Witchcraft

Album: All the Way (1957)
Charted: 12 6
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Frank Sinatra is enchanted in this '50s standard, where he's met a woman with charms that are too powerful to resist. She must be practicing witchcraft. The song was a great showcase for Sinatra's vocal dexterity, as he could effortlessly deliver lines like:

    When you arouse the need in me
    My heart says yes indeed in me
  • "Witchcraft" was composed by Cy Coleman with lyrics by Carolyn Leigh. Leigh had previously penned the words to Sinatra's 1954 hit "Young At Heart."

    While some sources suggest that Coleman originally composed an instrumental version for the musical revue Take Five in 1957, others claim the "Witchcraft" used in that production was an entirely different song.
  • While he was filming Pal Joey alongside co-stars Rita Hayworth and Kim Novak, the execs back at Capitol Records were itching to release a new Sinatra single. At the suggestion of his producer, Voyle Gilmore, he chose "Witchcraft," which he would record in an arrangement by Nelson Riddle.
  • This was originally released as a single and was later included on the 1961 compilation album All the Way.
  • Sinatra recorded the song two more times. First, for Sinatra's Sinatra in 1963, then as a duet with Anita Baker for the 1993 album Duets.
  • Elvis Presley recorded a different song called "Witchcraft" (written by Dave Bartholomew and Pearl King) that charted at #32 in 1963.
  • This was included on the soundtrack for the 2015 film adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey.
  • Robert Palmer included this on 1992's Ridin' High, a collection of Tin Pan Alley standards. His version landed at #50 on the Hot 100.

Comments: 3

  • Billie from New YorkAs much as I love (love, love) the Sinatra version, Ella does an incredible rendition with a rarely heard verse in her Twelve Nights in Hollywood collection.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn May 12th 1960, the Frank Sinatra TV special "Welcome Home Elvis" aired on the ABC-TV network...
    During the broadcast Elvis performed "Witchcraft", while Frank did "Love Me Tender"...
    As stated above, Elvis' covered version of the song peaked at #32 in 1963, it was the B-side of "Bossa Nova Baby", which peaked at #8...
    And Mr. Sinatra featured "Love Me Tender" on his 1980 album titled 'Trilogy: Past, Present, Future'.
  • Shane from Usa MichiganI'm going to bring this kind of music back! I do a Country version of this.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.

Producer Ron Nevison

Producer Ron NevisonSong Writing

Ron Nevison explains in very clear terms the Quadrophenia concept and how Heart staged their resurgence after being dropped by their record company.

Black Sabbath

Black SabbathFact or Fiction

Dwarfs on stage with an oversize Stonehenge set? Dabbling in Satanism? Find out which Spinal Tap-moments were true for Black Sabbath.

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")Song Writing

Director Mark Pellington on Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," and music videos he made for U2, Jon Bon Jovi and Imagine Dragons.

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Bob Daisley

Bob DaisleySongwriter Interviews

Bob was the bass player and lyricist for the first two Ozzy Osbourne albums. Here's how he wrote songs like "Crazy Train" and "Mr. Crowley" with Ozzy and Randy Rhoads.