Shake Your Moneymaker (song)
Encyclopedia
"Shake Your Moneymaker" or "Shake Your Money Maker" is a song recorded by Elmore James
in 1961 that has become a standard of the blues. Inspired by earlier songs, it has been interpreted and recorded by several blues and other artists. "Shake Your Moneymaker" is included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
's list of the "500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll".
recorded "Roll Your Moneymaker" with a band including Magic Sam
on guitar and Willie Dixon
on bass (Artistic 1502). The song, a twelve-bar blues with breaks, featured the chorus "roll your moneymaker". According to one Elmore James biographer, "Chicago blues lore [has it that] drummer/vocalist James Bannister was the author of a tune known as 'Roll Your Moneymaker', but never recorded it" (Bannister had played with J. T. Brown
and Magic Sam). It was also noted that the rhythm guitar figure in James' "Shake Your Moneymaker" was inspired by "Got the Blues Can't Be Satisfied", recorded by Mississippi John Hurt
in 1928 (OKeh 8724).
Others have suggested that "Shake Your Moneymaker" is a variation on songs that have been traced back to Charlie Patton
("Shake It and Break It" 1929 Paramount 12869) and Bukka White
("Shake 'Em on Down
" 1937 Vocalion 03711). However, the song has been also identified as an Elmore James "original".
, James was having problems with the union, so the session took place at night with the lights dimmed so as not to attract the attention of the musician's local. James had assembled a Mississippi version of his backing band, The Broomdusters, for the recordings: Johnny "Big Moose" Walker (piano), Sammy Lee Bully (bass), and King Mose Taylor (drums). After one false start, the second take provided the master used for the single. Although several songs were recorded during the session, only "Shake Your Moneymaker", together with "Look on Yonder Wall
", was released at the time.
"Shake Your Moneymaker" became one of James' most well-known songs and a popular dance number. Activist/author James Meredith
described witnessing James "working the crowd into a frenzy at Mr. P's, a humble [Mississippi] juke joint" with the song. "Sometimes the band would play it for thirty minutes or longer without stopping, and the crowd would continue to beg for more when it was over".
recorded a version of "Shake Your Money-Maker" for the 1965 The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
album. In 1968, the song was also included by the original Fleetwood Mac
on their debut album Fleetwood Mac
. George Thorogood
recorded it in 1988 for the Born to Be Bad
album. In 1999, a live version was recorded by The Black Crowes
with Jimmy Page
and released on Live at the Greek
. In June 2010, Eric Clapton
and Jeff Beck
performed the song at Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival
.
Elmore James
Elmore James was an American blues guitarist, singer, songwriter and band leader. He was known as "the King of the Slide Guitar" and had a unique guitar style, noted for his use of loud amplification and his stirring voice.-Biography:James was born Elmore Brooks in the old Richland community in...
in 1961 that has become a standard of the blues. Inspired by earlier songs, it has been interpreted and recorded by several blues and other artists. "Shake Your Moneymaker" is included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,...
's list of the "500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll".
Earlier songs
In 1958, Chicago blues singer and harmonica player Shakey Jake HarrisShakey Jake Harris
Shakey Jake Harris was an American Chicago blues singer, harmonicist and songwriter. Harris released five albums over a period of almost 25 years, and he was often musically associated with his nephew, Magic Sam....
recorded "Roll Your Moneymaker" with a band including Magic Sam
Magic Sam
Samuel "Magic Sam" Gene Maghett was an American Chicago blues musician. Maghett was born in Grenada, Mississippi, United States, and learned to play the blues from listening to records by Muddy Waters and Little Walter...
on guitar and Willie Dixon
Willie Dixon
William James "Willie" Dixon was an American blues musician, vocalist, songwriter, arranger and record producer. A Grammy Award winner who was proficient on both the Upright bass and the guitar, as well as his own singing voice, Dixon is arguably best known as one of the most prolific songwriters...
on bass (Artistic 1502). The song, a twelve-bar blues with breaks, featured the chorus "roll your moneymaker". According to one Elmore James biographer, "Chicago blues lore [has it that] drummer/vocalist James Bannister was the author of a tune known as 'Roll Your Moneymaker', but never recorded it" (Bannister had played with J. T. Brown
J. T. Brown
J. T. Brown was an American tenor saxophonist of the Chicago blues era. He was variously billed as Saxman Brown, J.T. Brown and Bep Brown.-Biography:...
and Magic Sam). It was also noted that the rhythm guitar figure in James' "Shake Your Moneymaker" was inspired by "Got the Blues Can't Be Satisfied", recorded by Mississippi John Hurt
Mississippi John Hurt
John Smith Hurt, better known as Mississippi John Hurt was an American country blues singer and guitarist.Raised in Avalon, Mississippi, Hurt taught himself how to play the guitar around age nine...
in 1928 (OKeh 8724).
Others have suggested that "Shake Your Moneymaker" is a variation on songs that have been traced back to Charlie Patton
Charlie Patton
Charlie Patton , better known as Charley Patton, was an American Delta blues musician. He is considered by many to be the "Father of the Delta Blues", and is credited with creating an enduring body of American music and personally inspiring just about every Delta blues man...
("Shake It and Break It" 1929 Paramount 12869) and Bukka White
Bukka White
Booker T. Washington White , better known as Bukka White, was an American Delta blues guitarist and singer. "Bukka" was not a nickname, but a phonetic misspelling of White's given name Booker, by his second record label .-Biography:Born between Aberdeen and Houston, Mississippi, White was the...
("Shake 'Em on Down
Shake 'Em on Down
"Shake 'Em on Down" is a country-style blues song recorded by Bukka White in 1937. It is his best-known song and "became part of the repertoire of Chicago blues".-Background:...
" 1937 Vocalion 03711). However, the song has been also identified as an Elmore James "original".
Elmore James song
"Shake Your Moneymaker" is a up-tempo twelve-bar blues featuring slide guitar. James recorded the song at Cosimo Matassa's J&M Studios in New Orleans, Louisiana during a "candlelight", i.e. non-union, session in the summer of 1961. According to drummer/harp player Sam MyersSam Myers
Sam Myers was an American blues musician and songwriter. He appeared as an accompanist on dozens of recordings for blues artists over five decades. He began his career as a drummer for Elmore James, but was most famous as a blues vocalist and blues harp player...
, James was having problems with the union, so the session took place at night with the lights dimmed so as not to attract the attention of the musician's local. James had assembled a Mississippi version of his backing band, The Broomdusters, for the recordings: Johnny "Big Moose" Walker (piano), Sammy Lee Bully (bass), and King Mose Taylor (drums). After one false start, the second take provided the master used for the single. Although several songs were recorded during the session, only "Shake Your Moneymaker", together with "Look on Yonder Wall
Look on Yonder Wall
"Look on Yonder Wall", or "Get Ready to Meet Your Man" as it was first named, is a blues song first recorded in 1945 by James "Beale Street" Clark. Clark, also known as "Memphis Jimmy", was a blues pianist from Memphis, Tennessee...
", was released at the time.
"Shake Your Moneymaker" became one of James' most well-known songs and a popular dance number. Activist/author James Meredith
James Meredith
James H. Meredith is an American civil rights movement figure, a writer, and a political adviser. In 1962, he was the first African American student admitted to the segregated University of Mississippi, an event that was a flashpoint in the American civil rights movement. Motivated by President...
described witnessing James "working the crowd into a frenzy at Mr. P's, a humble [Mississippi] juke joint" with the song. "Sometimes the band would play it for thirty minutes or longer without stopping, and the crowd would continue to beg for more when it was over".
Other versions
Paul ButterfieldPaul Butterfield
Paul Butterfield was an American blues vocalist and harmonica player, who founded the Paul Butterfield Blues Band in the early 1960s and performed at the original Woodstock Festival...
recorded a version of "Shake Your Money-Maker" for the 1965 The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band (album)
-Side two:-Personnel:* Paul Butterfield — vocals, harmonica* Mike Bloomfield — electric guitar* Elvin Bishop — electric guitar* Mark Naftalin — organ on "Blues with A Feeling," "Thank You Mr. Poobah," "Screamin'," "Our Love Is Drifting," "Mystery Train," and "Last Night"* Jerome Arnold — bass* Sam...
album. In 1968, the song was also included by the original Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac are a British–American rock band formed in 1967 in London.The only original member present in the band is its eponymous drummer, Mick Fleetwood...
on their debut album Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac (1968 album)
-2004 release:-Personnel:*Peter Green – vocals, guitar, harmonica*Jeremy Spencer – vocals, slide guitar, piano*John McVie – bass guitar*Mick Fleetwood – drums*Bob Brunning – bass guitar on "Long Grey Mare"-References:...
. George Thorogood
George Thorogood
George Thorogood is an American blues rock vocalist/guitarist from Wilmington, Delaware, United States, known for his hit song "Bad to the Bone" as well as for covers of blues standards such as Hank Williams' "Move It On Over" and John Lee Hooker's "House Rent Boogie/One Bourbon, One Scotch, One...
recorded it in 1988 for the Born to Be Bad
Born to Be Bad (album)
Born to Be Bad is a studio album released by George Thorogood. It was released in 1988 on the EMI label. The album peaked at #32 on the Billboard 200.- Track listing :# "Shake Your Money Maker" - 3:29...
album. In 1999, a live version was recorded by The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes are an American rock band formed in 1989. Their discography includes nine studio albums, four live albums and several charting singles. The band was signed to Def American Recordings in 1989 by producer George Drakoulias and released their debut album, Shake Your Money Maker, the...
with Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page
James Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
and released on Live at the Greek
Live at the Greek
Live at the Greek: Excess All Areas is a double live album by Jimmy Page and The Black Crowes, released by musicmaker.com on 29 February 2000 and later by TVT Records on 4 July 2000. In October 1999, Page teamed up with The Black Crowes for a two-night performance of material from the Led Zeppelin...
. In June 2010, Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
and Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck
Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
performed the song at Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival
Crossroads Guitar Festival
The Crossroads Guitar Festival is a music festival and benefit concert first held in 2004 and again in 2007 and 2010. The festivals benefit the Crossroads Centre founded by Eric Clapton, a drug treatment center located in Antigua. The concerts are also intended to be a showcase for a variety of...
.