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" | ||||
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Single by The Drifters[1] | ||||
B-side | "Baltimore" | |||
Released | January 28, 1960 | |||
Recorded | December 23, 1959 | |||
Studio | Bell Sound Studios, New York City, N.Y. | |||
Genre | Soul, R&B | |||
Length | 2:28 | |||
Label | Atlantic | |||
Songwriter(s) | Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman | |||
Producer(s) | Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller | |||
The Drifters[1] singles chronology | ||||
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"This Magic Moment" | ||||
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Single by Jay and the Americans | ||||
from the album Sands of Time | ||||
A-side | "Since I Don't Have You" | |||
Released | October 28, 1968 | |||
Recorded | October 16, 1968 | |||
Studio | O.D.O. Recorders, New York City, N.Y. | |||
Genre | Blue-eyed soul | |||
Length | 3:03 | |||
Label | United Artists | |||
Songwriter(s) | Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman | |||
Producer(s) | Jay and the Americans | |||
Jay and the Americans singles chronology | ||||
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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
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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In popular culture
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
- 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.
- Doc Pomus – Biography at AllMusic. Retrieved 2007-06-27.
- The Drifters – Chart History – The Hot 100, Billboard.com. Accessed May 21, 2016
- Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 – ISBN 0-89820-089-X
- Cash Box Top 100 Singles, April 2, 1960
- Jay & the Americans – Chart History – The Hot 100, Billboard.com. Accessed May 21, 2016
- "R.P.M. 100", RPM Weekly, Volume 11, No. 2, March 10, 1969. Accessed May 21, 2016
- Jay & the Americans – Chart History – Adult Contemporary, Billboard.com. Accessed May 21, 2016
- "Young Adult", RPM Weekly, Volume 11, No. 4, March 24, 1969. Accessed May 21, 2016
- Gold & Platinum, RIAA. Accessed May 21, 2016
- "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, March 15, 1969". Archived from the original on January 27, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
- http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.6104&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062
- Musicoutfitters.com
- "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 27, 1969". Archived from the original on January 25, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2018.