"His Eye Is on the Sparrow" is a Gospel hymn. Although today it is a staple of African-American worship services, the song was originally written in 1905 by two white songwriters, lyricist Civilla Durfee Martin and composer Charles Hutchinson Gabriel.
Civilla Martin, who wrote the lyrics, said this about her inspiration to write the song based in the scriptures outlined above: "Early in the spring of 1905, my husband and I were sojourning in Elmira, New York. We contracted a deep friendship for a couple by the name of Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle—true saints of God. Mrs. Doolittle had been bedridden for nearly twenty years. Her husband was an incurable cripple who had to propel himself to and from his business in a wheel chair. Despite their afflictions, they lived happy Christian lives, bringing inspiration and comfort to all who knew them. One day while we were visiting with the Doolittles, my husband commented on their bright hopefulness and asked them for the secret of it. Mrs. Doolittle's reply was simple: "His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me." The beauty of this simple expression of boundless faith gripped the hearts and fired the imagination of Dr. Martin and me. The hymn "His Eye Is on the Sparrow" was the outcome of that experience".
The song was originally contained in "Revival Hymns: a Collection of New and Standard Hymns for Gospel and social meetings, Sunday schools and Young People's Societies", edited by Daniel B. Towner and Chas. M. Alexander and published in 1905 by the Bible Institute Colportage Association, Chicago.
The song was also contained in "Alexander's Gospel Songs", compiled by Charles Alexander and published in 1910 by the Fleming H. Revell Company.
William McEwan, born in Glasgow, Scotland, had learned the song while on a journey to America from 1908 to 1911.
(During this period he also had learned another song penned by Charles Gabriel: "Will The Circle Be Unbroken") SEE ----Joop's Musical Flowers: Will The Circle Be Unbroken (1912).
When McEwan came back to England from his journey to America, McEwan immediately recorded the song, amongst 24 other gospelsongs he had learned in the US.
(o) William McEwan (1912) (as "His Eye Is on the Sparrow")
Recorded November 1911 in London
Released in 1912 on Columbia 1852
SEE PAGE 121 on 029I-COLXX1925XXX-0000A0.pdf
In 1927 William McEwan recorded the song again.
On 3rd June 1927 he boarded the SS Caronia in New York, bound for Plymouth. Presumably he completed his intended tour of Scotland and Wales during the summer before going back into the studio in London in August.
(c) William McEwan (1928) (as "His Eye Is on the Sparrow")
Recorded August 11, 1927 in London
His 2nd version was released in 1928 on Columbia 4574 (UK)
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(c) Madame Magdalene Tartt Lawrence (1923) (as "His Eye Is on the Sparrow")
Piano W. Arthur Calhoun
Recorded December 1922 in Chicago, IL
Matrix 5090.
Released in 1923 on Paramount 12092
(c) A.E. Greenlaw (1923) (as "His Eye Is on the Sparrow")
Recorded around April 1923
Released on the Black Swan label: BS 2124
On this release they have accidentally changed the composers of the B-side with those of the A-side.
Composers should be (Gabriel / Martin)
In 1924 the same recording was re-released on Paramount 12110
(c) Hattie Parker with Pace Jubilee Singers (1927) (as "His Eye Is on the Sparrow")
Recorded April 18, 1927 in Chicago
Released on Brunswick 7008 and on Supertone 2241 in 1927
and on Vocalion 1167 in 1928
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(c) Norfolk Jubilee Quartette (1927) (as "His Eye Is on the Sparrow")
Recorded September 1927 in New York
Released on Paramount 12630
And as Georgia Sacred Singers on Broadway 5048 and Herwin 93028
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Or here:
(c) Coleman Brothers (1944) (as "His Eye Is on the Sparrow")
Recorded March 16, 1944 in New York
Released in 1944 on Decca 8662
Re-released in 1949 on Coral 65003
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In February 1947 the Coleman Brothers re-recorded the song for the Manor-label
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The Soul Stirrers also recorded "His Eye Is On the Sparrow", a few years before Sam Cooke became their lead-singer.
(c) Soul Stirrers (1946) (as "His Eye Is on the Sparrow")
Recorded October 10, 1946 in the TooGood studios in Chicago, IL
Released on Aladdin-label #2004
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A few months later the Soul Stirrers also recorded a version for J. Mayo Williams’ Harlem Records.
The Soul Stirrers under contract to Aladdin when Williams recorded them, they used the Five Gospel Stirrers moniker. Although the group recorded in Chicago for Aladdin, the matrix series on the sides they made for Williams are from New York City. According to Hayes and Laughton, the Soul Stirrers who recorded for Williams were Robert H. Harris and Senior Roy Crain (tenors); James Heywood Medlock, Thomas L. Bruster, and R. B. Robinson (baritones); and Jesse James Farley (bass), working unaccompanied. Most likely this version was recorded early 1947 and was initially released on Ivin Ballen’s Philadelphia-based 20th Century Records label.
(c) Five Gospel Stirrers (1947) (as "His Eye Is on the Sparrow")
Recorded early 1947 in New York
Released on 20th Century Records 20-54 A
This recording was also released on J. Mayo Williams’ Harlem Records, where they were billed as The Five Gospel Souls.
(c) Five Gospel Souls (1947) (as "His Eye Is on the Sparrow")
Recorded early 1947 in New York
Released on Harlem Records #1013
As I mentioned above the Five Gospel Souls and the Five Gospel Stirrers were in fact the Soul Stirrers.
(c) Bill Kenny (of the Ink Spots) and the Song Spinners (1951)
(as "His Eye Is on the Sparrow")
Recorded March 20, 1951 in New York City
Matrix 80723
Released on Decca 14564
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(c) Mahalia Jackson (1951) (as "His Eye Is on the Sparrow")
Recorded July 17, 1951
Released on Apollo 246
Listen here :
(c) Ethel Waters (1952) (as "His Eye Is on the Sparrow")
In the 1952 movie "The Member of the Wedding"
With Ethel Waters as Bernice Sadie Brown.
Watch it here:
(c) Fairfield Four (1953) (as "His Eye Is on the Sparrow")
Recorded January 1953 in Nashville.
Released on Dot # 1160
Listen here:
Or to a sample here:
(c) Harmonizing 4 (1958) (as "His Eye Is on the Sparrow")
Listen here:
(c) Marvin Gaye (1968) (as "His Eye Is on the Sparrow")
Released on Motown M 1128
Also on the album "In Loving Memory" (Tribute to Berry Gordy's sister, Mrs Loucye Gordy Wakefield)
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( c) Diana Ross (1994) (as "His Eye Is on the Sparrow")
Listen here:
(c) Deniece Williams (1989) (as "His Eye Is on the Sparrow")
Listen here:
(c) Lauryn Hill and Tanya Blount ( (in movie "Sister Act 2")
(as "His Eye Is on the Sparrow")
Watch it here:
And on the soundtrack:
Listen here:
Whitney Houston recorded a version for the soundtrack of the 2012 remake of the musical film Sparkle.
RCA Records released the song as the second single from the album on June 8, 2012, four months after Houston's death. The song made its debut only one day after the premiere of "Celebrate". AllMusic called it a "piano, organ, and choir" showcase for Houston, citing it as a highlight of the soundtrack although admitting "Houston sounds as commanding as one can expect from a later recording."
Entertainment Weekly editor Melissa Maerz called it "a gorgeously rippling solo" with Houston "testifying ...] that Jesus is watching over her."
Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone panned the cover, saying "Houston sings – and croaks – in a voice octaves lower than in her prime. At times the song has a ravaged magnificence, but mostly it's painful."
Listen here:
More versions here:
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