This Magic Moment

"This Magic Moment"
"This Magic Moment"
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

"This Magic Moment"
"This Magic Moment"
Single by The Drifters
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 singles chronology

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

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, on piano, George Barnes and Bucky Pizzarelli on guitar, George Duvivier on bass, and Shep Shepherd on drums. The arranger and conductor was Stan Applebaum.

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[]

Chart (1968–69)	Peak position
Canada RPM Top Singles^[7]	1
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary^[9]	4
US Billboard Hot 100^[4]	6
US Billboard Adult Contemporary^[8]	11
US Cash Box Top 100^[11]	5

Year-end charts[]

Chart (1969)	Rank
Canada RPM Top Singles^[12]	25
US Billboard Hot 100^[13]	56
US Cash Box^[14]	25

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[]

^ Jump up to: ^a ^b 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
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 – ISBN 0-89820-089-X
^ Cash Box Top 100 Singles, April 2, 1960^{[permanent dead link]}
^ Jay & the Americans – Chart History – The Hot 100, Billboard.com. Accessed May 21, 2016
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "R.P.M. 100", RPM Weekly, Volume 11, No. 2, March 10, 1969. Accessed May 21, 2016
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Jay & the Americans – Chart History – Adult Contemporary, Billboard.com. Accessed May 21, 2016
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "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.

External links[]

[pc14-1] Jump up to: ^a ^b 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

[ReferenceA-4] Jump up to: ^a ^b Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 – ISBN 0-89820-089-X

[5] Cash Box Top 100 Singles, April 2, 1960^{[permanent dead link]}

[6] Jay & the Americans – Chart History – The Hot 100, Billboard.com. Accessed May 21, 2016

[R.P.M._100-7] Jump up to: ^a ^b "R.P.M. 100", RPM Weekly, Volume 11, No. 2, March 10, 1969. Accessed May 21, 2016

[billboard.com-8] Jump up to: ^a ^b Jay & the Americans – Chart History – Adult Contemporary, Billboard.com. Accessed May 21, 2016

[Young_Adult-9] Jump up to: ^a ^b "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] ttp://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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show v t The Drifters
Past members	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	"Drip Drop" "Honey Love" "I Don't Want to Go On Without You" "Like Sister and Brother" "Kissin' in the Back Row of the Movies" "Money Honey" "On Broadway" "Please Stay" "Save the Last Dance for Me" "Some Kind of Wonderful" "Sweets for My Sweet" "There Goes My Baby" "This Magic Moment" "Treasure of Love" "Under the Boardwalk" "Up on the Roof" "Vaya con Dios" "When My Little Girl Is Smiling"
Discography Category:The Drifters

show v t 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"