Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow
"Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow", also known as "Baretta's Theme", is a song written by Morgan Ames and Dave Grusin, recorded by multiple artists during the summer of 1975. Merry Clayton's version was the first to chart, reaching #45 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Then a version by Rhythm Heritage became a Top 20 hit in 1976.
| "Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Merry Clayton | ||||
| from the album Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow | ||||
| Released | July 1975 (U.S.) | |||
| Label | Ode | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Morgan Ames, Dave Grusin | |||
| Merry Clayton singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| "Baretta's Theme (Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow)" | |
|---|---|
_-_Rhythm_Heritage.jpg.webp) | |
| Single by Rhythm Heritage | |
| from the album Disco-Fied | |
| Released | April 1976 (U.S.) |
| Label | ABC |
| Songwriter(s) | Morgan Ames, Dave Grusin |
| Producer(s) | Steve Barri, Michael Omartian |
Rhythm Heritage recorded "Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow" a semi-instrumental number, with subdued vocals by Oren and Luther Waters. It was selected as the theme to the TV show Baretta, starring Robert Blake.[1] "Baretta's Theme" was released as a single in the spring of 1976, reaching #20 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and #15 in Canada.[2]
Chart history
- Merry Clayton
| Chart (1975) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada RPM Top Singles[3] | 71 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[4] | 45 |
| U.S. Billboard R&B | 42 |
| U.S. Cash Box Top 100[5] | 58 |
- Sammy Davis Jr.
| Chart (1976) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100[6] | 101 |
- Rhythm Heritage ("Baretta's Theme")
| Chart (1976) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada RPM Adult Contemporary[7] | 22 |
| Canada RPM Top Singles[8] | 15 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[9] | 20 |
| U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary | 14 |
| U.S. Cash Box Top 100[10] | 16 |
Other versions
- The Latin band El Chicano covered the song on their 1975 LP Pyramid of Love and Friends.[11]
- Sammy Davis Jr.'s version of "Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow" was released in 1976. It reached #101 on the Billboard Bubbling Under chart.[12][13]
References
- "Dave Grusin & Morgan Ames: Baretta ('Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow')". Dave Tomkins: Musica Database. University of British Columbia. Retrieved August 22, 2018 – via cs.ubc.ca.
- "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1976-07-10. Retrieved 2019-01-14.
- "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1975-09-13. Retrieved 2019-01-14.
- Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
- "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, September 20, 1975". Archived from the original on June 20, 2015. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
- Joel Whitburn's Bubbling Under the Billboard Hot 100 1959-2004
- "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1976-07-10. Retrieved 2019-01-14.
- "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1976-07-10. Retrieved 2019-01-14.
- Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
- Cash Box Top 100 Singles, June 19, 1976
- https://www.discogs.com/El-Chicano-Pyramid-Of-Love-And-Friends/release/872323
- Joel Whitburn's Bubbling Under the Billboard Hot 100 1959-2004
- "Sammy Davis Jr. added lyrics to so many instrumental TV theme songs". MeTV.com. October 29, 2016. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
External links
- .html Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics
- Listen to "Baretta's Theme" on YouTube (Merry Clayton)
- Listen to "Baretta's Theme" on YouTube (Sammy Davis Jr.)
- Listen to "Baretta's Theme" on YouTube (Rhythm Heritage)
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