Under the Boardwalk
This article needs additional citations for verification. (September 2016) |
"Under the Boardwalk" | ||||
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Single by the Drifters | ||||
B-side | "I Don't Want to Go On Without You" | |||
Released | June 1964 | |||
Recorded | May 21, 1964 | |||
Studio | Atlantic Studios, New York City | |||
Genre | Soul | |||
Length | 2:45 | |||
Label | Atlantic 8099 | |||
Songwriter(s) | Kenny Young, Arthur Resnick | |||
Producer(s) | Bert Berns | |||
The Drifters singles chronology | ||||
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"Under the Boardwalk" is a pop song written by Kenny Young and Arthur Resnick and recorded by the Drifters in 1964. It charted at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on August 22, 1964. The song has since been covered by many other artists, with versions by Bette Midler, Sam & Dave, the Tom Tom Club, the Rolling Stones, Billy Joe Royal, The Beach Boys, Bruce Willis, Bad Boys Blue, John Mellencamp and Lynn Anderson all charting in the United States or overseas. The song ranked number 487 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004 and number 489 in 2010.
Premise
The lyric describes a tryst between a man and his beloved in a seaside town, who plan to privately meet "out of the sun" and out of sight from everyone else under a boardwalk. The instrumentation includes güiro, triangle and violins. The song's chorus switches from a major to minor key.[1] The opening line of the song references the Drifters' prior hit "Up on the Roof", showing the occasional thermal weakness of the rooftop getaway and setting the stage for an alternate meeting location, under the boardwalk. Also, the violins are heard playing the riff of "Up on the Roof", before the chorus.
History
The song was set to be recorded on May 21, 1964, but the band's lead singer, Rudy Lewis, died of a suspected heroin overdose the night before. Lewis had sung lead on most of their hits since the 1960 departure of Ben E. King, including "Up on the Roof". Rather than reschedule the studio session, the lead on "Under the Boardwalk" was given to the group's other lead vocalist, Johnny Moore, who had returned to the group in April 1963. The personnel on that recording included Ernie Hayes on piano, Everett Barksdale, Bill Suyker and Bob Bushnell on guitar, Milt Hinton on bass, Gary Chester on drums and George Devens on percussion.[2] The last-minute move was a success, as the single, released on Atlantic Records, went to number four on the Billboard Hot 100 charts and number one for three non consecutive weeks on Cashbox magazine's R&B chart.[3]
Cover versions
This section needs additional citations for verification. (February 2021) |
"Under the Boardwalk" | ||||
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Single by the Rolling Stones | ||||
from the album 12 X 5 (US) and The Rolling Stones No. 2 (UK) | ||||
B-side | "Walking the Dog" | |||
Released | January 1965 (AUS) | |||
Recorded | 1964 | |||
Genre | Rock and roll, rhythm and blues | |||
Length | 2:48 | |||
Label | Decca | |||
Songwriter(s) | Kenny Young, Arthur Resnick | |||
Producer(s) | Andrew Loog Oldham | |||
The Rolling Stones singles chronology | ||||
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"Under the Boardwalk" | ||||
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Single by Bruce Willis | ||||
from the album The Return of Bruno | ||||
Released | May 1987 | |||
Recorded | 1987 | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 3:03 | |||
Label | Motown | |||
Songwriter(s) | Kenny Young, Arthur Resnick | |||
Bruce Willis singles chronology | ||||
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"Under the Boardwalk" | ||||
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Single by Lynn Anderson | ||||
from the album What She Does Best | ||||
B-side | "Turn the Page" | |||
Released | July 1988 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:19 | |||
Label | Mercury Records | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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Lynn Anderson singles chronology | ||||
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A cover of this song by the Rolling Stones was released the same year as the original version. Their version was released as a single only in Australia, South Africa and Rhodesia, and peaked at No. 1 in the first two (the song was the band's first No. 1 hit in Australia) and at No. 2 in Rhodesia. It appeared on their albums 12 X 5 and The Rolling Stones No. 2. In 2007, it was included on the album Rhythms del Mundo Classics.
In 1966, Los Apson released a Spanish-language version titled "Fue en un Café", which was a hit in Latin America, reaching the top 5 in Mexico.[5][6][7][8]
"Under the Boardwalk" has since been covered by many artists, including Bette Midler (number 26 in Australia), and the Tom Tom Club (whose version reached number 22 on the UK Singles Chart in 1982, becoming the first version of the song to chart in Britain). Versions by Billy Joe Royal, Bruce Willis (a number 2 success in the UK), and Lynn Anderson (number 24 on the Country chart) all reached the Billboard charts.
John Mellencamp released the track as the B-side of his single "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.". In Australia, the single effectively became a double-A side when the B-side "Under the Boardwalk" received significant airplay and both tracks were listed together on the singles chart, reaching number 18.[9] The track also reached number 19 on the Billboard Top Rock Tracks chart.
In pop culture
In 2001, children’s music artist Bill Harley parodied the song as “Down in the Backpacks” for his 2001 preschool music album of the same name and this track was frequently played on SiriusXM’s Kids Place Live radio station
Chart history
Weekly chartsThe Drifters' original version
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Year-end charts
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Rolling Stones cover
Chart (1965) | Peak position |
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Australia | 1 |
South Africa | 1 |
Rhodesia | 2 |
Billy Joe Royal cover
Chart (1978) | Peak position |
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US Billboard Hot 100 | 82 |
Tom Tom Club cover
John Mellencamp cover
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Bruce Willis cover
Lynn Anderson cover
Bette Midler cover
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See also
References
- ^ Allmusic entry by Richie Unterberger
- ^ Gammond, Peter (1991). The Oxford Companion to Popular Music. Oxford University Press, New York. p. 165.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 173.
- ^ "What She Does Best: Lynn Anderson: Songs, Reviews, Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
- ^ "Mexico", Cash Box. August 27, 1966. p. 77. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
- ^ Martinez, Armando. "Mexico Single Hit Parade", Record World. August 5, 1967. p. 43. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
- ^ Ruiz, Ivhan A. "Nicaragua Single Hit Parade", Record World. March 9, 1968. p. 39. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
- ^ "Hits of the World", Billboard. August 26, 1967. p. 57. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Forum - 1964 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". Australian-charts.com. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
- ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1964-08-11. Retrieved 2018-06-23.
- ^ "flavour of new zealand - search lever". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
- ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
- ^ "Cash Box Top 100 9/05/64". Tropicalglen.com. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
- ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1964/Top 100 Songs of 1964". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
- ^ "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 26, 1964". Archived from the original on June 1, 2015. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Under the Boardwalk". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
- ^ "Bette Midler – Under the Boardwalk". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
- 1964 singles
- Atlantic Records singles
- Decca Records singles
- Motown singles
- Billy Joe Royal songs
- The Drifters songs
- The Rolling Stones songs
- Bette Midler songs
- Lynn Anderson songs
- Number-one singles in Australia
- Number-one singles in South Africa
- Songs written by Kenny Young
- Tom Tom Club songs
- 1964 songs
- Songs written by Artie Resnick
- Song recordings produced by Bert Berns