The Promise (When in Rome song)

"The Promise"
Single by When in Rome
from the album When in Rome
Released7 September 1987 (UK)[1]
  • 1988 (US)
Recorded1987
Genre
Length3:40 (single)
9:53 (12" mix)
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)
  • Clive Farrington
  • Michael Floreale
  • Andrew Mann
Producer(s)
When in Rome singles chronology
"The Promise"
(1987) 		"Heaven Knows"
(1988)
Music video
"The Promise" on YouTube

"The Promise" is the debut single by the British synth-pop band When in Rome. It was first released in 1987 on 10 Records, as the lead single from their self-titled debut album. It was written by all three band members: Clive Farrington, Andrew Mann and Michael Floreale. The song was released in the U.S. in 1988 and reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It is the band's biggest commercial hit.

In 2020, Farrington and Mann, in collaboration with the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and Slovenia Symphonic Film Orchestra, released a 30th anniversary orchestral edition of "The Promise" on both CD and vinyl. The release contains eleven tracks, including remixes, extended mixes, and instrumentals.[6]

The song was covered by country singer Sturgill Simpson in 2014 for his album Metamodern Sounds in Country Music, and featured in the HBO television series The Leftovers.

  1. ^ "45cat - When In Rome - The Promise / Tonight - 10 Records - UK - TEN 186". Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  2. ^ Cooper, Duncan (18 June 2014). "Watch Sturgill Simpson's Heartmelting Cover of "The Promise," That Old New Wave Hit". The Fader. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  3. ^ O'Connor Marotta, Michael (18 February 2016). "Song Premiere: Johnson & McAuley arrive with a blissful cover of '80s classic 'The Promise'". Vanyaland. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  4. ^ Mende, Spencer (1 October 2018). "Sturgill Simpson offers impassioned, driving performance at Roots N Blues N BBQ". The Maneater. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  5. ^ Cooper, William. "When in Rome - When in Rome | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  6. ^ "ADAY062 Farrington And Mann "The Promise"". August Day. Retrieved 17 April 2020.