Monday August 30, 2021 “Under the Boardwalk” The Drifters
As we begin what is the last week of summer, not officially but maybe actually with Labor Day Weekend looming large, I thought we would enjoy a few songs to help stretch that summer feeling as long as we can. So this week we will be going back to the beach, the lake or wherever to enjoy the freest of all the seasons.
This number one song in 1964 was written by Arthur Resnick and Kenny Young. Resnick would go on to write “Good Lovin” for the Rascals and Young would write many of the top hits for Herman’s Hermits and “Under the Boardwalk” was produced by legendary producer/songwriter Bert Berns. We will do a “Bert Berns” week because he is just so darned interesting.
As with several previous songs of the day, the vocal group, The Drifters were not so keen on recording the song but their record label gave them no alternative, so once again, maybe the artist isn’t the best source for what will work for them.
And in a real piece of callous business, Rudy Lewis, the original lead singer of The Drifters, was found dead in his hotel room on the day the song was to be recorded so he was replaced by Johnny Moore and the recording was rescheduled...for the next day.
“Under the Boardwalk” has been recorded by many other artists notably by John Mellencamp who had a hit with it in 1997.
Stay safe and well...and don’t let summer slip away too soon.