In It for the Money

In It for the Money is the second studio album by English alternative rock band Supergrass, released in 1997. NME called it "more fun than watching a wombat in a washing machine"[1] and named it the 10th best album of the year. In 1998, Q readers voted it the 68th greatest album of all time,[2] while in 2000 the same magazine placed it at number 57 in its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever.[3]

This article is about the Supergrass album. For the Client song, see In It for the Money (song).

In It for the Money
Studio album by
Supergrass
Released21 April 1997
RecordedAutumn 1996
StudioSawmills Studio in Cornwall
GenreBritpop, alternative rock, psychedelic pop
Length43:03
LabelParlophone (UK)
Capitol (US)
Echo/BMG (2018 reissue)
ProducerSupergrass and John Cornfield
Supergrass chronology
I Should Coco
(1995)		 In It for the Money
(1997)		 Supergrass
(1999)
Singles from In It for the Money
  1. "Going Out"
    Released: 26 February 1996
  2. "Richard III"
    Released: 31 March 1997
  3. "Sun Hits the Sky"
    Released: 9 June 1997
  4. "Cheapskate"
    Released: 21 June 1997
  5. "Late in the Day"
    Released: 6 October 1997
Alternative cover
Japanese edition cover

Recording and conception

Only two songs were written before entering Sawmills Studio, so most of the tracks were penned during recording itself.[4]

Recording was often disrupted by the drummer Danny Goffey impromptly going back to London, to record with his and Pearl Lowe's band Lodger. He was told by management that this was unacceptable behaviour. This, along with Gaz Coombes and Goffey's bickering in the music press about the underlying meaning of lyrics to "Going Out", put strain on the recording process.[5]

It is speculated that Parlophone, the record label Supergrass were on, offered the band a sum of money to decide on a final name for the album, because they were taking too long to deliberate.[6][7] However, the band themselves claim that they never received any of this money in return.[8] Other suggestions considered for the title of the album included Hold on to the Handrail and Children of the Monkey Basket (which is now the name of the band's self-run website).[5]

"Richard III" and "Sun Hits the Sky" appear to end with snippets of other, unreleased songs, that play until fade out.

The guitar solo in "Sometimes I Make You Sad" was written during the recording of In It for the Money; it was recorded at half speed then sped up to achieve the mandolin-like sound.[4] The only use of percussion in the song is a cymbal, the drum noises were instead simulated by members of the band making 'grunting' noises. These were then put on a loop.

Album artwork

The album cover is a photograph of the band busking during the filming of the video for their single "Cheapskate". The Japanese edition has, instead, an oil painting by Maff Burley, an old school friend of Danny Goffey. In it, the band is curled up in a circular window at the Old Sawmills at Fowey.[7][9]

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[10]
Chicago Tribune[11]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[12]
The Guardian[13]
NME8/10[14]
Pitchfork8.9/10[15]
Q[16]
Rolling Stone[17]
Select4/5[18]
Spin7/10[19]

The album peaked at No. 2 in the UK Albums Chart,[20] and sold 300,000 copies in the UK and over one million worldwide. "The fact that it has sold more worldwide than I Should Coco," said Gaz Coombes, "means we can sleep at night."[2][21]

"In It for the Money is my favourite album of the year…" declared The Prodigy's Liam Howlett at the close of 1997. "It's quality music. 'Richard III' is a top punk tune – that's why I bought the album."[22]

The album is included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[23]

Track listing

All tracks written by Supergrass/Rob Coombes.

CD & limited edition CD (with bonus CD) CDPCS7388 / TC TCPCS7388 / 12"PCS7388

  1. "In It for the Money" – 3:05
  2. "Richard III" – 3:13
  3. "Tonight" – 3:09
  4. "Late in the Day" – 4:43
  5. "G-Song" – 3:27
  6. "Sun Hits the Sky" – 4:55
  7. "Going Out" – 4:16
  8. "It's Not Me" – 2:56
  9. "Cheapskate" – 2:43
  10. "You Can See Me" – 3:40
  11. "Hollow Little Reign" – 4:08
  12. "Sometimes I Make You Sad" – 2:48

Limited edition bonus CD

  1. "Caught by the Fuzz" (acoustic) – 3:06
  2. "Sitting Up Straight" (alternative mix) – 2:22
  3. "Melanie Davis" – 2:46
  4. "Odd?" – 4:14 Members of the band can be heard blowing bubbles into a bucket during the outro of this song.[24]
  5. "Wait for the Sun" – 4:11
  6. "Nothing More's Gonna Get in My Way" – 4:05
  7. "Sex!" – 2:38
  8. "20ft Halo" – 3:21
  9. "Je Suis Votre Papa Sucre" – 1:45

References
  1. Williams, Simon (19 April 1997). "Supergrass: In It For The Money". NME. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  2. "The 100 Greatest Albums Ever #68: In It for the Money". Q. February 1998. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  3. "The 100 Greatest British Albums Ever". Q. rocklistmusic.co.uk. 2000. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  4. Supergrass Discothèque – Navigate to "In It for the Money" Archived 15 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  5. "People Who Live in Glass Houses". Select. October 1999. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  6. "Your Money's No Good Here, Son". Q. July 1997. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  7. "The Hair bare Bunch!". Vox. April 1997. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  8. "In It for the Money Photo Album". childrenofthemonkeybasket.com. Archived from the original on 30 March 2007.
  9. "In It for the Money [Japan]". strangeones.com. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  10. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "In It for the Money – Supergrass". AllMusic. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  11. Caro, Mark (23 May 1997). "Supergrass: In It for the Money (Capitol)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  12. Sinclair, Tom (9 May 1997). "In It for the Money". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  13. Sullivan, Caroline (18 April 1997). "Supergrass: In It for the Money (Parlophone)". The Guardian.
  14. Williams, Simon (19 April 1997). "Supergrass – In It for the Money". NME. Archived from the original on 17 August 2000. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  15. Schreiber, Ryan (May 1997). "Supergrass: In It for the Money". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 2 November 2005. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  16. Cavanagh, David (May 1997). "Supergrass: In It for the Money". Q. No. 128. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  17. Robbins, Ira (4 April 1997). "Supergrass: In It for the Money". Rolling Stone. No. 759. ISSN 0035-791X. Archived from the original on 23 October 2007. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  18. Male, Andrew (May 1997). "Can you hear the 'grass grow?". Select. No. 83. pp. 90–91.
  19. Eddy, Chuck (June 1997). "Supergrass: In It for the Money". Spin. Vol. 13 no. 3. pp. 120–21. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  20. "In It for the Money". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  21. "British album certifications – Supergrass – In It for the Money". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Type In It for the Money in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  22. Elliott, Paul (February 1998). "Their year: The Prodigy". Q #137. p. 94.
  23. Dimery, Robert, ed. (2005). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Cassell Illustrated. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  24. Supergrass Discothèque – Navigate to "Mansize Rooster" (1995 release) Archived 15 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine

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