Show Me The Money - Three Versions of Two Tickets To Paradise

As I wind down this blog, I realized that there are whole host of artists that I have not featured. As I was looking over the list of some of my favorite songs, I realized that I have not featured any music from Eddie Money. This former New York policeman was born as Edward Mahoney, but dropped two letters in his surname and became Eddie Money when he left the long blue line for rock and roll.

I had a chance to meet Money in the mid 80s in Atlanta. He was so friendly and I kept running into him at a conference I was attending. Every time I saw him, he recalled my name and it seemed like we had known each other all of our lives.

The Artist and the Author in Atlanta, 1984

Today, I am going to show you the money – Eddie Money and three versions of his 1978 hit “Two Tickets to Paradise.” This is probably my favorite Money song, but alas it only peaked at #22 – a shame as it really rocks.

Version #1: The Single Mix

The original single mix of “Two Tickets to Paradise” is considerably different from the corresponding LP track from his debut album “Eddie Money.” For the single, Money rerecorded the vocals – double tracking his voice in places and adding the whoas during the third verse that are missing from the LP.

In addition to a different vocal treatment Jimmy Lyon’s guitar parts are completely different from the album version and much heavier with several places where he has overdubbed a second guitar that is reminiscent of the recordings of Steely Dan and a majority of the 70s southern rock bands that had several guitarists.

As a single, it is also shorter and has a cold fade ending. From 1978 to 2008, the single mix was unavailable, but was released on the compilation CD “Playlist: The Very Best of Eddie Money.” It’s great to have this piece of rock history once again available.

Version #2: The Album Mix

The album version of the song has been the mix that has been heard over radio for the last three years. The keyboards are more in the front of the mix than the single mix. Jimmy Lyons’ guitar parts are not as overwhelming as on the single; however, the solo is much better.

The ending of the album is a standard cold ending with a drum beat. I guess I’ve been conditioned from years of airplay as I like the album version better than the single – it seems to gel better.

Version #3: The Acoustic Mix

I think the unplugged version of “Two Tickets to Paradise” is my favorite version of the tune. This is a song that you wouldn’t have thought could have been done acoustically, but it works well and still rocks. Part of this is Brian Gary’s organ parts that help it rock out. The guitars are handled by Tommy Girvin and Robert Heckert. Even Money’s vocals are strong as ever.

This live version was released in 1992 on the EP “Unplug It In.” I love it.