Right on the 'Money'

Eddie Money may boast that he's got “Two Tickets to Paradise,” though he apparently has even more for his concert Friday at Mount Airy Casino Resort, Paradise Township.

“I've got lot of friends coming to that show,” said the singer-songwriter, who spoke to the Pocono Record this past Easter Sunday. “They say, ‘Who's this Eddie Money? He's got a bigger guest list than The Rolling Stones. So, I've got two tickets, but I'm taking everybody.”

Born Edward Joseph Mahoney in Brooklyn, New York, Money — whose parents honeymooned in the Poconos — had musical aspirations since his teen years.

“I found out the best way to date cheerleaders was to be in a rock band in high school,” he said. “I was in an original rock band, The Grapes of Wrath. I still talk to the drummer, who's in Florida. Once a grape, always a grape.”

After high school, however, Money took a slight detour from his musical path. “I went into the police department because my brother was in Vietnam, and I wanted to make my dad happy. I didn't really wanna do that.”

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After a couple of years as a New York City police officer — following in his father's footsteps — Money moved to Berkeley, California, in the late 1960s to pursue a music career. He learned how to write songs during his time in a cover band in the early 1970s, and after changing his surname from Mahoney to Money in 1976, he met Bill Graham while performing at one of the promoter's events. The two became close, with Graham taking on the role of Money's mentor and manager.

(Graham passed away in 1991 at age 60, with Money dedicating the video for his 1991 hit “I'll Get By” to Graham).

The ‘Money Man’ arrives

After landing a record deal with Columbia Records, Money released his self-titled debut studio album in 1977. The set sold more than 2 million copies, spawning the hit singles “Baby Hold On” and “Two Tickets to Paradise.” The latter inspired “Two Tickets to Paradise — The Musical,” the story of Money's life and music. Money hopes to bring the production to Broadway.

A signature song for the rocker, “Two Tickets to Paradise” has popped up in various media outlets, including the 2004 video game “Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas” and a 2012 Geico insurance commercial, in which Money, owner of a travel agency, serenades a family seeking vacation tickets. In addition, a generic cover of the song was used in the 2012 George Lopez-hosted “Take Me Out” dating game show, whenever a contestant scored a date.

Money's sophomore effort, 1979's “Life for the Taking, featured the top 40 single “Maybe I'm a Fool.” While 1980's “Playing for Keeps” yielded three singles on Billboard's Hot 100, none cracked the top 40. Money reversed his fortunes with his fourth album, 1982's “No Control,” which spawned the hits “Think I'm in Love” and ‘Shakin.'” The latter — with lyrics like “She was up and down and round and round… That girl was shakin’” — missed the top 40, though it's become a favorite in Money's catalog and featured in the 2007 video game “Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s.”

“I wrote it with a friend who used to work in a strip club,” Money said, noting that the video featured actress/model Apollonia, who later co-starred in the 1984 Prince film “Purple Rain.”

Eddie takes Ronnie ‘Home’

Money scored his biggest singles success with 1986's “Can't Hold Back,” which spawned three top 40 singles: “Endless Nights,” and two songs that became Money anthems: “I Wanna Go Back” and “Take Me Home Tonight.” The latter featured an interpolation of the classic Ronettes single “Be My Baby,” with Money recruiting Ronette Ronnie Spector to sing on the track.

Though not initially enamored with “Take Me Home Tonight,” Money likes the song “because everybody liked it. At my age, to go into a disco bar, and they're playing ‘Take Me Home Tonight,’ it was like a feather in my cap. When I met Ronnie, she was out of the business. We became really good friends. When I go out on the road, I go out and see her, and talk to her on the phone.”

Money's 1988 album “Nothing to Lose,” featured the top 10 hit “Walk on Water,” as well as the top 40 “The Love in Your Eyes.” He scored a near-top 10 with “Peace in Our Time,” a single from 1989's “Greatest Hits: Sound of Money.”

Money released his 11th and most recent studio album, “Wanna Go Back,” in 2007. Prior to the latter — which featured covers of popular 1960s songs — Money last released an album of new material in 1999 (“Ready Eddie”). The singer-songwriter plans to end the dry spell with a new record this year, with proceeds going to veterans.

Family, hits-filled career

In addition to music, the “Shakin’” singer plans to start work on a 10-episode reality show about his family, tentatively titled “Money Madness.” Eddie and wife, Laurie, reside in Westlake Village, California, with their children: sons, Zachary, Joseph, Desmond and Julian, and daughter, Jesse, who competed on MTV's “Rock the Cradle” in 2008. In recent years, Jesse has joined her dad on tour, notably singing backup on “Take Me Home Tonight.” She also performed on three “Wanna Go Back” tracks.

At the Mount Airy show — where, Money said, fans may “win a little money, lose a little money” should they hit the casino — the singer will mine his catalog for the hits that have helped fans “get by” since 1977. With his debut album turning 40 later this year, Money has nothing but appreciation for his career, which spawned 23 Hot 100 singles — including 11 that cracked the top 40 — and 10 top 10s at mainstream rock radio.

“I've been blessed with a lot of hits. My voice is holding up. I still got all my hair. I quit drinking. Everybody's happy, having a good time but me — ‘Live From Betty Ford, it's the Eddie Money Show.’ I have the kids. I didn't want to be smoking pot because when you have children, you have to set a halfway decent example for them.”

In regard to whether he has any regrets, the “Money Man” refers to one his classic hits. “I wanna go back cause I broke lot of hearts, had my heart broken. I was running wild. I wouldn't have been drunk. Opiates are horrible. You have to worry about your kids; I have five in their 20s.”

Further demonstrating his positive outlook on life, “when Christmas comes around, keep the Christ in Christmas. Every day, I gotta get up. It's Easter Sunday. I say to myself, ‘Christ has risen; I'm having a good day.’ I have seven dogs,” he said, adding, with a laugh, “I love the dogs more than I love my kids.”

IF YOU GO

Eddie Money

WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday

WHERE: Mount Airy Casino Resort, Gypsies Lounge, 312 Woodland Road, Paradise Township

COST: $55

INFORMATION: 877-682-4791, mountairycasino.com