Under the Boardwalk
{{Short description|1964 single by the Drifters}}
{{Otheruses}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2016}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Under the Boardwalk
| cover = Undertheboardwalk.jpg
| type = single
| artist = The Drifters
| B-side = I Don't Want to Go On Without You
| released = June 1964
| recorded = May 21, 1964
| studio = Atlantic (New York City)
| genre = Pop-soul{{cite magazine|last= Billboard Staff|title= The 500 Best Pop Songs: Staff List|magazine= Billboard |url= https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-pop-songs-all-time-hits/|date= October 19, 2023|accessdate= February 11, 2024|quote= Singer Johnny Moore effortlessly stretching to reach the high notes in the final chorus lifts this playful, superbly crafted soul-pop classic to a higher dimension.}}
| length = 2:45
| label = Atlantic
| writer = Kenny Young, Arthur Resnick
| producer = Bert Berns
| prev_title = One Way Love
| prev_year = 1964
| next_title = I've Got Sand in My Shoes
| next_year = 1964
}}
"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.{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1964-08-22/ | title=Billboard Hot 100™ | magazine=Billboard }} The song has since been covered by many other artists, with versions by Bette Midler, Sam & Dave, 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.[{{AllMusic|class=song|id=t959917|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic entry] by Richie Unterberger The opening line of the song references The Drifters' prior hit "Up on the Roof."
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.Gammond, Peter (1991). The Oxford Companion to Popular Music. Oxford University Press, New York. p. 165. The arranger was Teacho Wiltshire.Peter Grendysa and Robert Pruter, Atlantic Rhythm and Blues 1947-1974 booklet notes (CD edition), Atlantic Records, 1991 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.{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=173}}
In 2014, this recording of the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/awards/hall-of-fame-award#u|title=GRAMMY Hall Of Fame | Hall of Fame Artists | GRAMMY.com|website=grammy.com}}
Cover versions
{{More citations needed section|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Under the Boardwalk
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = the Rolling Stones
| album = 12 × 5 (US) and The Rolling Stones No. 2 (UK)
| B-side = Walking the Dog
| released = January 1965 (AUS)
| recorded = 1964
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Rock and roll, rhythm and blues
| length = 2:48
| label = Decca
| writer = Kenny Young, Arthur Resnick
| producer = Andrew Loog Oldham
| prev_title = Route 66
| prev_year = 1965
| next_title = The Last Time
| next_year = 1965
}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Under the Boardwalk
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Tom Tom Club
| album = Tom Tom Club
| released = 1982
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length = 3:03
| label = Island
| writer = Kenny Young, Arthur Resnick
| producer = Steve Stanley, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz
| prev_title = Genius of Love
| prev_year = 1981
| next_title = The Man with the Four Way Hips
| next_year = 1983
}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Under the Boardwalk
| cover = Bruce Willis Under the Boardwalk Single.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Bruce Willis
| album = The Return of Bruno
| released = May 1987
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length = 3:03
| label = Motown
| writer = Kenny Young, Arthur Resnick
| producer = Robert Kraft
| prev_title = Respect Yourself
| prev_year = 1987
| next_title = Secret Agent Man
| next_year = 1987
}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Under the Boardwalk
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Lynn Anderson
| album = What She Does Best
| B-side = Turn the Page
| released = {{Start date|1988|07}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = {{hlist|Country|country pop{{cite web |title=What She Does Best: Lynn Anderson: Songs, Reviews, Credits |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/what-she-does-best-mw0000652698 |website=Allmusic |access-date=May 27, 2020}}}}
| length = {{duration|m=04|s=19}}
| label = Mercury
| writer = Kenny Young, Arthur Resnick
| producer = Michael Clark, Jerry Kennedy, Nelson Larkin
| prev_title = Read Between the Lines
| prev_year = 1987
| next_title = What He Does Best
| next_year = 1988
}}
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 × 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" on their album No Hay Amor, which was a hit in Latin America, reaching the top 5 in Mexico."[https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1966/CB-1966-08-27.pdf Mexico]", Cash Box. August 27, 1966. p. 77. Retrieved October 18, 2021.Martinez, Armando. "[https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/60s/67/RW-1967-08-05a.pdf Mexico Single Hit Parade]", Record World. August 5, 1967. p. 43. Retrieved October 18, 2021.Ruiz, Ivhan A. "[https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/60s/68/RW-1968-03-09.pdf Nicaragua Single Hit Parade]", Record World. March 9, 1968. p. 39. Retrieved October 18, 2021."[https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/60s/1967/Billboard-1967-08-26.pdf Hits of the World]", Billboard. August 26, 1967. p. 57. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
"Under the Boardwalk" has since been covered by many artists, including the Northern Irish punk rock band The Undertones (on their 1980 album Hypnotised),{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/master/24538-The-Undertones-Hypnotised|title=The Undertones - Hypnotised | Releases | Discogs|website=Discogs }} Bette Midler on the 1988 Beaches soundtrack (number 26 in Australia), and the Tom Tom Club on their self-titled album (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 in 1978, Bruce Willis on his 1987 album The Return of Bruno (a number 2 success in the UK), and Lynn Anderson on her 1988 album What She Does Best (number 24 on the Country chart) all reached the Billboard charts. Rickie Lee Jones also covered the song for her 1983 EP Girl at Her Volcano.
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.{{cite book|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|publisher=Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W |year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6}} The track also reached number 19 on the Billboard Top Rock Tracks chart.
Chart history
{{col-begin|width=67%}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
The Drifters version
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable" |
| Chart (1964)
! style="text-align:center;"|Rank |
|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1964.htm|title=Top 100 Hits of 1964/Top 100 Songs of 1964|website=Musicoutfitters.com|access-date=June 7, 2021}}
| style="text-align:center;"|20 |
| US Cash Box{{Cite web |url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/1964YESP.html |title=Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 26, 1964 |access-date=June 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150601014249/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/1964YESP.html |archive-date=June 1, 2015 |url-status=dead }}
| style="text-align:center;"|21 |
{{col-end}}
The Rolling Stones version
| class="wikitable" |
| Chart (1965)
!Peak |
|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)
| style="text-align:center;"|1 |
| South Africa
| style="text-align:center;"|1 |
| Rhodesia
| style="text-align:center;"|2 |
Billy Joe Royal version
| class="wikitable" |
| Chart (1978)
!Peak |
|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100
| style="text-align:center;"|82 |
{{col-begin|width=71%}}
{{col-2}}
Tom Tom Club version
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Chart (1982)
!Peak |
|---|
| Austria
| style="text-align:center;"|6 |
| Belgium
| style="text-align:center;"|3 |
| {{single chart|Ireland2|17|song=Under the Boardwalk|access-date=June 6, 2018|artist=|refname=}} |
| Italy
| style="text-align:center;"|42 |
| Netherlands
| style="text-align:center;"|9 |
| New Zealand (RIANZ)
| style="text-align:center;"|3 |
| UK Singles Chart (OCC)
| style="text-align:center;"|22 |
| US Billboard Dance Club Songs
| style="text-align:center;"|31 |
John Mellencamp version
| class="wikitable" |
| Chart (1985)
!Peak |
|---|
| Australia
| style="text-align:center;"|18 |
| US Billboard Mainstream Rock
| style="text-align:center;"|19 |
{{col-2}}
Bruce Willis version
| class="wikitable" |
| Chart (1987)
!Peak |
|---|
| UK Singles Chart (OCC)
| style="text-align:center;"|2 |
| US Billboard Adult Contemporary
| style="text-align:center;"|20 |
| US Billboard Hot 100
| style="text-align:center;"|59 |
Lynn Anderson version
| class="wikitable" |
| Chart (1988)
!Peak |
|---|
| US Billboard Hot Country Songs
| style="text-align:center;"|24 |
Bette Midler version
| class="wikitable" |
| Chart (1989)
!Peak |
|---|
| {{single chart|Australia|26|artist=Bette Midler|song=Under the Boardwalk|access-date=November 7, 2018|refname=}} |
{{col-end}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Bette Midler singles}}
{{Billy Joe Royal}}
{{The Drifters}}
{{Lynn Anderson singles}}
{{Tom Tom Club}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Atlantic Records singles
Category:Decca Records singles
Category:Island Records singles
Category:Mercury Records singles
Category:Billy Joe Royal songs
Category:The Rolling Stones songs
Category:Number-one singles in Australia
Category:Number-one singles in South Africa
Category:Songs written by Kenny Young