For the Love of Money

"For the Love of Money" is a soul, funk song that was written and composed by Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff, and Anthony Jackson; it was recorded by Philadelphia soul group The O'Jays for the album Ship Ahoy. Produced by Gamble and Huff for Philadelphia International Records, "For the Love of Money" was issued as a single in late 1973, with "People Keep Tellin' Me" as its B-side. The single peaked at number three on the U.S. Billboard R&B chart, and at No. 9 on Billboard's Pop Singles chart in spring 1974. Though the album version of the song was over seven minutes long, it received substantial radio airplay. The song's title comes from a well-known Bible verse, 1 Timothy 6:10: "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." (This translation is from the King James Version of the Bible.) The song was also used as the opening theme song for NBC’s The Apprentice.

This article is about the 1973 O'Jays song. For other uses, see For the Love of Money (disambiguation).

"For the Love of Money"

"People Keep Tellin' Me"

April 1974 (US)

Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia: October 3, 1973

3:42 (single version)
7:14 (album version)

Philadelphia International
3544

Kenneth Gamble
Leon Huff
Anthony Jackson

Gamble and Huff

Production[edit]

Anthony Jackson played bass guitar on the song. One day during fall 1973, producer/keyboardist Leon Huff was leading the members of the MFSB rhythm section and Jackson through a rehearsal. Sigma Sound Studios owner/engineer Joe Tarsia noticed that Jackson had a wah-wah pedal attached to his Fender Precision Bass. Tarsia decided to run Jackson's bassline through a phaser, giving it a swishing sound and later mixed in echo. During the final mixing of the track, Kenny Gamble impulsively reached over to the echo button and added echo to Jackson's opening riffs.

K. Gamble – producer, composer, lyricist

Leon Huff – producer, composer, lyricist

A. Jackson – composer, lyricist

Awards and accolades[edit]

"For the Love of Money" was nominated for the 1975 Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance – Duo, Group or Chorus, losing to "Tell Me Something Good" by Rufus.

Despite the 1975 snub, in 2016 "For the Love of Money" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.^[3]^[4]

The song was covered by Todd Rundgren's band on their 1982 album Swing to the Right.

Utopia

The song was covered by the funk-punk outfit on their 1982 album Thermonuclear Sweat.

Defunkt

A cover version recorded by was nominated for the 1987 Juno Award for "Best R&B/Soul Recording" (see Juno Awards of 1987).

Erroll Starr

It was covered by on their eponymous 1988 album, and a video was made for the song.

BulletBoys

It was covered by on their 1989 album, Rhythm and Blues.

World Saxophone Quartet

It was covered by , under the title "Serious Money," on her 1989 album Heart of Gold.

Carole Davis

A medley of "For the Love of Money" and 's "Living for the City" was recorded by Troop, LeVert, and Queen Latifah. The medley is featured prominently in Mario Van Peebles's 1991 film New Jack City, and it appears on the film's soundtrack.

Stevie Wonder

Rare Blend covered the song for the in 2001.

Driven: Motion Picture Soundtrack

The song was covered by , and it is featured on her 2004 album Room.

Katey Sagal

recorded a version of this song for their Never Gone album, but it was not released.

Backstreet Boys

The song was covered by on their 2009 album Take Cover.

Queensrÿche

The song was covered by on their 2011 album 180,000 Miles and Counting.

The Dynamics

The song was covered by on their 2014 album of the same name, For the Love of Money.

Tackhead

The song was covered by Nektar on their 2012 album "A Spoonful of Time."

The song was used as part of a medley on the to the musical MJ.

soundtrack album

Jisi, Chris: "The Anthony Jackson Interview." Bass Player Magazine, Spring 1990.

Jisi, Chris: "The Anthony Jackson Interview." Bass Player Magazine, Summer 1990.

Jisi, Chris: "Spontaneous Combustion: Anthony Jackson & ." Bass Player Magazine, May 2002.

Michel Camilo

on Allmusic

For the Love of Money