From Money to Empire
Barrett Strong’s career can be viewed in two parts. First, as an artist, he recorded Money (That’s What I Want) in 1959, the first successful single released by Motown.
Written by Berry Gordy, Motown’s founder, the song marked the beginning of one of the most significant musical movements in popular music history.
Before the label had developed its signature sound, this blues-inspired Pop tune crossed over to white radio audiences, bringing in the cash Gordy needed to build his musical empire.
It wasn’t smooth sailing from the start. Money (That’s What I Want) had to be released twice, as did the label’s second successful single, Shop Around (1960).
The tune became both Barrett’s breakthrough and Motown’s first major success. It also became a timeless classic, later covered by The Beatles, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Rolling Stones, and countless Motown and Soul bands every Saturday night.
Motown’s first No. 1 came in 1961 with Please Mr. Postman by The Marvelettes. This was followed in 1962 by another Berry Gordy-penned hit, Do You Love Me, and You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me added another success to the growing catalogue.
Five major hits might sound impressive, but Motown had released around 140 singles in its first four years. With Gordy himself writing two of those early hits, there must have been moments when even he wondered whether the gamble would pay off.
The following year, with Stevie Wonder, Martha and the Vandellas, and Marvin Gaye all releasing records, it was full steam ahead. If money was what Berry wanted, he certainly got it!
From Singer to Motown Lyricist
While Money (That’s What I Want) was pivotal in kickstarting the label, Barrett Strong’s greatest contribution came later, when he became one of Motown’s most important lyricists.
Perhaps most notably, he wrote the words to I Heard It Through the Grapevine, War, Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home), and Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone.
Many of these classics were created in collaboration with legendary producer Norman Whitfield. Together, they helped push Motown beyond its earlier pop-soul sound, exploring darker themes and more ambitious arrangements.
I Heard It Through the Grapevine became one of the label’s defining tunes, recorded by several artists, including Gladys Knight & the Pips and Marvin Gaye. War, meanwhile, became a powerful protest song, while Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone grew into an epic soul production for The Temptations.
In 1973, Strong and Whitfield were honoured with a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song for Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone.
Leaving Motown Behind
When Motown moved its operations from Detroit to Los Angeles in 1972, Barrett Strong stayed behind. Although he remained active in music, the golden era of his career had largely passed.
His story is unusual: he helped launch Motown as a recording artist, then went on to shape its history from behind the scenes as a songwriter.
For guitarists, Money (That’s What I Want) is still a brilliant piece of repertoire. Its blues-based structure, repetitive riff, and unmistakable groove make it a natural choice for a Soul or even Rock band. It has been played by generations of musicians, and its simplicity is what makes it so effective.
Strong may be best remembered by some as the voice behind Motown’s first major hit, but his songwriting partnership with Norman Whitfield gave him an influence that reached much further. His contribution helped create the soundtrack to an era.
Barrett Strong Tunes | Related Pages
I Heard It Through The Grapevine | Marvin Gaye
You can learn I Heard It Through The Grapevine by Marvin Gaye using chords, lyrics, backing tracks, a chord chart, TAB, and video guitar lessons.
| Ebm | Ebm | Bb Ab | Ab6 Ab |
I bet you’re wonderin’ how I knew, ’bout your plans to make me blue…
Check it out how the verse is taught in the course for FREE here: I Heard It Through The Grapevine | Guitar Lesson – Step 2.
Money (That’s What I Want) | Chords + TAB
Learn how to play Money (That’s What I Want) by Barrett Strong using chords, lyrics, a chord chart, a backing track, and Spytunes video guitar lessons.
| F N.C | N.C Bb C |
The best things in life are free…
Start learning with the full lesson series: Money (That’s What I Want) – Guitar Lessons with TAB.
Barrett Strong on the web
