<P> TGG Direct also released seasons 6 and 7 in individual boxed sets onto DVD on March 11, 2014 . However, due to clearance issues, the following episode is excluded from Season 6: Random's Child and the following episodes are excluded from Season 7: Singin' The Blues, Every Man's Family, Maybelle Returns, Ches and the Grand Lady, Dangerous Engagement . </P> <P> The television series also took place in a fictionalized version of Sparta, Mississippi . While there is a real Sparta, the version of Sparta shown on television is very different from the real town . For example, the TV Sparta is situated along Interstate 20, while the real town is nowhere near any interstate . During the first season, Hammond, Louisiana was the site of the show's production . In the second season, the show was moved to Georgia, to an area east of Atlanta and it remained there for the rest of its run . The principal area of Sparta was in fact downtown Covington, Georgia . Rural scenes were filmed in a wide surrounding area, in the Georgia counties of Newton (where Covington is located), Rockdale, Walton, Morgan, and Jasper . Decatur in Dekalb County was used as a stand - in for an episode as the Mississippi Capital city of Jackson, and Atlanta itself was used in one episode, in which Bubba worked on a case there . In fact, during the series' run, many of the cast members had homes in the area and were often spotted in local restaurants and retail stores . The cast members would also go around to local schools to speak to students . </P> <P> The theme song, "In the Heat of the Night," was recorded by Quincy Jones, and is usually paired with "They Call Me Mr. Tibbs" on albums . Bill Champlin of the band Chicago sang the opening theme song for the television series . </P> <P> Randall Franks and Alan Autry co-produced the cast CD "Christmas Time's A Comin"' for Sonlite and MGM / UA featuring the entire cast and a host of music stars and it was released Christmas 1991 and 1992 and was among the top holiday recordings of those years around the South and Midwest . </P>

Who sings the theme song for the tv show in the heat of the night