends in 4/4. Gilmour suggested the change in time signature was likely introduced to make things a little easier for him. The first of three choruses which comprise his solo was recorded using real-time double-tracking. That is, Gilmour played the chorus nearly identically in two passes recorded to two different tracks of a multi-track tape machine. The doubled effect for the third chorus was created using automatic (or "artificial") double-tracking (ADT).
The form and chord progression are based on the standard twelve-bar blues in the key of B minor. Two twelve-bar verses are followed by a twelve-bar instrumental section that features a funk-style tenor saxophone solo along with keyboard, bass, and drums.
History
The demo tracks for the song, including some of the sound effects, were recorded in a makeshift recording studio Roger Waters had in his garden shed. As recorded by the band, the song has a bluesy, transatlantic feel, unlike Waters' original demo version, which he later described as "prissy and very English". Though credited solely to Waters, since he wrote the basic music and all the lyrics, it is very much a group effort. The instrumental jam was a collaborative effort, with Gilmour overseeing the time change as well as own guitar and vocal work, and Richard Wright and Nick Mason improvising their own parts. Guest musician Dick Parry contributed the tenor saxophone solo that precedes the guitar solo. Gilmour's input is also discernible in the final mix, which features contrasting "wet" sections, with thick reverb and delay effects, and "dry" sections. In particular, during the second chorus of the guitar solo, all the reverb and delay effects are suddenly pulled out, creating a much smaller and more intimate virtual space. To produce the distinctive piercing high notes that distinguish the final chorus of his solo, Gilmour played a customized Lewis guitar with a full two-octave range.
Perhaps the most distinctive element of "Money" is the rhythmic sequence of sound effects that begins the track and is heard throughout the first several bars. This was created by splicing together recordings Waters had made of clinking coins, a ringing cash register, tearing paper, a clicking counting machine and other items to construct a seven-beat effects loop. It was later adapted to four tracks in order to create a "walk around the room" effect in the quadraphonic mix of Dark Side of the Moon.
From 1972 through 1975 "Money" was a regular feature of the band's Dark Side of the Moon set, and it was routinely performed as an encore during the band's 1977 tour. These later performances would typically last as long as 12 minutes. From 1987 through 1990, the band performed the song during tours supporting A Momentary Lapse of Reason, their first album without Roger Waters, who had left the band in December 1985. In 1994 the band performed the song during tours supporting The Division Bell, their second post-Waters album. An extended version of the song, again lasting up to 12 minutes, was regularly performed during Gilmour's 1984 US tour in support of his solo album About Face. Waters has also regularly included it on his solo tours.
The song was re-recorded for the 1981 Pink Floyd album A Collection of Great Dance Songs, because Capitol Records refused to license the track to Columbia Records in the US. With the help of producer James Guthrie, Gilmour re-recorded the song, providing vocals and playing all the instruments except saxophone. Dick Parry again contributed the sax solo, reprising his role on the original recording.
"Money" was performed during Pink Floyd's reunion show (which included Waters) at the Live 8 concert in London in 2005, along with "Breathe" (including the reprise that follows "Time"), "Wish You Were Here" and "Comfortably Numb". It was also performed by Waters at Live Earth's Concert at Giants Stadium on July 7, 2007.
In 2008 Guitar World magazine listed Gilmour's solo on "Money" as number 62 among readers' votes for "The Greatest 100 Guitar Solos". Many guitar enthusiasts consider it one of his very best.
Video
The music video features shots of various ways of spending and making money. The video will often briefly switch to a closeup shot of a coin spinning.
Covers
- Velvet Revolver covered it for the 2003 re-make of the film The Italian Job. Changes included doubling the opening bass riff with a guitar line, and replacing the saxophone solo with a guitar solo by former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash. (Both guitar parts were played through a talk box.)
- Easy Star All-Stars covered it on the album Dub Side of the Moon, released February 18, 2003 by Easy Star Records. The cash register sounds were changed to those of a man lighting then inhaling from a bong, followed by coughing.
- Maryland-band Clutch recorded a cover of the song that was never officially released, although it has made the rounds among their fans.
- Phish covered Dark Side of the Moon in its entirety on November 2, 1998.
Alternative and Live versions
- It was performed by Pink Floyd from 1972-1977, and then from 1987-1994.
- Both P•U•L•S•E and a Delicate Sound Of Thunder CD and video feature live versions of the track. In these versions, the song is slightly elongated to incorporate a series of solos, including a bass solo and a section spotlighting the female backing singers.
- Roger Waters' In the Flesh: Live features another live version, sung by Doyle Bramhall II, with the solo split between guitarists Snowy White, Andy Fairweather-Low, and Bramhall (in that order).
- On the compilation album, Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd, the song segues from "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun" into "Keep Talking".
- The album A Collection of Great Dance Songs contains a re-recorded version of the song, owing to the fact that Capitol Records refused to let Columbia Records in the US use the original recording. Gilmour played all the instruments on the track except saxophone (played by Dick Parry, reprising his role on the original recording).
Personnel
Charts
External links
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