"Promises" was released as a 7-inch vinyl single in the United States, Canada, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Australia, France, Spain, the United Kingdom and Italy in September 1978. With the age of digital music, the song is available as a digital music download in nearly every country. Besides being released as a single, the track appears on various compilation albums including Timepieces: The Best of Eric Clapton (1982), Backtrackin' (1984), The Cream of Eric Clapton (1987), Crossroads (1988), The Cream of Clapton (1995) and Complete Clapton (2007). In total, the title has been released on over 15 albums.

The release was especially successful in the United States reaching number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, as well as peaking at number six on the magazine's Adult Contemporary chart. It also reached position 82 on the Top Country Singles chart. In Canada, the single ranked at seven on the national singles chart and reached #24 on the Canadian Adult Contemporary chart. Additionally, it charted up to position 12 on the CHUM charts in Canada. In New Zealand, a re-entry reached number 35 on the country's official music chart. In the Netherlands, "Promises" reached #40 on the Top 100 singles chart and stayed on the week for seven weeks. It also reached position three on the Dutch Top 40 "tip parade" (songs bubbling under the main Top 40). In France, the album was listed unter the artist name "Eric Clapton & His Band" and peaked at number 71. In Australia the song peaked at number 26, although in the United Kingdom it only made number 37. In Norway, the release peaked at number one on the Country Singles chart, which had been introduced that year and was removed from the VG-lista in 1980.

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