This Magic Moment - Misplaced Pages

"This Magic Moment" is a song composed by lyricist Doc Pomus and pianist Mort Shuman. It was first recorded by The Drifters, with Ben E. King singing lead.

Original Drifters version

It was recorded first by Ben E. King and the Drifters, at Bell Sound Studios in New York City. The Drifters version spent 11 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached No. 16 on April 2, 1960.

Chart history

Chart (1960)	Peak position
US Billboard Hot 100	16
US Billboard R&B	4
US Cash Box Top 100	9
CAN (CHUM Charts Hit Parade)	20

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, while reaching No. 1 on Canada's "RPM 100" and No. 11 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart. The song also debuted at No. 4 in the first issue of RPM's "Young Adult" adult contemporary chart. The single earned gold record status from the Recording Industry Association of America.

Chart history

Weekly charts

Chart (1968–69)	Peak position
Canada RPM Top Singles	1
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary	4
US Billboard Hot 100	6
US Billboard Adult Contemporary	11
US Cash Box Top 100	5

Year-end charts

Chart (1969)	Rank
Canada RPM Top Singles	25
US Billboard Hot 100	56
US Cash Box	25

In popular culture

The original version of the song was used in the following productions:

The Sandlot, the 1993 sports comedy film directed by David M. Evans
"Soprano Home Movies", an episode of The Sopranos
"This Magic Moment", a documentary film from ESPN's 30 for 30 about the Orlando Magic
"Selena Gomez/Post Malone", an episode from the 47th season of Saturday Night Live, in a sketch about the invention of the whoopee cushion

Lou Reed's version, from a Doc Pomus tribute album, Till the Night is Gone, was featured in David Lynch's film Lost Highway (1997).

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.
Marsh, Dave (1989). The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made. Plume. p. 279. ISBN 0-452-26305-0.
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
"CHUM Hit Parade - March 21, 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.
"Archived copy". www.collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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.

External links

http://aln2.albumlinernotes.com/Atlantic_-_Volume_Four.html

v t e The Drifters
Clyde McPhatter Gerhart Thrasher Andrew Thrasher Bill Pinkney Willie Ferbee Walter Adams Ben E. King Doc Green Beary Hobbs Rudy Lewis Charlie Thomas Tommy Evans Eugene Pearson Johnny Terry Johnny Moore Bobby Hendricks Rudy Ivan Jimmy Lewis Ray Lewis Louis Price Maurice Cannon Prentiss McNeil
Compilation albums	The Drifters' Golden Hits
Songs	"Adorable" "At the Club" "Dance with Me" "Drip Drop" "Honey Love" "I Count the Tears" "I Don't Want to Go On Without You" "I Gotta Get Myself a Woman" "(If You Cry) True Love, True Love" "Kissin' in the Back Row of the Movies" "Like Sister and Brother" "Lonely Winds" "Lucille" "Money Honey" "On Broadway" "Please Stay" "Saturday Night at the Movies" "Save the Last Dance for Me" "Some Kind of Wonderful" "Steamboat" "Sweets for My Sweet" "There Goes My Baby" "This Magic Moment" "Treasure of Love" "Under the Boardwalk" "Up on the Roof" "Vaya con Dios" "What'cha Gonna Do" "When My Little Girl Is Smiling"
Discography Category:The Drifters

v t e Jay and the Americans
Sandy Deanne Howie Kane Jay Reincke Marty Sanders Jay Traynor Kenny Vance Jay Black
Studio albums	She Cried Come a Little Bit Closer Blockbusters Sunday and Me Livin' Above Your Head Try Some of This! Sands of Time Wax Museum Capture the Moment
Singles	"She Cried" "Come a Little Bit Closer" "Let's Lock the Door (And Throw Away the Key)" "Cara Mia" "Some Enchanted Evening" "Sunday and Me" "Crying" "No Other Love" "This Magic Moment" "Walkin' in the Rain" "There Goes My Baby"
Cover songs	"Here, There and Everywhere" "Hushabye" "It's a Big Wide Wonderful World" "Maria" "Monday, Monday" "Nature Boy" "Since I Don't Have You" "Solitary Man" "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore)" "(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me" "Tonight"

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