From the stage to the pop charts

In the first years of the 20th century, many of America’s hit songs came directly from Broadway (and Hollywood) musicals. But even during the rock era, pop recordings of show tunes (some old, some new) hit the charts on a regular basis.

A few notable examples of pop hits originally featured in stage musicals:

“Mack the Knife” (1958) by Bobby Darin — from Kurt Weill’s 1928 “Threepenny Opera”

“Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” (1958) by the Platters — from Jerome Kern’s 1933 “Roberta”

“Hello, Dolly!” (1964) by Louis Armstrong — from Jerry Herman’s 1964 “Hello, Dolly!”

“People” (1964) by Barbra Streisand — from Streisand’s star-making 1964 “Funny Girl”

“I Got Rhythm” (1966) by the Happenings — from George and Ira Gershwin’s 1930 “Girl Crazy” “Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In”

(1969) by the 5th Dimension — from 1967’s “Hair” “Easy to Be Hard” (1969) by Three Dog Night — from 1967’s “Hair” “Good Morning Starshine” (1969) by

Oliver — from 1967’s “Hair”

“Hair” (1969) by the Cowsills — from 1967’s “Hair”

“I’ll Never Fall in Love Again” (1969) by Dionne Warwick — from Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s 1968 “Promises, Promises”

“Corner of the Sky” (1972) by the Jacksons — from Stephen Schwartz’s 1972 “Pippin”

“Send in the Clowns” (1975, recharted 1977) by Judy Collins — from Stephen Sondheim’s 1973 “A Little Night Music”