Berry Gordy wrote this with Janie Bradford, who contributed to Motown as a writer and in an administrative role. She and Gordy had previously written two songs for Jackie Wilson's first album. Money was a popular cover tune in the early-mid 1960s. The Rolling Stones and the Kingsmen were among those who recorded it. The Beatles' version was begun on July 18, 1963 with six takes, plus a piano edit piece.