A Short Blog - Eddie Money

by Chris McGinty of AccordingToWhim.com

I was looking through the list of celebrities who have died in 2019. There have been a few surprises, but Eddie Money was expected. It was announced that he had Stage 4 esophageal cancer a month before his death. The thing about Eddie Money is that for me he falls in the category of always listened to, but never truly followed. I own no albums, and aside from his great catalog of hits, I don’t believe I’ve heard much more of his music. He was a talented singer/songwriter though, so I’d like to at least spend a little time on what I know of his music. 



Eddie Money - Baby Hold On

This is probably the first song I heard from Eddie Money, but it was probably a couple of years after its release that I became aware of liking it. I was four years old when this song was released. The late 70s and early 80s was when my taste in music became clear. I hated most country and hated most disco, and I was totally into songs that later I would discover were by the same artists. Eddie Money was one of those artists.

Eddie Money – Two Tickets to Paradise

Likely the second song I heard by Eddie Money as it was the next single in the same year. I’m sure that it was a while before I really thought about it. I know that when I really became aware of the name Eddie Money it was because of this song. I didn’t realize that “Baby Hold On” was the same guy. I also got him confused with another artist, which is why I think I wasn’t really aware of liking his music when I was four years old.

You see, there was a singer named Eddie Rabbit who had a couple of big hits in 1980; “I Love a Rainy Night” and “Drivin’ My Life Away.” I wasn’t confused for very long, but it suggests that I was closer to six or seven years old when I was becoming aware of the music I liked. Eddie Rabbit died in 1998. Maybe I’ll do an even shorter blog about him one of these days.

Eddie Money – Think I’m in Love

I remember this song from the early 80s, and I was seriously into it in its time. I’m not sure if I knew it was Eddie Money though. This was a time when acts like Eddie Money and Rick Springfield were doing quite well on commercial radio. The new wave scene was making itself known, but maybe hadn’t quite taken over yet. I guess I’d have to examine some Billboard charts to see.

Eddie Money – Shakin’

I’m not sure if this was the next song I heard, but it is a song that I became familiar with over the years. It’s a great 80s offering from Eddie Money that I’ll always turn up. I’d never seen this video before. That is Apollonia from the movie “Purple Rain” starring Prince. This was before that movie’s release.

The Ronettes – Be My Baby

I’d like to take a quick break from the music of Eddie Money to acquaint you with a song if you aren’t already. This song was from 1963 and features a woman named Veronica “Ronnie” Bennett on vocals. She would later marry Phil Spector and change her professional name to Ronnie Spector. Remember that name for a moment. The marriage didn’t last, but she kept the name.

Eddie Money – Take Me Home Tonight (featuring Ronnie Spector)

Just like Ronnie sang, "Be My Little Baby Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh." I’m going to declare this as his biggest hit whether the numbers agree with me or not. This was a huge hit in 1986 and seems to get the most current airplay of any of his hits. I can’t really say if this is my favourite of his songs. It’s really good. I like “Think I’m in Love” quite a bit though, and there is something about the keyboards in “Baby Hold On.”

Eddie Money – Walk On Water

I really didn’t like this song when it came out. The problem is that there was a song by Cher called “If I Could Turn Back Time” that came out about nine months later. They had very similar vocal melodies, very similar lyrics in the chorus, and I really didn’t like either. I’m maybe a little warmed up to it now, but it’s not a song I generally go out of my way to listen to. Writing about my experience listening to Eddie Money’s music seemed like a special occasion to hear it again. The only thing I can say that I truly like about the song is Eddie Money’s voice.

Chris McGinty is a blogger who wishes he could walk on water, and maybe even turn back time, to have the chance to see Eddie Money live.