The band wrote and jammed songs in a small garden shed turned studio in the backyard of singer Clive Farrington's dad's house.

Keyboardist Michael Floreale was experimenting with the music to "The Promise" one night in the shed, and Clive came in and started singing a harmony.

William Cooper of AllMusic spoke of the song in a review of the When in Rome album, writing, "The 1988 hit "The Promise" was essentially a carbon copy of New Order's radio-friendly dance-rock.

Dark yet catchy, boasting a throbbing dance rhythm, a singalong chorus, and a hypnotic melody, 'The Promise' certainly deserved the success.

After the release of the group's self-titled debut album, the song was re-released and peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100.