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  • Eddie Money performs during "FOX & Friends" All American Concert...

    Eddie Money performs during "FOX & Friends" All American Concert Series outside of FOX Studios on June 7, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Rob Kim/Getty Images)

  • Eddie Money performs during the Acoustic-4-A-Cure concert at the Fillmore...

    Eddie Money performs during the Acoustic-4-A-Cure concert at the Fillmore in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, May 15, 2018. The concert benefits the Pediatric Cancer Program at UCSF's Benioff Children's Hospital. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

  • Eddie Money, left, and Sammy Hagar perform during the Acoustic-4-A-Cure...

    Eddie Money, left, and Sammy Hagar perform during the Acoustic-4-A-Cure concert at the Fillmore in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, May 15, 2018. The concert benefits the Pediatric Cancer Program at UCSF's Benioff Children's Hospital. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

  • Musicians Jesse Money (L) and Eddie Money perform on stage...

    Musicians Jesse Money (L) and Eddie Money perform on stage during the iHeart80s Party 2017 at SAP Center on January 28, 2017 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Steve Jennings/Getty Images)

  • Musician Eddie Money performs on stage during the iHeart80s Party...

    (Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images Archives)

    Musician Eddie Money performs on stage during the iHeart80s Party 2017 at SAP Center on January 28, 2017 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)

  • Eddie Money performs during the iHeart80s Party at SAP Center...

    Eddie Money performs during the iHeart80s Party at SAP Center Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017, in San Jose, Calif. (Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group)

  • Fireworks are launched from the field as Eddie Money sings...

    Fireworks are launched from the field as Eddie Money sings the national anthem before the Oakland Raiders vs. San Diego Chargers game at O.Co Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

  • Eddie Money performs at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario,...

    Eddie Money performs at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, Calif. on Thursday, August 7, 2014. (David Bauman/Staff)

  • Original MTV VJs and current SiriusXM hosts Nina Blackwood, Mark...

    Original MTV VJs and current SiriusXM hosts Nina Blackwood, Mark Goodman, Martha Quinn and Alan Hunter along with musician Eddie Money pose for a photograph before recording an MTV 30th Anniversary Special for SiriusXM's '80s on 8 channel at the SiriusXM Studio on June 29, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

  • Eddie Money performs at the Riverside Fox Performing Arts Center...

    Eddie Money performs at the Riverside Fox Performing Arts Center in Riverside, Calif. on July 29, 2010. (Mark Zaleski/The Press-Enterprise)

  • Eddie Money performs at the Riverside Fox Performing Arts Center...

    Eddie Money performs at the Riverside Fox Performing Arts Center in Riverside, Calif. on July 29, 2010. (Mark Zaleski/The Press-Enterprise)

  • Rocker Eddie Money performs at Tara Hills Elementary School in...

    Rocker Eddie Money performs at Tara Hills Elementary School in San Pablo, Calif. Tuesday, April 3, 2007. The audience was too young to know his music but they were treated to a music lesson by Money. (Joanna Jhanda/Bay Area News Group)

  • Rocker Eddie Money performs at Tara Hills Elementary School in...

    Rocker Eddie Money performs at Tara Hills Elementary School in San Pablo, Calif. Tuesday, April 3, 2007. The audience was too young to know his music but they were treated to a music lesson by Money. (Joanna Jhanda/Bay Area News Group)

  • Eddie Money at the Rock To The Rescue Concert to...

    Eddie Money at the Rock To The Rescue Concert to benefit the victims of 9/11 and the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame Children's Education Fund at the Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio on October 20, 2002. (Scott Gries/Getty Images)

  • Recording artists Sisqo and Eddie Money at a press conference...

    Recording artists Sisqo and Eddie Money at a press conference held by The Recording Acadamy to announce that the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards will return to the Staples Center, in Los Angeles, California on February 21, 2001. (Photo by Kevin Winter/ImageDirect.)

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Jim Harrington, pop music critic, Bay Area News Group, for his Wordpress profile. (Michael Malone/Bay Area News Group)
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Eddie Money was a major recording star during the late ’70s and ’80s, charting several hit albums and singles. As news of Money’s death spreads, we’ll take time to remember the Bay Area rocker by looking back at some of the best moments of his vast, though often underappreciated, songbook.

Here are Money’s 5 greatest songs, ranked in order:

1. “No Control”

The big singles from 1982’s “No Control,” Money’s platinum-certified fourth studio album, were the radio-friendly “Shakin'” and “Think I’m in Love.” Yet, the album’s best number was the hard-edged title track, a vintage Money rocker that showcased some of his most passionate vocal work. This is our pick for the best song in his catalog.

 

2. “Two Tickets to Paradise”

Money’s signature song, hailing from the star’s self-titled debut, sailed into the Top 40 in 1978 and has been a staple of rock radio ever since. The number — which absolutely pulses with longing and romance — still resonates strongly today.

3. “Gimme Some Water”

“Can’t Keep a Good Man Down” and “Maybe I’m a Fool” were the singles from 1979’s “Life for the Taking.” Yet, the No. 1 reason for owning Money’s hit sophomore effort was “Gimme Some Water,” a fan favorite that Money sells with both poignancy and urgency.

4. “Baby Hold On”

Money’s recording career got off to a great start as his first single, “Baby Hold On,” soared all the way to No. 11 on the charts. The romantic rocker helped pave the way for Money’s eponymous debut to hit double-platinum heights.

5. “I Wanna Go Back”

We’ll wrap up our list by touching upon the 1986 smash “Can’t Hold Back,” which delivered four singles — including the classics “Take Me Home Tonight” and “I Wanna Go Back.” It’s the latter that still resonates the strongest for us, as Money convincingly delivers such deeply nostalgic lines as “I was listening to the radio” / “I heard a song reminded me of long ago” / “Back then I thought that things were never gonna change” / “It used to be that I never had to feel the pain” / “I know that things will never be the same now”