"Day by Day" was first a hit in Australia, where both Judy Stone and Colleen Hewett released competing versions of the track in late 1971. Hewett's version reached #2 in the Kent Music Report, while Stone's take reached #25.
In 1972, a version of the song from the album Godspell (1971) by the original off-Broadway cast was released as a single in the US, and attributed simply to the group name "Godspell". Robin Lamont was the lead singer, uncredited. "Day by Day" spent 14 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at the #13 position on July 29, 1972.[5]Billboard ranked it as the No. 90 song for 1972.[6]
The instrumental cover band Hot Butter released a version on their 1972 album Hot Butter.
In 1972 Shirley Bassey released her cover version of the song on a Universal Artists Records single and has it also on her album And I Love You So from 1972, her live album from Carnegie Hall Concert 1973 as well as her live album from Japan 1974.
The jazz duo Jackie & Roy covered the song (Track 1) on the 1972 CTI labeled album Time & Love.
Another instrumental version, in the song's initial key, was used as the theme music for NBC's Today Show in the 1970s.
In March 1972, Holly Sherwood released "Day by Day" (which also incorporated a medley of two other numbers from the show) as her first single, produced by Tony Orlando for Rocky Road Records. Her version went to #104 on the US Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart, #91 Cash Box, and #29 in the United Kingdom.[10]
The song was covered by British pop singer Cilla Black who released it on her 1973 album Day by Day with Cilla which was her seventh and last studio album with producer George Martin.
Cliff Richard recorded a live version dated September 1973 and released on his 1974 gospel album Help It Along.
Pat Lundy released a cover in 1976.
Christian rap/rock group DC Talk covered the song (with additional lyrics) on their 1995 album Jesus Freak.
Christian rock group House of Heroes covered DC Talk's version of the song on their 2013 album The Knock-Down Drag-Outs.
A previously unreleased version by the 1970s British vocal group Design was included on their 2012 CD One Sunny Day: Singles and Rarities 1968–1978.
In the 2001 film Wet Hot American Summer, summer camp counselors Susie (Amy Poehler) and Ben (Bradley Cooper) direct a group of kids to sing and dance “Day by Day” in similar style and costume to the original Godspell Broadway cast, which they perform at the talent show. The audience claps along happily, but after the performance ends with a glowing luminescent cross on the wall, it is met with overwhelming boos. The host comments it is one of his favorite Broadway numbers, but erroneously pronounces it as “Day Bidet.”
In season 1, episode 8 of the 2020 tv show The Wilds, Shelby sings "Day by Day." for her pageant talent performance just after learning of her best friend's suicide.[15]
^Molanphy, Chris (June 28, 2019). "The Lullaby of Broadway Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved September 7, 2023.