1964
UNDER THE BOARDWALK * THE DRIFTERS * ATLANTIC 4001 * UK
Issued in the UK with the same A and B sides as it's American counterpart, this was the first release on the British Atlantic label, set up by the Decca record company in recognition of the growing interest in Soul music, and Atlantic Soul issues in particular, for the home market. This particular cut by The Drifters, with Johnny Moore on lead vocal, caught the mood of the British Mods at the very zenith of the fashion, and seemed to establish a new standard of sophisticated, 'Up-Town', yet down to earth, Soul. It was not only the record companies that were catching up to the new youths desires: night clubs - briefly known back then by the generic term of discothèques - were springing up in the suburbs of London (like the eponymous Discothèque in Peckham, S.E. London) that were modeled on Soho clubs such as the Flamingo and the Le Disque, both in Wardour Street.
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