"Money Honey", written by Jesse Stone, was the first record and the first hit for Clyde McPhatter and The Drifters. It was released in September 1953. McPhatter's voice, but not his name, had become well-known as the lead singer for Billy Ward and the Dominoes and the song was an immediate hit and remained on the rhythm and blues charts for 23 weeks. Jesse Stone (born Charles Calhoun 16 November 1901, died 1 April 1999) was a American rhythm and blues musician whose influence spanned a wide range of genres. ... Clyde McPhatter (November 15, 1932 _ June 13, 1972) was an influential American R&B singer, born in Durham, North Carolina. ... The Drifters are a long-lived American doo wop/R&B band, originally formed by Clyde McPhatter (of Billy Ward & the Dominoes) in 1953. ... Compilation album cover Billy Ward and the Dominoes were one of the top American R&B groups of the 1950s, and launched the careers of both Clyde McPhatter and Jackie Wilson. ... Rhythm and blues (aka R&B or RnB) is a popular music genre combining jazz, gospel, and blues influences — first performed by African American artists. ...

The song tells the story of a man who has run out of money, and hopes his woman will help him out:

I was clean as a screen and so hard pressed

I called the woman that I love best

In the chorus, he threatens to leave her if she doesn't help him out:

Money Honey

Money Honey

Money Honey, if you want to get along with me

She is literally not buying, she has another man, one who already has money.

The recording features Mickey Baker on guitar and Sam "the Man" Taylor on tenor sax. The arrangement starts with a bagpipe-like drone from the Drifters setting up a shuffle rhythm. McPhatter's voice is clear and bright and in the midst of the sax solo he gives off a monumental scream. Mickey Guitar Baker is an American Rock & Roll guitar player. ... Sam L. The Man Taylor (b. ... The tenor saxophone is one of the larger members of the saxophone family invented by Adolphe Sax. ... A bagpipe performer in Amsterdam. ... The shuffle rhythm is a rhythm that can be regarded as the basis of the blues backbeat, and can be heard on many jazz, rock and roll and soul music recordings. ...

The song was covered by Eddie Cochran and, most notably, by Elvis Presley, who was still in his R&B phase and had not yet been transformed into a teen idol. Eddie Cochran Edward Ray Eddie Cochran (October 3, 1938 – April 17, 1960) was an early American rockabilly musician and an important influence on popular music during the late 1950s and early 1960s. ... Elvis Aron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), often known simply as Elvis and also called The King of Rock n Roll or simply The King, was an American singer, musician and actor. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Elvis Presley singles chronology

• Last single = "Blue Moon" (1956)
• This single = "Money Honey" (1956)
• Next single = "Shake, Rattle and Roll" (1956)