The Witch's Promise

The Witch's Promise is a single by the British rock band Jethro Tull, released in January 1970, on the Chrysalis label.[3] It reached No. 4 in the UK Singles Chart,[1] and was promoted by an appearance on the British chart show Top of the Pops.[4] The B-side was "Teacher", an alternate version of which later appeared on the US release of the album Benefit.[5] In the United States the single was released on the Reprise label.[6]

"The Witch's Promise"
Single by Jethro Tull
B-side"Teacher"
Released24 January 1970[1]
Recorded19 December 1969[2]
StudioMorgan Studios, London
GenreProgressive rock, folk rock
Length3:48
LabelChrysalis
Songwriter(s)Ian Anderson
Producer(s)Ian Anderson, Terry Ellis
Jethro Tull singles chronology
"Bourée"
(1969)		 "The Witch's Promise"
(1970)		 "Inside"
(1970)

Background

The song was recorded at Morgan Studios, London on 19 December 1969.[2][7] It was intended to be a follow-up to the group's two previous singles, "Living in the Past" and "Sweet Dream", which had been top ten hits.[8] Musically, it developed from the style heard on the group's previous album, Stand Up, discarding the blues influences that the band had started with, and steered towards folk.[9]

The single was the first recording to feature keyboardist John Evan, who would be a key member of Jethro Tull throughout the 1970s. He was sharing a flat with frontman Ian Anderson at the time, and agreed to perform as a session musician. This led to an offer to join the band full-time.[10] The track is one of the few recorded by Jethro Tull to feature the Mellotron, a tape replay keyboard that could emulate a string section,[11] and the only single released by the band to feature the instrument.[12]

"The Witch's Promise" was intended to be the last standalone single from the group, that was not taken from an LP. Anderson said the group would issue singles from future albums in order to gain radio play, but he was not particularly interested in promoting them.[9]

The song appeared in a remix version on both the UK and US version of the compilation album Living in the Past (1972).

Personnel

Additional personnel

Covers

English rock band All About Eve covered the song on a 10" vinyl release of their 1989 single "December".[13]

References

Citations

  1. "Jethro Tull". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  2. Rabey 2013, p. 64.
  3. Rees 1998, p. 193.
  4. Rabey 2013, p. 66.
  5. Rabey 2013, pp. 64,68.
  6. "Jethro Tull – The Witch's Promise". Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  7. Living In The Past (Media notes). Chrysalis Records. 1972. CJT1.
  8. Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. p. 2002. ISBN 978-0-857-12595-8.
  9. Rees 1998, p. 35.
  10. Rabey 2013, pp. 64–65.
  11. Smolko 2013, p. 9.
  12. Thompson, Andy (1999–2018). "Jethro Tull". Planet Mellotron. Retrieved 22 September 2018.CS1 maint: date format (link)
  13. All About Eve – December (Media notes). Mercury. 1989. EVENB 11 876 439-9.

Sources

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