4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) 
The Hollies' cover version
Sandy, the aurora is risin' behind us
Those pier lights our carnival life forever
Oh, love me tonight for I may never see you again
Hey, Sandy, girl
My, my, my, my baby
Sandy, the fireworks are hailin' over Little Eden tonight
Forcin' a light to all those stony faces left stranded on this warm July
And the boys from the casino dance with their shirts open like Latin lovers on the shore
Chasin' all those silly New York virgins by the score
Sandy, the aurora is risin' behind us
Those pier lights our carnival life forever
Oh, love me tonight, I promise I'll love you forever
Oh, I mean it, Sandy, girl
Oh, my baby
Hey, Sandy, girl
My, my, my, my baby
Sandy, the waitress I was seeing has lost her desire for me
I spoke with her last night, she said she won't set herself on fire for me anymore
Did you hear the cops finally busted Madame Marie for tellin' fortunes better than they do
For me this boardwalk life's through
You ought to quit this scene too, ooh
Sandy, the aurora is risin' behind us
Those pier lights our carnival life forever
Oh, love me tonight for I may never see you again
Hey, Sandy, girl
My, my, my, my baby
Hey, Sandy, girl
Oh, my baby
Hey, Sandy, girl
My, my, my, my, my, my baby
Hey, Sandy, girl
Oh, my baby
Hey, Sandy, girl
[fades out]
Info
The above lyrics are for The Hollies' cover version of 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY). It was recorded in August 1974 and released in February 1975 on their album Another Night. The track was also issued as a single in 1975 and it charted in North America and became a hit in Europe, better than any Springsteen single had done to that point. The track was titled "Sandy (4th Of July, Asbury Park)" on the single release, and sometimes shortened to just "Sandy".
The Hollies -- Another Night
LP - Polydor (2442-128) - UK, 1975
LP - Epic (PE 33387) - USA, 1975
The Hollies' version of 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) is much shorter than Springsteen's version, leaving out about half of the original lyrics, including the complete middle verse. The instrumentation is radically different from Springsteen's studio version and the choruses feature the trademark Hollies harmonies.
Two studio versions of the track were released: an "Album Version" and a "Single Version". The first clocks at 4:00 and the second clocks at 3:30. The above lyrics are transcribed from the "Album Version".
Bruce Springsteen and The Hollies
In 1972, Bruce Springsteen signed a global publishing deal with then-manager Mike Appel, and Appel's company Sioux City Music handled it. Appel changed his publishing company's name to Laurel Canyon Music in the spring of 1973. The company only had a couple of employees and there was no way it could properly look after Springsteen's publishing worldwide. Appel decided to sub-contract out the non-USA publishing to companies much better positioned to promote Springsteen overseas, so he signed a deal with Intersong Music Ltd. (directly with the company's owner Adrian Rudge) in 1973. The UK company looked after Springsteen's publishing for all of Europe and many other parts of the world. Initially it was just Laurel Canyon and Intersong, but as the seventies progressed, Appel (later Springsteen & Co) did some further regional publishing sub-contracts; for example Australia's large publishing company, Jonathan Music, eventually got the subcontract to look after Australia, New Zealand, most of Oceania and parts of southeast Asia. Intersong Music handled Springsteen's song publishing in the UK up until 1982, and after Appel sold Springsteen his half of the publishing rights in 1983 (which he'd held since the original 1972 contract), a different group named Zomba Music Publishers Ltd. took over the UK publishing of Springsteen's music.
Terry Sylvester replaced The Hollies cofounder Graham Nash in 1969 as the band's singer-guitarist. In the early seventies, Sylvester's company Charlotte Music signed a publishing deal with Intersong Music, which was owned by Sylvester's friend Adrian Rudge. Rudge played Sylvester and The Hollies lead vocalist Allan Clarke some demos of the then-unknown Bruce Springsteen who was also signed to his company. This led Allan Clarke and The Hollies to record several Springsteen songs in the mid-seventies. However, Clarke claims that it was him, who brought the song of Bruce Springsteen to The Hollies. "Bruce and I were both with the publishing company, Intersong," he told David Wells, author of the liner notes of the 2006 various artists Bruce Springsteen tribute album If I Were The Boss: The Songs Of Bruce Springsteen. "I had a good friend at Intersong called Adrian Rudge. He called me up one day and said he had about twenty demos from this new singer/songwriter by the name of Bruce Springsteen that he thought would interest me. As soon as I heard the demos, I thought that I could do really well with them."
Allan Clarke recorded and released cover versions of IF I WAS THE PRIEST in 1974, BORN TO RUN in 1975, BLINDED BY THE LIGHT in 1976, and 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) with The Hollies in 1975. The Hollies also attempted to record BORN TO RUN in 1975, but they quickly abandoned it and Clarke immediately cut his own version.
Clarke was one of the first acts in Britain to champion the work of Bruce Springsteen, and the first ever to release a Springsteen cover. He and The Hollies did Springsteen quite a service by covering some of his songs during the period when he was a virtual unknown in most of Europe. Manfred Mann's Earth Band also helped in an even bigger way during the same period. Clarke released BLINDED BY THE LIGHT in 1976 on his fourth solo album, I've Got Time. According to him, "the record company did not agree that 'Blinded By The Light' was the kind of material that would be played on the radio." Manfred Mann was a neighbor of Clarke in Hampstead, London, and Clarke told Mann that he was not going to release BLINDED BY THE LIGHT as a single. As a result, Manfred Mann's Earth Band did a version of the song which became a major hit in Europe the United States.
Allan Clarke recalls that Springsteen came to see The Hollies when they played at The Bottom Line in New York City, and went out on the town with them later that night. "He wanted to thank us for recording some of his songs, and he said he'd come to see us when he played in England -- but it was about another twenty years before I saw him again!"
Single Release
The Hollies' version of 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) was released as a single in February 1975 in North America and in Spring 1975 in Europe where it became a hit. The single was reissued in the Unites States in February 1977 but did not chart.
| Country |
Chart |
Peak position |
Weeks in chart |
Charting period |
| USA |
Billboard Hot 100 |
85 |
2 |
April 1975 |
| Canada |
RPM Top Singles |
93 |
3 |
Apr-May 1975 |
| Germany |
Media Control Charts |
22 |
14 |
Jun-Oct 1975 |
| The Netherlands |
Dutch Top 40 |
8 |
6 |
Jul-Aug 1975 |
| The Netherlands |
Nationale Hitparade Top 30 |
9 |
6 |
Jul-Aug 1975 |
| Belgium |
|
20 |
|
1975 |
| New Zealand |
RIANZ Top 40 Singles Chart |
12 |
11 |
Jul-Sep 1975 |
The single was released in North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Philippines, with SECOND HAND HANG-UPS on the B-side.
The Hollies -- "Sandy / Sandy"
7" single - Epic (8-50086) - USA, 1975
Promo only release, no picture sleeve. The song's title is spelled "Sandy" on the label.
A1- 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) [mono]
B1- 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) [stereo]
The Hollies -- "Sandy / Second Hand Hang-Ups"
7" single - Epic (8-50086) - USA, 1975
Stock copy, no picture sleeve. The song's title is spelled "Sandy" on the label.
A1- 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY)
B1- SECOND HAND HANG-UPS
The Hollies -- "Sandy / Sandy"
7" single - Epic (8-50359) - USA, 1977
Promo copy, no picture sleeve. The song's title is spelled "Sandy" on the label.
A1- 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) [mono]
B1- 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) [stereo]
The Hollies -- "Sandy / Second Hand Hang-Ups"
7" single - Epic (8-50359) - USA, 1977
Stock copy, no picture sleeve. The song's title is spelled "Sandy" on the label.
A1- 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY)
B1- SECOND HAND HANG-UPS
The Hollies -- "Sandy / Second Hand Hang-Ups"
7" single - Epic (8-50086) - Canada, 1975
Stock copy, no picture sleeve. The song's title is spelled "Sandy" on the label.
A1- 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY)
B1- SECOND HAND HANG-UPS
The Hollies -- "Sandy / Second Hand Hang-Ups"
7" single - Polydor (2058 595) - UK, 1975
Stock copy, no picture sleeve. The song's title is misspelled "Sandy (4 thof July, Asbury Park)" on the label.
A1- 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY)
B1- SECOND HAND HANG-UPS
The Hollies -- Sandy
7" single - Polydor (2058 595) - Holland, 1975
Stock copy, with picture sleeve. The song's title is spelled "4th Of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)" on the label.
A1- 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY)
B1- SECOND HAND HANG-UPS
The Hollies -- Sandy
7" single - Polydor (2040 140) - Germany, 1975
Stock copy, with picture sleeve. The song's title is spelled "Sandy (4th July, Asbury Park)" on the label.
A1- 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY)
B1- SECOND HAND HANG-UPS
The Hollies -- Sandy
7" single - Polydor (2058 595) - Belgium, 1975
Stock copy, with picture sleeve. The song's title is spelled "Sandy (4th July, Asbury Park)" on the label.
A1- 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY)
B1- SECOND HAND HANG-UPS
The Hollies -- "Sandy / Second Hand Hang-Ups"
7" single - Parlophone (A-10780) - Australia, 1975
Stock copy, no picture sleeve. The song's title is misspelled "4th Of July Ashbury Park (Sandy) on the label.
A1- 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY)
B1- SECOND HAND HANG-UPS
The Hollies -- "Sandy / Second Hand Hang-Ups"
7" single - Parlophone (NZP 3512) - New Zealand, 1975
Stock copy, no picture sleeve. The song's title is spelled "Sandy" on the label.
A1- 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY)
B1- SECOND HAND HANG-UPS
The Hollies -- "Sandy / Second Hand Hang-Ups"
7" single - Parlophone (PRO-3439) - Philippines, 1975
(Probably) promo copy, no picture sleeve. The song's title is spelled "Sandy" on the label.
A1- 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY)
B1- SECOND HAND HANG-UPS
Other Official Releases
Besides its release on the Another Night album and as a single in 1975, The Hollies' version of 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) was also included on many The Hollies compilations albums, including:
The Hollies -- The History Of The Hollies: 24 Genuine Top Thirty Hits
2xLP - EMI (EMSP 650) - UK, 1976
2x8-track - EMI (8X2-EMSP 650) - UK, 1976
2xLP - Bovema EMI (5C 180-52301 2) - Holland, 1976
2xLP - Jugoton (LSEMI 75027/8) - Yugoslavia, 1976
The Hollies -- Pop Power - The Fantastic Hollies
LP - Polydor (2459 601) - Germany, 1976
The Hollies -- Goldene Serie International
LP - Polydor (66 375 7) - Germany, 1976
The Hollies -- Everything You Always Wanted To Hear By The Hollies But Were Afraid To Ask For
LP - Epic (AS 138) - USA, 1977
This is a promo release.
The Hollies -- 20 Greatest Hits
LP - Tee Vee International (TA-1037) - Canada, 1977
The Hollies -- The Story Of The Hollies
2xLP - Polydor (2664 177) - Germany, 1977
The Hollies -- The Best Of The Hollies
LP - Polydor (2459 135) - Germany, 1977
The Hollies -- Clarke, Hicks, Sylvester, Calvert, Elliot
LP - Epic (PE 34714) - USA, 1977
The Hollies -- Very Best Of The Hollies 1974-77
LP - Parlophone (PCS 6130) - New Zealand, 1977
The Hollies -- Everyone's Invited!: Their Greatest Hits
LP - Polydor (2672 098) - South Africa, 1977
The Hollies -- Hallo! The Hollies!
LP - Polystar (0060 222) - Germany, 1978
The Hollies -- Up Front
LP - St. Michael (2102/0101) - UK, 1979
The Hollies -- Gigantes Del Pop Vol. 8
LP - Polydor (24 86 205) - Spain, 1981
Cassette - Polydor (unknown catalog number) - Spain, 1981
The Hollies -- Historia De La Musica Rock
LP - Polydor (28 61 320) - Spain, 1982
Cassette - Polydor (34 33 338) - Spain, 1981
The Hollies -- The Hollies
LP - Amiga (8 56 126) - East Germany, 1985
The Hollies -- All The Hits & More: The Definitive Collection
2xLP - EMI (EM 1301) - UK, 1988
2xCD - EMI (CD EM 1301) - UK, 1988
2xCD - EMI (CP20-5741-42) - Japan, 1988
The Hollies -- The Hollies
CD - Sony Special Products (A 21204) - USA, 1989
The Hollies -- Epic Anthology: From The Original Master Tapes
LP - Epic (EGT 46161) - USA, 1990
CD - Epic (EGK 46161) - USA, 1990
The Hollies -- The Very Best Of The Hollies
CD - EMI Germany (CDP 564-0777 7 81092 2 8) - Germany, 1992
The Hollies -- The Midas Touch
CD - Sony Special Products (A 21204) - USA, 1993
The Hollies -- Four Hollies Originals
4xCD - EMI (HOLLIES 1117) - UK, 1994
The Hollies -- The Hollies
2xCD - Platinum (A2 28052) - USA, 1996
The Hollies -- Premium Gold Collection
CD - EMI (unknown catalog number) - Europe, 1996
The Hollies -- The Best Of The Hollies: Centenary Collection
CD - EMI (CTMCD 311) - UK, 1997
The Hollies -- Original Gold
2xCD - Disky (HR 853092) - Holland, 1998
The Hollies -- At Abbey Road (1973-1989)
CD - EMI (CD 496 4342) - UK, 1998
The Hollies -- The Hollies Collection Vol. 2
CD - Platinum Disc (25353) - USA, 1999
The Hollies -- Best Of The 70's
CD - Disky (7243 8990282 3) - Holland, 2000
The Hollies -- Orchestral Heaven
CD - Disky / EMI (7243 5260912 3) - Holland, 2000
The Hollies -- Super Hits
CD - Sony Legacy (EK 85349) - USA, 2001
The Hollies -- Here I Go Again
CD - Disky/Pure Gold (GO 793492) - Holland, 2002
The Hollies -- Greatest Hits
2xCD - EMI (7243 5 82012 2 2) - UK, 2003
The Hollies -- The Long Road Home (1963-2003): The 40th Anniversary Collection
6xCD - EMI (5848562) - USA, 2003
Also contains a live version of 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY).
The Hollies -- Finest
2xCD - Parlophone / EMI Gold (391 1272) - UK, 2007
The Hollies -- The Dutch Collection
CD + DVD - EMI (0946 3584989 9) - Holland, 2008
The DVD also contains a promo video for 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY).
The Hollies -- The Very Best Of The Hollies
2xCD - Music Club Deluxe (MCDLX139) - UK, 2012
The Hollies -- Hollies' Greatest Vol. 2 / Singles Vol. 2
2xCD - Parlophone / Warner Music Japan (WPCR-15547/8) - Japan, 2014
The song also appeared on many various artists albums, including some various artists Bruce Springsteen tribute albums.
Various artists -- 20 Poly Star Hits
2xLP - PolyStar/RSO (9299 728) - Germany, 1975
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) is performed by The Hollies.
Various artists -- Ripper! 20 Original Smash Hits
LP - Ripper (RIP20) - New Zealand, 1975
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) is performed by The Hollies.
Various artists -- Cover Me
LP - Rhino (RNIN 70700) - USA, 1986
MC - Rhino (RNIC 70700) - USA, 1986
This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album. It was reissued in 1989 under the same title. It includes one track not found on the 1989 reissue and is missing three tracks found only on the 1989 reissue.
Various artists -- Cover Me
CD - Rhino (R2 70700) - USA, 1989
This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album. It's a reissue of the 1986 release of the same title. It includes three tracks not found on the 1989 reissue and is missing one track found only on the 1986 release.
Various artists -- Songs From The Boss
LP - Dover Records (ADD 3) - UK, 1988
MC - Dover Records (ZDD 3) - UK, 1988
CD - Dover Records (CCD 3) - UK, 1988
This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album.
Various artists -- Rock Artifacts: 27 Cut Preview
CD - Legacy (SK-04925) - USA, 1993
This is a promo various artists album. 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) is performed by The Hollies.
Various artists -- Swingin' Singles: Greatest Hits Of The '70s
CD - Risky Business / Sony (AK 66662) - USA, 1995
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) is performed by The Hollies.
Various artists -- Swingin' Singles: Greatest Hits Of The '70s
6xCD - Disky (BX 850092/102/112/122/132/152) - Germany, 1998
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) is performed by The Hollies.
Various artists -- On The Border
2xCD - Disky (DO 886592) - Holland, 1999
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) is performed by The Hollies.
Various artists -- L'Amour: More Than I Can Say
2xCD - Disky (DO 994602) - Holland, 2000
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) is performed by The Hollies.
Various artists -- Born To Run 2003 Volume Two
CD - Uncut (2003 04B) - UK, 2003
This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album. It's a free CD (volume 2 of 2) issued exclusively with the April 2003 issue of Uncut magazine.
Various artists -- If I Were The Boss: The Songs Of Bruce Springsteen
CD - Castle (CMQCD1422) - UK, 2006
This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album. The song is titled "Sandy (4th of July, Asbury Park)" on this release.
Various artists -- Pop Icons
CD - St. Clair (unknown catalog number) - USA, 2007
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) is performed by The Hollies.
Credits / References
Thanks Pierre Oitmann, Eden (at Greasy Lake), Michael Simpson (Walklikeasupercaley at Greasy Lake), and Peter (from Lost In The Flood) for the help on this page.
Info for some of the above releases is taken from the Nebraska website.
Requests
Please contact me if you have scans or info about any official release containing The Hollies' cover of 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) that's not mentioned on this page. I also need scans for the following releases:
- The Hollies -- The Hollies || CD - Sony Special Products (A 21204) - USA, 1989
The Hollies' single version of 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) is edited down to three minutes and a half. If you have that version, please let me know what portions of the song are edited.
In 2008, EMI Holland released The Dutch Collection, a CD+DVD set by The Hollies. The set includes all the Dutch hits by The Hollies as well as a DVD with performances and promo videos. A promo video of 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) is also featured. Please contact me if you have that set.
Any additions, comments, or corrections to this page are welcome. You can contact me via the below form or by email: .
Available Versions
List of available versions of 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) on this website:
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) [Album version]
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) [Original studio version]
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) [Early draft]
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) [Live 23 Jul 1973 (early show) version]
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) [Live 31 Jul 1973 (late show) version]
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) [Live 31 Oct 1973 (late show) version]
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) [Live 03 Mar 1974 (late show) version]
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) [Live 09 Apr 1974 version]
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) [Live 29 Oct 1974 version]
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) [Live 05 Feb 1975 version]
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) [Live 02 Oct 1975 version]
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) [Live 18 Nov 1975 version]
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) [Live 31 Dec 1975 version]
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) [Live 07 Apr 1976 version]
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) [Live 04 Nov 1976 version]
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) [Live 09 Aug 1978 version]
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) [Live 29 Dec 1980 version]
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) [Live 31 Dec 1980 version]
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) [Live 30 Jul 1992 version]
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) [Live 10 Aug 1992 version]
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) [Live 24 Nov 1996 version]
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) [Live 26 Nov 1996 version]
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) [Live 15 Feb 1997 version]
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) [Live 11 Aug 1999 version]
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) [Live 12 May 2003 version]
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) [Live 18 Jul 2005 version]
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) [Live 20 Mar 2008 version]
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) [Live 22 Apr 2008 version]
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) [Live 04 Jul 2008 version]
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) [Live 30 Aug 2008 version]
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) [Live 07 Nov 2009 version]
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) [Live 23 Feb 2014 version]
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) [The Hollies' cover version]
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) [Ben E. King's cover version]
Page last updated: 03 Dec 2016
