"For the Love of Money" is a soul, R&B, proto-disco 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 Billboards 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 lyrics, which refer to the poor "really need[ing]" money and describe the various things people will do for money, are a condemnation of greed and materialism. The song was also used as the opening theme song for NBC's The Apprentice as well as Donald Trump's WWE entrance music.
Production 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.
Credits Eddie Levert – vocals William Powell – vocals Walter Williams – vocals Leon Isley Brooks – keyboards Anthony Jackson – bass, composer, lyricist MFSB – orchestra, various instruments Lenny Pakula – arranger Joe Tarsia – engineer Kenny Gamble – producer, composer, lyricist Leon Huff – producer, composer, lyricist
Awards and accolades "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.
In 2016, "For the Love of Money" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine:
Chart history
Weekly charts Chart (1974)PeakpositionCanada RPM Top Singles29US Billboard Hot 100Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - 9US Billboard R&B3US Cash Box Top 100 Cash Box Top 100 Singles, June 22, 19747
Year-end charts Chart (1974)RankUS Billboard Hot 10075
References
Sources 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 & Michel Camilo." Bass Player Magazine, May 2002.
External links [ Song review] on Allmusic A Spoonful Of Time (2012) - Nektar