# The Witch's Promise > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/The_Witch's_Promise > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/The_Witch's_Promise.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Witch's_Promise > Source revision: 1341059435 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) 1970 single by Jethro Tull "The Witch's Promise" Single by Jethro Tull B-side "Teacher" Released 16 January 1970[1] Recorded 19 December 1969[2] Studio Morgan Studios, London[3] Genre Folk rock[4] freak folk[5] Length 3:48 Label Chrysalis Songwriter Ian Anderson Producers Ian Anderson, Terry Ellis Jethro Tull singles chronology "Sweet Dream" (1969) "The Witch's Promise" (1970) "Inside" (1970) "**The Witch's Promise**" is a song by British [rock](/source/Rock_music) band [Jethro Tull](/source/Jethro_Tull_(band)), released as a single in January 1970,[1] on the [Chrysalis](/source/Chrysalis_Records) label.[6] It reached No. 4 on the [UK Singles Chart](/source/UK_Singles_Chart),[7] and was promoted by an appearance on the British chart show *[Top of the Pops](/source/Top_of_the_Pops)*.[8] The [B-side](/source/B-side) was an alternate version of "[Teacher](/source/Teacher_(Jethro_Tull_song))", which later appeared on the US release of the album *[Benefit](/source/Benefit_(album))*.[9] In the U.S., the single was released on the [Reprise](/source/Reprise_Records) label.[10] ## Background The song was recorded at [Morgan Studios](/source/Morgan_Studios), London, on 19 December 1969.[2][3] It was intended to be a follow-up to the band's two previous singles, "[Living in the Past](/source/Living_in_the_Past_(song))" and "[Sweet Dream](/source/Sweet_Dream_(Jethro_Tull_song))", which had been top ten hits.[11] Musically, it developed from the style heard on the group's previous album, *[Stand Up](/source/Stand_Up_(Jethro_Tull_album))*, discarding the [blues](/source/Blues) influences that the band had started with, and steered towards [folk](/source/Folk_music).[12] *[Record World](/source/Record_World)* said that "Jethro Tull sounds strangely like a medieval Scottish troubador" and called "Ian Anderson's flute and vocal both excellent."[13] The single was the first recording to feature keyboardist [John Evan](/source/John_Evan), who would be an important member of Jethro Tull throughout the 1970s. He was sharing a flat with frontman [Ian Anderson](/source/Ian_Anderson) at the time, and agreed to perform as a [session musician](/source/Session_musician). He played Hammond organ on "Teacher" and both piano and [Mellotron](/source/Mellotron) on "The Witch's Promise".[14] This led to an offer to join the band full-time.[15] 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](/source/String_section),[16] and the only single released by the band to feature the instrument.[17] "The Witch's Promise" was intended to be the last standalone single from the band that was not taken from an LP. Anderson said the band would issue singles from future albums in order to gain radio play, but he was not particularly interested in promoting them.[12] The song appeared as a remixed version on both the UK and US releases of the compilation album *[Living in the Past](/source/Living_in_the_Past_(album))* (1972).[3] ## Personnel - [Ian Anderson](/source/Ian_Anderson) – vocals, flute - [Martin Barre](/source/Martin_Barre) – guitar - [Glenn Cornick](/source/Glenn_Cornick) – bass - [Clive Bunker](/source/Clive_Bunker) – drums **Additional personnel** - [John Evan](/source/John_Evan) – piano, [Mellotron](/source/Mellotron)[16] ## Covers English rock band [All About Eve](/source/All_About_Eve_(band)) covered the song on a 10" vinyl release of their 1989 single "December".[18] [Mostly Autumn](/source/Mostly_Autumn) side-project [Odin Dragonfly](/source/Mostly_Autumn#Side-projects) covered the song as "Witches Promise" on their 2007 debut, *Offerings*. ## References **Citations** 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-world_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-world_1-1) ["Record Mirror"](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/70s/70/Record-Mirror-1970-01-10-S-OCR.pdf) (PDF). 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTERabey201364_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTERabey201364_2-1) [Rabey 2013](#CITEREFRabey2013), p. 64. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-linernotes_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-linernotes_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-linernotes_3-2) ["JETHRO TULL LIVING IN THE PAST - Original 1972 double album liner notes"](http://aln2.albumlinernotes.com/Living_In_The_Past.html). *albumlinernotes*. Retrieved 24 November 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["In Defense of Jethro Tull: Revisiting Ian Anderson's Greatest Songs"](https://www.allmusic.com/blog/post/in-defense-of-jethro-tull-revisiting-ian-andersons-greatest-songs?1669653773724). *[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)*. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Stanley_2024_5-0)** Stanley, Bob (6 February 2024). "Nowhere". [*The Story of the Bee Gees - Children of the World*](https://books.google.com/books?id=9uigEAAAQBAJ&source=gbs_book_other_versions_r&cad=1). New York City: [Pegasus Books](/source/Simon_%26_Schuster). p. 133. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781639365531](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781639365531). Retrieved 28 February 2026. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTERees1998193_6-0)** [Rees 1998](#CITEREFRees1998), p. 193. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-chart_7-0)** ["Jethro Tull"](http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/13506/jethro-tull/). Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 September 2018. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTERabey201366_8-0)** [Rabey 2013](#CITEREFRabey2013), p. 66. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTERabey201364,_68_9-0)** [Rabey 2013](#CITEREFRabey2013), pp. 64, 68. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Jethro Tull – The Witch's Promise"](http://www.45cat.com/record/0899). Retrieved 21 September 2018. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** [Larkin, Colin](/source/Colin_Larkin_(writer)) (2011). *The Encyclopedia of Popular Music*. Omnibus Press. p. 2002. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-857-12595-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-857-12595-8). 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTERees199835_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTERees199835_12-1) [Rees 1998](#CITEREFRees1998), p. 35. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Single Reviews"](https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/70/RW-1970-04-04.pdf) (PDF). *Record World*. 4 April 1970. p. 8. Retrieved 28 April 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Flying_Colours_14-0)** Russo, Greg (2016). [*Flying Colours The Jethro Tull Reference Manual*](http://www.crossfirepublications.com/tull.html). Russo. p. 59. Retrieved 30 May 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTERabey201364–65_15-0)** [Rabey 2013](#CITEREFRabey2013), pp. 64–65. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESmolko20139_16-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESmolko20139_16-1) [Smolko 2013](#CITEREFSmolko2013), p. 9. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Thompson, Andy (1999–2018). ["Jethro Tull"](https://www.planetmellotron.com/revj3.htm#tull). *Planet Mellotron*. Retrieved 22 September 2018. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** *All About Eve – December* (Media notes). Mercury. 1989. EVENB 11 876 439-9. **Sources** - Rabey, Brian (2013). [*A Passion Play: The Story Of Ian Anderson & Jethro Tull*](https://archive.org/details/passionplaystory0000rabe). Soundcheck Books. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-957-14424-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-957-14424-8). - Rees, David (1998). [*Minstrels In The Gallery – A History of Jethro Tull*](https://books.google.com/books?id=MctpQgAACAAJ). FireFly. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-946719-22-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-946719-22-5). - Smolko, Tim (2013). [*Jethro Tull's Thick as a Brick and A Passion Play: Inside Two Long Songs*](https://books.google.com/books?id=6UfFAAAAQBAJ). [Indiana University Press](/source/Indiana_University_Press). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-253-01038-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-253-01038-4). ## External links - ["The Witch's Promise"](https://www.45cat.com/record/wip6077) at 45cat.com v t e Jethro Tull Ian Anderson David Goodier John O'Hara Scott Hammond Jack Clark Mick Abrahams Clive Bunker Glenn Cornick Tony Iommi Martin Barre John Evan Jeffrey Hammond Barriemore Barlow John Glascock Dee Palmer Dave Pegg Mark Craney Eddie Jobson Gerry Conway Peter-John Vettese Paul Burgess Doane Perry Don Airey Maartin Allcock Andrew Giddings Dave Mattacks Jonathan Noyce Florian Opahle Joe Parrish Studio albums This Was Stand Up Benefit Aqualung Thick as a Brick A Passion Play War Child Minstrel in the Gallery Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young to Die! Songs from the Wood Heavy Horses Stormwatch A The Broadsword and the Beast Under Wraps Crest of a Knave Rock Island Catfish Rising Roots to Branches J-Tull Dot Com The Jethro Tull Christmas Album The Zealot Gene RökFlöte Curious Ruminant Live albums Bursting Out Live at Hammersmith '84 A Little Light Music Jethro Tull in Concert Living with the Past Nothing Is Easy: Live at the Isle of Wight 1970 Aqualung Live Live at Montreux 2003 Live at Madison Square Garden 1978 Live at Carnegie Hall 1970 Compilations Living in the Past M.U. – The Best of Jethro Tull Repeat – The Best of Jethro Tull – Vol II Original Masters 20 Years of Jethro Tull: Highlights Nightcap The Best of Jethro Tull – The Anniversary Collection Through the Years The Very Best Of The Best of Acoustic Jethro Tull The Essential 50 for 50 Boxed sets 20 Years of Jethro Tull 25th Anniversary Box Set Videos Slipstream 20 Years of Jethro Tull 25th Anniversary Video Living with the Past A New Day Yesterday Nothing Is Easy: Live at the Isle of Wight 1970 Live at Montreux 2003 Jack in the Green Live at Madison Square Garden 1978 Live at AVO Session Basel Around the World Live Songs "Sunshine Day" "A Song for Jeffrey" "Love Story" "Living in the Past" "Bourée" "Sweet Dream" "The Witch's Promise" "Teacher" "Aqualung" "Cross-Eyed Mary" "Mother Goose" "Hymn 43" "Locomotive Breath" "Life Is a Long Song" "Bungle in the Jungle" "Skating Away on the Thin Ice of the New Day" "Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young to Die" "The Whistler" "Songs from the Wood" "Heavy Horses" "Dun Ringill" Related Discography Members A Billion Hands Concert The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus A Classic Case Thick as a Brick 2 Jethro Tull – The String Quartets Category Authority control databases MusicBrainz work MusicBrainz release group --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [The Witch's Promise](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Witch's_Promise) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Witch's_Promise?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.