The Four Lads recorded it in June 1955 for Columbia Records as the B side to the single "Dream On, My Love."[5] Bernie Toorish of the Four Lads credited the enthusiastic endorsement of Cleveland radio DJBill Randle for increasing radio airtime play and popularizing the recording.[6] It eventually reached number 2 on Billboard magazine's Top 100 hit list (an early version of the Hot 100), sold 4 million copies and became the group's first gold record.
The lyrics of the Moments listed in the song, include the tearing the goal post down on New Year's Day, the quiet walks, the noisy fun, and almost winning the ballroom prize. In the final refrain, when other times and days, find them doing their own separate ways, they have their moments to remember.
Besides the voices of the male quartet, the song also contains two uncredited female parts. According to the Four Lads' Frank Busseri, the introductory verse, ("January through December/We'll have moments to remember"), as well as the repeat of the Bridge section in harmony, ("When summer turns to winter",) were sung by Lois Winters of the Ray Charles Singers and the poetic spoken words in mid-song: ("A drive-in movie/Where we'd go/And somehow never watched the show/") were recited by Pat Kirby who at that time was a singer on Steve Allen's television show Tonight!.[5]
The American vocal group Deep River Boys Featuring Harry Douglas with Pete Brown's orchestra recorded it in Oslo on August 30, 1956. It was released on the 78 rpm recordHMV AL 6037.
The song was recorded by both the Statler Brothers and the Vogues in 1969, inciting a minor cover remake battle against the Buddah Records version by the Smoke Ring.
The musical Forever Plaid includes their cover of the song.
Popular culture
The song was featured as part of the theme music of XM Satellite Radio's "Moments to Remember", a weekly two-hour program written, produced, and hosted by Bob Moke on the '50s channel. The program aired from July 2006 through February 2009, and focused on standard pop music of the early to mid-Fifties.[9]
