The ’60s was an explosive decade in the American musical theatre. Heavy-hitters and musicals that would later earn “classic” status debuted, including Fiddler on the Roof; She Loves Me; A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum; Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; Hello, Dolly!; Promises, Promises; Camelot; and Hair—to name a few. This week’s Playbill Mixtape features the lesser-known tunes from scores of 1960s musicals. Consider this your education.
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As a historical guide to accompany your listening:
“Willkommen” — Cabaret; John Kander and Fred Ebb
“It’s Today” — Mame; Jerry Herman
“Put On A Happy Face” — Bye Bye Birdie; Charles Strouse and Lee Adams
“The Sweetest Sounds” — No Strings; Richard Rodgers
“Hey, Look Me Over!” — Wildcat; Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh
“Brotherhood of Man” — How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying; Frank Loesser
“To Life” — Fiddler on the Roof; Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick
“Camelot” — Camelot; Frederick Loewe and Alan Jay Lerner
“Make Someone Happy” — Do Re Mi; Jule Styne, Betty Comden and Adolph Green
“As Long As He Needs Me” — Oliver!; Lionel Bart
“I Ain’t Down Yet” — The Unsinkable Molly Brown; Meredith Willson
“Comedy Tonight” — A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum; Stephen Sondheim
“Miss Marmelstein” — I Can Get It for You Wholesale; Harold Rome
“Raunchy” — 110 in the Shade; Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones
“Flash, Bang, Wallop!” — Half a Sixpence; David Heneker
“Anyone Can Whistle” — Anyone Can Whistle; Stephen Sondheim
“Don’t Rain on My Parade” — Funny Girl; Jule Styne and Bob Merrill
“Put On Your Sunday Clothes” — Hello, Dolly!; Jerry Herman
“Feeling Good” — The Roar of the Greasepaint; Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley
“Do I Hear a Waltz?” — Do I Hear a Waltz?; Richard Rodgers and Stephen Sondheim
“Sing Happy” — Flora the Red Menace; John Kander and Fred Ebb
“On A Clear Day (You Can See Forever)” — On A Clear Day You Can See Forever; Burton Lane and Alan Jay Lerner
“Three Letters” — She Loves Me; Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick
“The Diary of Adam and Eve: The Apple Tree (Forbidden Fruit)” — The Apple Tree; Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick
“My Cup Runneth Over” — I Do! I Do!; Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones
“You’ve Got Possibilities” — It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s Superman; Charles Strouse and Lee Adams
“Rich Man’s Frug” — Sweet Charity; Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields
“Being Good” — Hallelujah, Baby!; Jule Styne, Betty Comden and Adolph Green
“You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” — You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown; Clark Gesner
“Choo-Choo Honeymoon” — Dames at Sea; Jim Wise, George Haimsohn and Robin Miller
“Madeleine” — Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris; Jacque Brel, Mort Shuman and Eric Blau
“Close Every Door” — Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice
“Upstairs” — Promises, Promises; Burt Bacharach and Hal David
“Going Down” — Hair; Galt McDermott, James Rado and Gerome Ragni
“Sit Down, John” — 1776; Sherman Edwards
“I Am Free/Life Is - Reprise” — Zorba; John Kander and Fred Ebb
“Give My Regards to Broadway” — George M!; George M. Cohan and Mary Cohan
MUSICAL THEATRE 101, 1960S EDITION
Think “Three Letters” from She Loves Me. Think “Going Down” from Hair.
