Theme from S.W.A.T.

"Theme from *S.W.A.T.*"
"Theme from S.W.A.T."
Single by Rhythm Heritage
from the album Disco-Fied
B-side	"I Wouldn't Treat a Dog (The Way You Treated Me)"
Released	November 1975
Recorded	1975
Genre	Disco
Length	3:21
Label	ABC
Songwriter(s)	Barry De Vorzon
Producer(s)	Michael Omartian, Steve Barri
Rhythm Heritage singles chronology

"Theme from S.W.A.T." is an instrumental song written by Barry De Vorzon and performed by American funk group Rhythm Heritage, released on their debut album Disco-Fied. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the United States on the chart date of February 28, 1976.

As the title implies, it was the opening theme music for the 1970s American television series S.W.A.T., though it is a noticeably different recording from the actual TV theme version, which was performed not by Rhythm Heritage, but by Barry De Vorzon's own orchestra with arrangement by Dominik Hauser. The theme song was also referenced by characters in the 2003 motion picture of the same name, who mouth the notes during a party to celebrate their successful completion of the training course. De Vorzon's original was eventually released on the LP Nadia's Theme on Arista records.

It remains one of a handful of TV themes to top the Billboard Hot 100, a list that includes "Welcome Back" by John Sebastian, "Miami Vice Theme" by Jan Hammer and "How Do You Talk to an Angel" by The Heights.

Chart history[]

Weekly charts[]

Chart (1975–76)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[1]	11
Canada RPM Top Singles^[2]	1
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary^[3]	19
US Billboard Hot 100^[4]	1
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[5]	1
US Cash Box Top 100^[6]	1

Year-end charts[]

Chart (1976)	Rank
Canada ^[7]	29
US Billboard Hot 100^[8]	29
U.S. Billboard Easy Listening^[9]	21
US Cash Box ^[10]	31

Covers and use in sampling[]

In Canada, the THP Orchestra's disco version of the song reached number one on the RPM pop chart the same year as the US version.
In 1987, rapper and actor LL Cool J sampled the song for his single "I'm Bad" from his album Bigger and Deffer. LL Cool J also later starred in the 2003 film version of S.W.A.T.
In 1994, released a version titled "Theme From SWAT"— sung by of Poison Idea, with sampled LAPD radio broadcasts from the April 1992 riots— on their album .^[11]^[12]
In 2003, Rap group Hot Action Cop used the song as template for a song titled "Samuel Jackson" which was used as the theme to the film adaptation of S.W.A.T., starring Samuel L. Jackson.
In 1976 Ray Conniff and his orchestra had mild success with their cover of "The Theme from SWAT" on Columbia Records.
In 1990 the Italian DJ and Producer Piero Fidelfatti, sample a part of the main theme and make a house version of "Theme From S.W.A.T." (Magic Service/Discomagic MS001)
In 1991 the rap group 3rd Bass sampled the instrumental in a remixed version of their song "3rd Bass Theme a.k.a. Portrait of the Artist as a Hood" on Def Jam Recordings.

References[]

^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 250. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Retrieved 2017-04-04.
^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1976-02-07. Retrieved 2017-12-04.
^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
^ "Rhythm Heritage Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, February 28, 1976". Archived from the original on October 20, 2018. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
^ "Top Singles – Volume 26, No. 14 & 15, January 08 1977". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on March 19, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
^ Musicoutfitters.com
^ Top 50 Adult Contemporary Hits of 1976
^ "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 25, 1976". Archived from the original on October 20, 2018. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
^ "Deep Inside a Cop's Mind — S.W.A.T." AllMusic. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
^ "S.W.A.T. — Deep Inside A Cop's Mind". Discogs. Retrieved 3 May 2020.

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[aus-1] Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 250. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.

[2] "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Retrieved 2017-04-04.

[3] "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1976-02-07. Retrieved 2017-12-04.

[4] Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X

[sc_Billboardadultcontemporary_Rhythm_Heritage-5] "Rhythm Heritage Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2017.

[6] "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, February 28, 1976". Archived from the original on October 20, 2018. Retrieved December 6, 2017.

[7] "Top Singles – Volume 26, No. 14 & 15, January 08 1977". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on March 19, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2017.

[8] Musicoutfitters.com

[9] Top 50 Adult Contemporary Hits of 1976

[10] "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 25, 1976". Archived from the original on October 20, 2018. Retrieved December 6, 2017.

[11] "Deep Inside a Cop's Mind — S.W.A.T." AllMusic. Retrieved 3 May 2020.

[12] "S.W.A.T. — Deep Inside A Cop's Mind". Discogs. Retrieved 3 May 2020.

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hide v t S.W.A.T.
Television	1975 series episodes 2017 series episodes characters
Film	S.W.A.T. (2003) S.W.A.T.: Firefight (2011) S.W.A.T.: Under Siege (2017)
Other media	S.W.A.T. (2003 soundtrack) "Theme from S.W.A.T."
Related	The Rookies