Doo Wop

The song has beautiful words and a beautiful sentiment from the writers Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman. The first to record the song were The Drifters, who had Ben E. King on the lead at the time. The record was produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. In 1960, their version went to #16 on the Billboard Hot 100. The cover by Jay and the Americans in 1969 went to #6 and earned an RIAA gold record.

Group membership for The Drifters, who formed in New York City, is ever-changing. For this record, it was Ben E. King, Charlie Thomas, Dock Green, and Elsbeary Hobbs. The instrumentation included Phil Bodner (sax), Ernie Hayes (piano), Bucky Pizzarell and George Barnes (guitar), George Duvivier (bass), and Shep Sheppard (drums).  The Drifters started in 1953 and continue to perform internationally today. Ben E. King (born Benjamin Earl Nelson) was with the group in one of its iterations from 1958 to 1960 before embarking on a solo career, which has been very successful. King passed away on April 30, 2015.

Here are the lyrics to “This Magic Moment” by The Drifters:

“This magic moment, so different and so new
Was like any other until I kissed you
And then it happened, it took me by surprise
I knew that you felt it too, by the look in your eyes

Sweeter than wine
Softer than the summer night
Everything I want, I have
Whenever I hold you tight

This magic moment while your lips are close to mine
Will last forever, forever till the end of time

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Mm-mm-mm-mm-mm

Sweeter than wine
Softer than the summer night
Everything I want, I have
Whenever I hold you tight

This magic moment while your lips are close to mine
Will last forever, forever till the end of time

Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh
Magic moment
Magic moment
Magic moment”

If you are interested in reading about and listening to other songs by The Drifters: “Save the Last Dance for Me,” “Up on the Roof,” “Under the Boardwalk,” and “There Goes My Baby.”

For More Golden Oldies Music                

The Daily Doo Wop Rec Room has daily featured doo wop, rock and roll, R&B, or rockabilly songs that were hits during the first era of rock and roll (that is, from about 1952 until the British invasion in 1964). After a song is featured, it then goes into the juke box. You are welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections there. Every weekend, there is a Golden Oldies Juke Box Saturday Night, and the juke box is full of song requests from the 1950s and 1960s.

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