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Under The Boardwalk

Written by: Arthur Resnick & Kenny Young

Recording date: 2nd September 1964
Recording location: Regent Sound Studios, London


Line up:

Vocal: Mick Jagger
Guitar background Vocal: Keith Richards
Percussion: Brian Jones
Bass: Bill Wyman
Drums: Charlie Watts

Under The Boardwalk

When the sun beats down and burns the tar upon the roof
And your shoes get so hot, you wish your tired feet were fireproof

Under the boardwalk
Down by the sea, yeah
On a blanket with my baby
That's where I'll be

Under the boardwalk - out of the sun
Under the boardwalk - we'll be having some fun
Under the boardwalk - people walking above
Under the boardwalk - we were falling in love
Under the boardwalk, boardwalk

On the park you'll hear the happy sound of a carousel
You can almost taste the hot dogs and French fries they sell

Under the boardwalk
Down by the sea, yeah
On a blanket with my baby
That's where I'll be

Under the boardwalk - out of the sun
Under the boardwalk - we'll be having some fun
Under the boardwalk - people walking above
Under the boardwalk - we were falling in love
Under the boardwalk, boardwalk

Oh under the boardwalk
Down by the sea, yeah
On a blanket with my baby
That's where I'll be

Under the boardwalk - out of the sun
Under the boardwalk - we'll be having some fun
Under the boardwalk - people walking above
Under the boardwalk - we were falling in love
Under the boardwalk, boardwalk

Producer: Andrew Oldham
Sound engineer: Bill Farley

First released: THE ROLLING STONES ‘12 x 5’ LP
Release date: 17th October: 1964 US
Label: London PS 402

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015-12-28 12:39 by NICOS.

Done LIVE with Aaron Neville in Philadelphia, june 21, 2013. Superb!
Should have been released on a 50 & Counting Tour DVD.

Too slick. They should have done a much rougher version.

A fun cover recorded back in the Stones' r'n'b days before they really sharpened their teeth and became the true bad boys of pop music.

I always thought the Stones were far more authentic doing American r'n'b covers than The Beatles or the other British bands coming out around this time and that's mainly down to Mick's great ability to really wear a song like it's a second skin plus the combination of Brian's immense musical knowledge and Keith's virtuosity.

Stones' 1964 version is the best. Great soulful singing by Mick. 2013 live was fantastic with Aaron Neville. Great singing by both Aaron Neville and Mick.
A 10/10 classic!

I love love love the original and the duet with Aaron Neville.
There's something farfetched about the studio version - maybe what Tops means by "too slick",
but it's a beauty anyway.

And I remember that someone around here was disgusted by Mick and Aaron -
said they looked like a couple of old queers singing to each other.
That was hilarious and true and just made me love it more :E



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015-12-21 13:33 by with sssoul.

The 12X5 version is an epic fail. One of their weakest moments from the Jones-era and a very strange choice for them to cover. Surprised they didn't use more of the (still-unreleased) Chess tracks for that LP and No.2.

I'm not sure which is worse, the clumsy performance or the production. 'Orrible.

Drew

One of their worst covers.
It was a no. 1 in Australia...

Not the best version on the market, but as I like 'Poison Ivy' I like this one too.... 4/5

2 1 2 0

[www.youtube.com]

I have fond memories of this track; Mick's vocal, as is typical of this early period, is amazing as far as mimicking the sound of the original singer. I don't remember much else that stands out about the band's arrangement or performance, although I probably haven't listened to it in twenty years. I think I'll go do that now.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015-12-21 17:39 by Turner68.

Love the song and was lucky to catch it in Philly 2, '13.

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Tops
Too slick. They should have done a much rougher version.

Sort of agree, but really they should have covered a different tune.

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Come On
Not the best version on the market, but as I like 'Poison Ivy' I like this one too.... 4/5

Poison ivy is one of their very best covers, this is on the short list for their worst.

Always liked that song but didn't Bill also sing background vocals?

The Studio Version is much better than the only knwon early live recording from Camden Theatre 1964 (simultaneous stereo broadcast).

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2000man

Quote
Come On
Not the best version on the market, but as I like 'Poison Ivy' I like this one too.... 4/5

Poison ivy is one of their very best covers, this is on the short list for their worst.

love poison ivy!!!

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Turner68

Quote
2000man

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Come On
Not the best version on the market, but as I like 'Poison Ivy' I like this one too.... 4/5

Poison ivy is one of their very best covers, this is on the short list for their worst.

love poison ivy!!!

Me too, and in the same way I love Under the boardwalk, with Stones..

2 1 2 0

This Song is one of the reason why The Rolling Stones No.2
Is one of my favorite Stones records.

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saltoftheearth
Always liked that song but didn't Bill also sing background vocals?

The Studio Version is much better than the only knwon early live recording from Camden Theatre 1964 (simultaneous stereo broadcast).

Are you sure you're not thinking of "You Better Move On"?
I don't know of a live recording of it from Camden.
Or any other live version for that matter.

[www.45cat.com]


"As we say in England, it can get a bit trainspottery"

I bought the Drifters Greatest Hits LP many years ago.

Their original version has the lyrics


"Under the boardwalk - we were making love"

The Stones version has the "cleaner" lyrics

Under the boardwalk - we were falling in love


Does anyone know the story behind this? Please only answer if you really know!

Love The Drifters original of this one. Don't think the Stones did it any justice really. Obviously the Stones were trying to find their direction at this time, in retrospect it seems such a strange cover for them, but I have no perspective of what it meant or how it was received at the time.

NICOS, some sources have Keith laying electric and acoustic guitar on this tune and Mick also singing background vocals.

[www.timeisonourside.com]

It's one of the misfires that I don't really like that much, ditto My Girl.

I like both UTB and YBMO, which are similar-sounding.

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rusty
This Song is one of the reason why The Rolling Stones No.2
Is one of my favorite Stones records.

very few clunkers on the early stones albums.

Having a listen to some of them right now

ROCKMAN

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tomcasagranda
It's one of the misfires that I don't really like that much, ditto My Girl.

Agree...although I prefer UnderTBW above My Girl....I think the whole idea is from Andrew to release this kind cover of songs

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This must be one of the oddest - and I think weakest - Stones recordings from the early days. Like noted here, there is a bloodline between "You Better Move On", this one and "My Girl" - a kind of softer ballad section from R&B scene, to enrich their repertuare with more commercial, easy-listening material. One can almost see ALO having a big hand there, trying desperately to find suitable pop-trendy stuff from their American R&B record collections. With "You Better Move On" that worked - it was the 'hit song' of their first EP in England, getting a lot of radio air and helping the record to sell a lot of copies.

But compared to a wonderful version of "You Better Move On", "Under The Boardwalk" is a bit lame; the innocent, sweet (uncharacteric) charm just doesn't work here. Nothing wrong if analyzised to pieces, but when the song doesn't work, it doesn't. Still made their second album though, unlike "My Girl" that took all the way to freaky US FLOWERS album to see the light of the day. A funny curiosity today.

But am I wrong if the song was released as a single A-side in some parts of the world, and was considered as a hit actually? In Australia maybe?

- Doxa



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015-12-28 15:56 by Doxa.

Sonically, I don't see the My Girl-comparison, as that one is arranged quite differently than the other acoustic/electric numbers. Actually, My Girl is quite close to the original/other soul covers at the time, imo.

UTB was indeed a #1 hit in Australia