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

Grunge Bands Quiz

Grunge Bands QuizMusic Quiz

If the name Citizen Dick means anything to you, there's a chance you'll get some of these right.

Michael Franti

Michael FrantiSongwriter Interviews

Franti tells the story behind his hit "Say Hey (I Love You)" and explains why yoga is an integral part of his lifestyle and his Soulshine tour.

Amy Grant

Amy GrantSongwriter Interviews

The top Contemporary Christian artist of all time on song inspirations and what she learned from Johnny Carson.

Booker T. Jones

Booker T. JonesSongwriter Interviews

The Stax legend on how he cooked up "Green Onions," the first time he and Otis Redding saw hippies, and if he'll ever play a digital organ.

The Evolution of "Ophelia"

The Evolution of "Ophelia"Song Writing

How five songs portray Shakespeare's character Ophelia.

Mick Jones of Foreigner

Mick Jones of ForeignerSongwriter Interviews

Foreigner's songwriter/guitarist tells the stories behind the songs "Juke Box Hero," "I Want To Know What Love Is," and many more.