This Magic Moment

"This Magic Moment" is a song composed by lyricist Doc Pomus and pianist Mort Shuman, and is one of their best-known songs.[2]

"This Magic Moment"
Single by The Drifters[1]
B-side"Baltimore"
ReleasedJanuary 28, 1960
Format45 rpm
RecordedDecember 23, 1959
StudioBell Sound Studios, New York City, N.Y.
GenreSoul, R&B
Length2:28
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman
Producer(s)Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller
The Drifters[1] singles chronology
"(If You Cry) True Love, True Love"
(1959)		 "This Magic Moment"
(1960)		 "Lonely Winds"
(1960)
"This Magic Moment"
Single by Jay and the Americans
from the album Sands of Time
A-side"Since I Don't Have You"
ReleasedOctober 28, 1968
Format45 rpm
RecordedOctober 16, 1968
StudioO.D.O. Recorders, New York City, N.Y.
GenreBlue-eyed soul
Length3:03
LabelUnited Artists
Songwriter(s)Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman
Producer(s)Jay and the Americans
Jay and the Americans singles chronology
"No Other Love"
(1968)		 "This Magic Moment"
(1968)		 "When You Dance"
(1969)

Original Drifters version

It was recorded first by Ben E. King and the Drifters.[1] The Drifters version spent 11 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached No. 16 on April 2, 1960.[3] The session musicians Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller hired to play on this record were: Phil Bodner on sax, Ernie Hayes on piano, George Barnes (musician) and Bucky Pizzarelli on guitar, George Duvivier on bass, and Shep Shepherd on drums. The strings were the arrangement written by the great arranger Belford Hendricks.

Chart history
Chart (1960) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[4] 16
US Billboard R&B 4
US Cash Box Top 100[5] 9

Jay and the Americans version

In 1968, Jay and the Americans released a version of the song, which became the song's most widely successful release. Their version spent 14 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching No. 6 on March 1, 1969,[6] while reaching No. 1 on Canada's "RPM 100"[7] and No. 11 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart.[8] The song also debuted at No. 4 in the first issue of RPM's "Young Adult" adult contemporary chart.[9] The single earned gold record status from the Recording Industry Association of America.[10]

Chart history

Other covers

Marvin Gaye recorded a cover of this song for his ninth studio album, M.P.G.

The Misfits recorded a cover of this song for their sixth studio album, Project 1950.

A cover version of this song was released by the band Lake Street Dive on their 2014 EP, Fun Machine.

The song is used in David M. Evans' film The Sandlot and was also featured in David Chase's television show The Sopranos in the episode "Soprano Home Movies". In 2016 it was used in ESPN's 30 for 30 of the same title, "This Magic Moment" about the Orlando Magic.

Lou Reed's version, from a Doc Pomus tribute album, Till the Night is Gone, was featured in David Lynch's film Lost Highway.

References
  1. Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 14 – Big Rock Candy Mountain: Rock 'n' roll in the late fifties. [Part 4]" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries.
  2. Doc Pomus – Biography at AllMusic. Retrieved 2007-06-27.
  3. The Drifters – Chart History – The Hot 100, Billboard.com. Accessed May 21, 2016
  4. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 – ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  5. Cash Box Top 100 Singles, April 2, 1960
  6. Jay & the Americans – Chart History – The Hot 100, Billboard.com. Accessed May 21, 2016
  7. "R.P.M. 100", RPM Weekly, Volume 11, No. 2, March 10, 1969. Accessed May 21, 2016
  8. Jay & the Americans – Chart History – Adult Contemporary, Billboard.com. Accessed May 21, 2016
  9. "Young Adult", RPM Weekly, Volume 11, No. 4, March 24, 1969. Accessed May 21, 2016
  10. Gold & Platinum, RIAA. Accessed May 21, 2016
  11. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, March 15, 1969". Archived from the original on January 27, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  12. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.6104&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062
  13. Musicoutfitters.com
  14. "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 27, 1969". Archived from the original on January 25, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
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