Sammy Davis Jr. was easily America's greatest and most versatile entertainer in the TV era. And the swinging-est. In the 1960s and '70s, as his style of pop faded, he sang one theme for a TV sitcom—Chico and the Man—and covered a bunch of others on a couple of albums. One of those LPs was The Song and Dance Man, in 1976. It's surprising more TV shows didn't ask him to sing their themes. His approach always seemed to add cool and soul. Here are nine of them:
My Mother the Car (1965)—The sitcom's theme was written by Ralph Carmichael and Paul Hampton. Sammy covered it in 1965. Go here...
Hawaii 5-0 (1968)—The Hawaii 5-0 theme for the detective series was an instrumental rock piece written by Morton Stevens. Sammy covered it in 1976, with lyrics by Hermine Hilton. Go here...
Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970)—The sitcom's theme, Love Is All Around, was written by Sonny Curtis. Sammy covered it in 1976. A great, empathetic rendition. Go here...
All in the Famiiy (1971)—The fabled sitcom opened with Carroll O'Connor and Jean Stapleton singing Those Were the Days, written by Lee Adams and Charles Strouse (pianist Roger Kellaway wrote and played the show's closing instrumental theme). Sammy covered the opening theme in 1976, with a disco arrangement. (He also appeared on the show in a much-touted episode, "Sammy's Visit.") Go here...
Kojak (1973)—Written by Bill Dyer and Billy Goldenberg, We'll Make It This Time became the first instrumental theme to the Kojak detective series. Lyrics were added later. Sammy covered the theme in 1976. Go here...
Chico and the Man (1974)—This sitcom's theme was written by José Feliciano and was sung by Sammy. He appeared on the show as a guest star. Go here...
Baretta (1975)—Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow was written by Morgan Ames and Dave Grusin and recorded by several artists. The rendition by Rhythm Heritage, a disco-funk band, was selected as the theme for the detective series Baretta, in 1975. Sammy covered it in 1976. Go here...
The Jeffersons (1975)—The theme was written by Ja'Net DuBois and Jeff Barry (Be My Baby) and sung by DuBois backed by a gospel choir. Sammy covered it in 1976. Go here...
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (1976)—Premiere Occasion, used as the faux soap opera's theme, was written in 1965 by British composer Robert Charles Kingston as "library music"—music that could be leased by TV shows. Sammy covered it in 1976. Go here...
Bonus: Here's Sammy live, singing Chico and the Man...