Leave a Light On (Belinda Carlisle song)
"Leave a Light On" is a pop song written by Rick Nowels and Ellen Shipley, produced by Nowels for Belinda Carlisle's third solo album Runaway Horses (1989).
"Leave a Light On" | ||||
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Single by Belinda Carlisle | ||||
from the album Runaway Horses | ||||
Released | September 25, 1989 | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 4:15 (Single Edit) 4:38 (Album Version) | |||
Label | MCA, Virgin | |||
Songwriter(s) | Rick Nowels, Ellen Shipley | |||
Producer(s) | Rick Nowels | |||
Belinda Carlisle singles chronology | ||||
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The single narrowly missed the top ten in the US peaking at number 11. It fared much 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]
The single can be heard in a 1991 episode of the TV sitcom Out of This World entitled "I Want My Evie TV".
There are four versions of the song: The album version, and the 7" Edit of the song, this versions were mixed by Shelly Yakus and Steve McMillan. The other two are the Extended Mix and the edit of this mix, called the Kamikazee mix, the later included on Carlisle's "Vision of You" CD single, Jason Corsaro made these two mixes.
Music video
The music video was directed by Peter Care.[2]
B-side
The US/Canada 7" B-side is "Shades Of Michael Angelo" (LP Version) 5:52
Track listing
CD single
- "Leave a Light On"
- "Shades of Michaelangelo"
- "Leave a Light On" (Extended Mix)
US and Canada 7-inch single[3][4]
- "Leave a Light On" — 4:15
- "Shades of Michaelangelo" — 5:46
12" maxi
- "Leave a Light On" (Extended Mix) — 8:05
- "Leave a Light On" (7" Version) — 4:15
- "Shades of Michaelangelo" — 5:46
Personnel
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Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
Certifications
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Cover versions
Grant & Forsyth (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 4 piece band 4Werke (4Warm) released a cover version on their self-titled album. [29]
References
- Carlisle, Belinda (2010). Lips Unsealed: a memoir. NYC: Three Rivers Press (Random House). p. 153. ISBN 978-0-307-46350-0.
- Video on YouTube
- Belinda Carlisle (US 7-inch Single liner notes). Belinda Carlisle. MCA Records. 1989. 53706
- Belinda Carlisle (Canadian 7-inch Single liner notes). Belinda Carlisle. MCA Records. 1989. 53706
- "Australian-charts.com – Belinda Carlisle – Leave a Light On". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- "Austriancharts.at – Belinda Carlisle – Leave a Light On" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
- "Top RPM Singles: Issue 8678." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
- Danish Singles Chart 3 November 1989
- "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6 no. 44. November 4, 1989. p. IV. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
- Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
- "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Leave a Light On". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
- "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 49, 1989" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved December 14, 2018.
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Belinda Carlisle – Leave a Light On" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- "Charts.nz – Belinda Carlisle – Leave a Light On". Top 40 Singles.
- "Notowanie nr412" (in Polish). LP3. January 6, 1990. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
- "Swedishcharts.com – Belinda Carlisle – Leave a Light On". Singles Top 100.
- "Swisscharts.com – Belinda Carlisle – Leave a Light On". Swiss Singles Chart.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- "Belinda Carlisle Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- "Belinda Carlisle Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
- "Offiziellecharts.de – Belinda Carlisle – Leave a Light On". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
- "1989 Dutch Singles Chart" (in Dutch). Retrieved August 19, 2012.
- "End Of Year Chart – Top 50 Singles of 1989". mostynhouseschool.com. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
- "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles 1990" (50). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
- "Top 100 Singles – Jahrescharts 1990" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
- "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden.
- "British single certifications – Belinda Carlisle – Leave a Light On". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Leave a Light On in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
- Soundcloud: Yisraelee - Leave a Light On (Retrographic Instrumental)
- https://www.amazon.com/Leave-Light-Me/dp/B01D5DZ9S6