The Rhythm of Life explained

The Rhythm of Life
Type:single
Artist:Diana Ross & the Supremes and The Temptations
Album:G.I.T. on Broadway
Released:1970
Genre:Funk, R&B, Soul
Label:Tamla Motown
TMO 9149
Producer:George Schlatter[1]
Chronology:Diana Ross & the Supremes
Prev Title:Up the Ladder to the Roof
Prev Year:1970
Next Title:Why (Must We Fall in Love)
Next Year:1970

"The Rhythm of Life" is a song from the 1966 Broadway musical Sweet Charity, written by composer Cy Coleman and lyricist Dorothy Fields.

In the musical, the song is performed by the character Big Daddy, the leader of an alternative "hippie" religious group/cult called the "Rhythm of Life Church." In the 1969 movie musical adaptation of Sweet Charity, directed by Bob Fosse (who also directed the original Broadway production), the song is performed by Sammy Davis Jr., who co-stars as Big Daddy in the film.[2]

The same year as the release of the Sweet Charity film, Diana Ross & the Supremes and The Temptations covered the song for their G.I.T. on Broadway television special, originally broadcast November 12, 1969 on NBC with a soundtrack album released a few days earlier on November 7. Their version was released as a single in 1970 in Australia and New Zealand, where it was a top 5 and top 20 hit, respectively.

Track listing

New Zealand

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1970)Peak
position
Australia (Cashbox)[3] 3
Australia (Go-Set)[4] 7
Australia (Kent Music Report)[5] 5
New Zealand (Listener) [6] 16

Year-end charts

Notes and References

  1. Web site: On Broadway - Diana Ross & the Supremes. Allmusic. Netaktion LLC. 3 February 2021.
  2. Book: Greenspan, Charlotte . Pick Yourself Up: Dorothy Fields and the American Musical . 2010-09-02 . Oxford University Press . 978-0-19-977979-6 . 213–216 . en.
  3. Web site: Australia's Best Sellers . Cashbox. 50. August 8, 1970 . 2 January 2022.
  4. Web site: Go-Sets National Top 40. Go-Set. 22 August 1970. 4 January 2021.
  5. Web site: Every AMR Top 100 Single in 1970. 4 January 2021. Top 100 Singles. Kent Music Report.
  6. Web site: Flavour of New Zealand - search listener - Diana Ross and the Supremes and the Temptations. 4 January 2021. Flavour of New Zealand.
  7. Web site: AMR Top Singles of 1970. 4 January 2021. Top 100 Singles. Kent Music Report.