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
"Oh No Not My Baby" (1975) "Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow" (1975) "Emotion" (1980)

"Baretta's Theme (Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow)"
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

1. "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.
2. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1976-07-10. Retrieved 2019-01-14.
3. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1975-09-13. Retrieved 2019-01-14.
4. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
5. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, September 20, 1975". Archived from the original on June 20, 2015. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
6. Joel Whitburn's Bubbling Under the Billboard Hot 100 1959-2004
7. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1976-07-10. Retrieved 2019-01-14.
8. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1976-07-10. Retrieved 2019-01-14.
9. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
10. Cash Box Top 100 Singles, June 19, 1976
11. https://www.discogs.com/El-Chicano-Pyramid-Of-Love-And-Friends/release/872323
12. Joel Whitburn's Bubbling Under the Billboard Hot 100 1959-2004
13. "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)