"Moment to Moment" is a popular song written by Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer for the 1966 film of the same name. Mancini's recording of the song charted at the same time as that of Frank Sinatra. A single was also released in 1966 by Johnny Mathis, who performed it in concert throughout his career.
Henry Mancini version Two recordings of the song were released several weeks before the film's opening on January 27, 1966, Click on Details tab. one of which was the film version, which was credited to Henry Mancini, His Orchestra and Chorus and produced by Joe Reisman.
Chart performance Mancini's recording of the song debuted on Billboard magazine's Easy Listening chart in the issue dated December 25, 1965, and peaked at number 27 during its six weeks there. It reached number 26 on Cash Box magazine's Looking Ahead chart, which was described as a "compilation, in order of strength, of up and coming records showing signs of breaking into The Cash Box Top 100". It got as high as number 4 on the pop chart in the Philippines.
Critical reception In their review column, the editors of Cash Box featured the single as a Pick of the Week, which was their equivalent to a letter grade of A for both "Moment to Moment" and its B-side, "Soldier in the Rain". They described Mancini's recording of "Moment to Moment" as an "excellent reading" and "a tender, slow-moving, lyrical, moody romancer enhanced by a superb choral backing". The editors of Billboard wrote that it "has the warmth and ballad appeal of 'Moon River'."
Charts + Weekly chart performance for "Moment to Moment" by Henry Mancini, His Orchestra and Chorus Chart (1965–1966) Peakposition Philippines 4US Billboard Easy Listening27 US Looking Ahead (Cash Box) 26
Frank Sinatra version The other rendition released before the film's opening was by Frank Sinatra, who recorded the vocals on October 21, 1965. The orchestra track was recorded five weeks earlier, on September 14, with conductor Nelson Riddle,. who was also the arranger. The recording was produced by Sonny Burke.
Chart performance Sinatra's recording of the song also debuted on Billboards Easy Listening chart in the issue dated December 25, 1965, but peaked at number 18 during its seven weeks there. It "bubbled under" Billboards Hot 100 for two weeks that began in that same issue, during which time it peaked at number 115.
Critical reception In their review column, the editors of Cash Box featured the single as a Pick of the Week, which was their equivalent to a letter grade of A for both "Moment to Moment" and its A-side, "It Was a Very Good Year". They described Sinatra's recording of "Moment to Moment" as "a moving rendition". The editors of Billboard wrote that it was "a strong Sinatra rendition".
Charts + Weekly chart performance for "Moment to Moment" by Frank Sinatra Chart (1965–1966) PeakpositionUS Billboard Easy Listening18 US Bubbling Under the Hot 100 (Billboard) 115
Johnny Mathis version Johnny Mathis recorded "Moment to Moment" on January 12, 1966, for his album The Shadow of Your Smile. The orchestra was conducted by Jack Elliott, who also arranged the music. The track was produced by Don Rieber and released as a single. It did not chart, however.
Critical reception In their review column, the editors of Cash Box gave "Moment to Moment" a letter grade of B+. They described it as "[l]ilting". The editors of Billboard wrote that the song was "treated to a Latin beat and an exceptional Mathis vocal".
Live performances Mathis performed "Moment to Moment" for a phone-in fan on the A&E Network's 1998 Mathis concert Live by Request. In 2012, Mathis said, "I used to perform it constantly, but now by the time I get to the end and some of those high notes, I can hardly pull it off anymore." He did, however, sing it at his final live performance on May 18, 2025, as part of his Voice of Romance Tour.
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