Got another playlist for you.
This one is songs about money (and being broke).
I tried to make these more about money that socio-economic politics.
Case in point, Bruce Springsteen’s "The Ghost Of Tom Joad" (and the incendiary live version with Tom Morello) and Style Council stuff about economic situation in Margaret Thatcher’s Great Britain are incredible, but songs I’ve already got in the Best Political Songs playlist and article.
There’s not an obvious line between "money" and "economics" but some broader money songs will sneak in; but I’m not repeating what I’ve already used in the Political Songs list.
When in doubt, this song prefers songs about being broke or wanting money than the typical hip-hop "I have tons of money" songs.
Two Special Shoutouts
Before we get on with the list.
First of all, the king of rock-pop songwriting about atypical (or non-love) subjects is my longtime hero, Randy Newman.
Unsurprisingly, he’s got three fucking fantastic songs about money.
They’re all here, "It’s Money That Matters", "My Life Is Good" and "It’s Money That I Love".
Big ups to Randy.
There’s a song I really wanted here at #2 here and can’t find it on the internet.
It’s Chris Mars "Reverse Status".
Mars was the drummer for The Replacements and his early 90’s album Horshoes And Handgrenades is maybe the best lost album that you can’t find on the interwebs.
If anybody can track this down or remembers this one, PLEASE message me.
The List
Randy Newman - It’s Money That Matters
Lorde - Royals
Derek and the Dominos - Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out
Cabaret - Money
Dolly Parton - 9 To 5
Beatles - Baby You’re A Rich Man
Annie Lennox - Money Can’t Buy It
Pink Floyd - Money
Frank Ocean - Super Rich Kids
Spacehog - To Be A Millionaire
The Bigfellas - Dollar For Every Dime
M.I.A. - Paper Planes
Randy Newman - It’s Money That I Love
B-52’s - Legal Tender
Talking Heads - Once In A Lifetime
O’Jays - For The Love Of Money
Johnny Paycheck - Take This Job And Shove It
Kanye West - Gold Digger
Spinal Tap - Gimme Some Money
Billy Joel - Easy Money
Fiddler On The Roof - If I Were A Rich Man
Lyle Lovett - M-O-N-E-Y
Los Lobos - High Places
Aloe Blacc - I Need A Dollar
Lowell George - Easy Money
CCR - Fortunate Son
ABBA - Money, Money, Money
Bing Crosby - Brother Can You Spare A Dime
Hall & Oates - Rich Girl
Notorious B.I.G. - Juice
Bruce Cockburn You Pay Your Money And You Take Your Time
Randy Newman - My Life Is Good
Todd Snider - Broke
Rihanna - Bitch Better Have My Money
Simply Red - Money’s Too Tight To Mention
Beatles - Taxman
Lou Rawls - Dollar Green
Donna Summer - She Works Hard For The Money
Barenaked Ladies - If I Had A $1,000,000
The Womenfolk - Little Boxes
Warren Zevon - Lawyers, Guns and Money
Style Council - Lodgers
Weezer - Beverly Hills
Ray Charles - Busted
Madonna - Material Girl
The Clash - Career Opportunities
Pet Shop Boys - Opportunities
Arrested Development - Mr. Wendal
Sam Cooke - The Best Things In Life Are Free
Rick James - Money Talks
