"Money Honey", written by Jesse Stone, was the first recor 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. Rolling Stone ranked it #252 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.