<P> `` In the Heat of the Night '' is a 1967 song performed by Ray Charles , composed by Quincy Jones , and written by Marilyn Bergman and Alan Bergman for the film In the Heat of the Night . As Matthew Greenwald of AllMusic states , the song `` opens the film and accompanying soundtrack with a slice of real , rural backwoods gospel . Lyrically , one of the key lines is ' In the heat of the night / I 'm feeling motherless somehow , ' which clearly illustrates the main character 's dilemma of being in the wrong place at the wrong time . The main melody is guided by Charles ' funky piano work and is buttressed by then - session ace Billy Preston 's powerful , soulful organ trills . The underlying sense of drama that is so much a part of the film is reflected perfectly in this song , and the Ray Charles Singers add to this with a stately grace . It 's perfect listening for a midsummer night when the temperature is just a bit too hot for comfort . '' </P>
<P> `` In the Heat of the Night '' is a 1967 song performed by Ray Charles , composed by Quincy Jones , and written by Marilyn Bergman and Alan Bergman for the film In the Heat of the Night . As Matthew Greenwald of AllMusic states , the song `` opens the film and accompanying soundtrack with a slice of real , rural backwoods gospel . Lyrically , one of the key lines is ' In the heat of the night / I 'm feeling motherless somehow , ' which clearly illustrates the main character 's dilemma of being in the wrong place at the wrong time . The main melody is guided by Charles ' funky piano work and is buttressed by then - session ace Billy Preston 's powerful , soulful organ trills . The underlying sense of drama that is so much a part of the film is reflected perfectly in this song , and the Ray Charles Singers add to this with a stately grace . It 's perfect listening for a midsummer night when the temperature is just a bit too hot for comfort . '' </P>
who sings the song in the heat of the night
who sings the song in the heat of the night
Ray Charles
Ray Charles