Eddie Money was among a core group of artists who found success in the ‘70s and transitioned into the MTV Generation of the ‘80s. He had a distinct voice that blended rock raspiness and pop crooning, and since he straddled those genres that was a great blend to possess. One wouldn’t mistake him for anyone else. Upon his death, Rolling Stone deemed him “the Patron Saint of Rock Uncool,” which is not a bad thing. Money resided in his own realm and generated hits based on his musical personality and sincerity rather than the pop music and fashion trends of the time. He offered no fake posturing or macho fronting. Before his death in 2019 at age 70, he had a musical called Two Tickets to Paradise that he hoped to bring to Broadway.
Money’s career rode waves of popularity, from his beginnings in the mid-‘70s through to the early ‘80s and then the 1986 song that revived both his and Ronnie Spector’s careers, “Take Me Home Tonight.” That’s certainly his most well-known song, but he had more hits and explored other musical styles. Here are seven Eddie Money tunes that, beyond the big hits we know like “Baby Hold On” and “Think I’m In Love,” showcase different sides to his artistry.
“Satin Angel” and “Trinidad” from Playing for Keeps (1980)
The guitar-driven track “Satin Angel” certainly invoked the vibe of ‘70s rock. While it might not have stood out with other artists, it was one of Money’s harder songs in the early days and he made it work. (Although some fans have noted it could have used better production). By contrast, album-opener “Trinidad” took on a lilting, Caribbean rock vibe with lyrics invoking a romantic dream. Both tunes are a good example of the singer driving the song.
“I Wanna Go Back” from Can’t Hold Back (1986)
It’s nice to hear an ‘80s ballad not purely about love. It is about a sentimental romance with the past and a yearning for the simplicity of one’s youthful days. This cover of the Billy Satellite tune acknowledges how life moves on and at least those memories provide solace as one ages. Combine the emotional sincerity of Money’s singing and Danny Hall’s sax work (a nice addition here) and you get a Top-20 winner. The beguiling blonde beauty in the video is Marilyn Martin, who is believed to have sung backup on the track and who released her eponymous solo debut that same year. Martin became well-known for her No. 1 duet with Phil Collins, “Separate Lives,” which was used in the 1985 movie White Nights.
“Stranger in a Strange Land” from Can’t Hold Back (1986)
This feels like a hard rock song given a percolating ‘80s synth injection. While it definitely catered to the shifting trend towards more keyboard sounds and studio polish, it still had electric guitars, hooky choruses, punchy drums, and Money’s passionate performance to elevate it. The year “Stranger in a Strange Land” came out, The Who’s John Entwistle recorded a more rousing rock version of it with the band The Rock. However, it took a decade for their album and cover to be officially released.
“Walk on Water” from Nothing to Lose (1988)
Although this was one of two Top-10 hits for Money, it is not as played today like the smash success “Take Me Home Tonight.” It’s funny how time changes perspective on some songs—“Shakin’” only hit No. 62 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, yet it has over five times the Spotify streams as “Walk on Water.” This is a catchy but forlorn exploration of the frustrations of trying to win back someone you hurt, no matter how hard you try.
“Another Nice Day in L.A.” from Right Here (1991)
Right Here came out the same month as Nirvana’s Nevermind – mainstream pop tastes were clearly changing but Money kept doing his thing. One wouldn’t be blamed for drawing comparisons between this tune and Randy Newman’s “I Love L.A.” However, this track is not as insistently perky and rides more of a mid-tempo groove. It may feel like a variation on Newman’s track, but this is still an amiable anthem with a slight sense of malaise lurking underneath.
“She Takes My Breath Away” from Right Here (1991)
The veteran vocalist certainly loved singing about desirable women and being enamored with them. In this case, this song was reportedly inspired by his wife and how she made him feel as a partner and mother of his children. This electro-acoustic rocker works off of catchy guitar lines, a tasteful solo, and soulful choruses. It’s also the kind of tune that works well as an Eddie Money track. While it didn’t chart on the Billboard Hot 100, “She Takes My Breath Away” reached No. 5 on the Mainstream Rock radio tracks chart. The live acoustic version is also worth checking out.
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