"The Streetbeater" was first released by A&M Records on Jones's 1973 album You've Got It Bad Girl and as a single from that album.[1][2] It is also featured on his Greatest Hits album.
Although the piece itself did not reach Billboard status for that year, it has maintained mainstream popularity, ranking 9th in a Rolling Stone Reader Poll of Television Theme Songs.[3]
Other recordings
Harry James recorded a version in 1979 on his album Still Harry After All These Years (Sheffield Lab LAB 11).