Leave a Light On (Belinda Carlisle song)

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"Leave a Light On"
LeaveaLightOn.jpg
Single by Belinda Carlisle
from the album Runaway Horses
B-side"Shades of Michaelangelo"
ReleasedSeptember 25, 1989
GenrePop
Length4:15
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Rick Nowels
Belinda Carlisle singles chronology
"Love Never Dies"
(1988) 		"Leave a Light On"
(1989) 		"La Luna"
(1989)

"Leave a Light On" is a pop song written by Rick Nowels and Ellen Shipley, produced by Nowels for American singer Belinda Carlisle's third solo album, Runaway Horses (1989). Released as a single, it narrowly missed the top 10 in the United States, peaking at number 11. It fared better elsewhere, reaching the top five in several countries, including Australia, Austria, Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.

Overview[]

Released at the end of 1989 on CD, 7-inch vinyl, and 12-inch vinyl, "Leave a Light On" became a top-ten hit in Australia, Austria, Canada, the Netherlands, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. In the United States "Leave a Light On" peaked at number 11, affording Carlisle her final US top-twenty hit.

"Leave a Light On" features George Harrison on slide guitar; Carlisle recalls: "Rick [Nowels] said we should get someone cool and with a distinctive style to play the lead guitar part. I thought for a moment and said 'What about George Harrison?' I had met George briefly a few years earlier in San Remo Italy and Morgan [Mason, Carlisle's husband] through his work on Sex Lies and Videotape" - a film Mason had produced for Harrison's HandMade Films - "knew someone who was close to [Harrison] and able to get word to him. George responded right away, saying he'd love to help out."[1]

There are four versions of the song. The album version and the 7" Edit were mixed by Shelly Yakus and Steve McMillan. The other two, mixed by , are the Extended Mix and an edit of this titled the Kamikazee Mix; the latter is included on Carlisle's "Vision of You" CD single.

Music video[]

The music video was directed by Peter Care.[2]

Track listings[]

US and Canadian 7-inch single[3]

  1. "Leave a Light On" — 4:15
  2. "Shades of Michaelangelo" — 5:52

UK CD single[4]

  1. "Leave a Light On" (7-inch version)
  2. "Shades of Michaelangelo"
  3. "Leave a Light On" (extended mix)

UK 12-inch single[5]

A1. "Leave a Light On" (extended mix)
B1. "Leave a Light On" (7-inch version)
B2. "Shades of Michaelangelo"

Personnel[]

Charts and certifications[]

Cover versions[]

  • (nl) recorded "Leave a Light On" as part of a medley on their 1990 album Country Love Songs.
  • A eurotrance cover version of the song by Dream Factory featuring Jessica Palmer was released in 2007.
  • A Hi-NRG version of "Leave a Light On" was recorded in 2013 by Nicki French.
  • In 2013, retro synthpop producer/remixer Yisraelee produced a cover version of the track.[28]
  • In 2016, South African four-piece band 4Werke (4Warm) released a cover version on their self-titled album.

[29]

Popular culture[]

  • The single can be heard in a 1991 episode of the TV sitcom Out of This World entitled "I Want My Evie TV".

References[]

  1. ^ Carlisle, Belinda (2010). Lips Unsealed: a memoir. New York City: Three Rivers Press (Random House). p. 153. ISBN 978-0-307-46350-0.
  2. ^ Video on YouTube
  3. ^ Leave a Light On (US & Canadian 7-inch single vinyl disc). Belinda Carlisle. MCA Records. 1989. MCA-53706.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ^ Leave a Light On (UK CD single liner notes). Belinda Carlisle. Virgin Records. 1989. VSCDT 1210, 662 719 -211.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ Leave a Light On (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Belinda Carlisle. Virgin Records. 1989. VST1210.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ "Belinda Carlisle – Leave a Light On". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  7. ^ "Belinda Carlisle – Leave a Light On" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  8. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 8678." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  9. ^ Danish Singles Chart 3 November 1989
  10. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6 no. 44. November 4, 1989. p. IV. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  11. ^ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
  12. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Leave a Light On". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  13. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 49, 1989" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  14. ^ "Belinda Carlisle – Leave a Light On" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  15. ^ "Belinda Carlisle – Leave a Light On". Top 40 Singles.
  16. ^ "Belinda Carlisle – Leave a Light On". Singles Top 100.
  17. ^ "Belinda Carlisle – Leave a Light On". Swiss Singles Chart.
  18. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  19. ^ "Belinda Carlisle Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  20. ^ "Belinda Carlisle Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  21. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Belinda Carlisle – Leave a Light On". GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  22. ^ "1989 Dutch Singles Chart" (in Dutch). Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  23. ^ "End of Year Chart – Top 50 Singles of 1989". mostynhouseschool.com. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  24. ^ a b "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles 1990" (50). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  25. ^ "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1990" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  26. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-05-17.
  27. ^ "British single certifications – Belinda Carlisle – Leave a Light On". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  28. ^ Soundcloud: Yisraelee - Leave a Light On (Retrographic Instrumental)
  29. ^ "Leave the Light on for Me". Amazon.
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