Many of us run short of cash at one time or another. The recording artists on this compilation aired the sad news of their fiscal woes by compellingly singing about them. Their efforts span rock and roll, rhythm and blues, country, and several sub-genres in between, with some real heavy hitters in the lineup. Elvis Presley offers his 1956 revival of Clyde McPhatter and The Drifters' classic Money Honey (here too for easy comparison). Two splendid versions of the pounding anthem Money (That's What I Want) both hail from Motown's primordial days: the hit original by Barrett Strong and a 1961 album cover by The Miracles. Blues legends Johnny Ace, Jimmy Witherspoon, and Slim Harpo check in with pungent laments about hard times; so do country stalwarts Stonewall Jackson, Al Terry, and Faron Young. Even callow youth Frankie Avalon told the world I'm Broke early in his storied career. Then there are the priceless obscurities that Bear Family's CD compilations are famous for: Carl Runner's No Money, Glen Paul's I'm Broke, Jessie Knight's Nothing But Money (he was Ike Turner's nephew and electric bassist), and still-active Chicago blues harpist Billy Boy Arnold's 1953 debut 78 I Ain't Got No Money, cut when he was still in his teens. The title track was The Silhouettes' first follow-up to their immortal Get A Job; other R&B vocal groups on board include Ernie K-Doe's first recording in 1954 with The Blue Diamonds and The Penguins' sage Money Talks. Talk about value for your money: these 30 tracks are downright priceless!

• The moving 30 songs on this Bear Family Recordsr CD portray how hard life can be on the breadline (or even below); everything revolves around money, bankruptcies, unemployment and hard times living on the streets.
• Detailed liner notes by Bill Dahl from Chicago in the 36-page illustrated booklet and carefully edited recordings round off this impressive project!

Headin' For The Poorhouse: What To Do When Money Is Through?