"Leave a Light On" | ||||
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Single by Belinda Carlisle | ||||
from the album Runaway Horses | ||||
B-side | "Shades of Michaelangelo" | |||
Released | September 25, 1989 | |||
Length | 4:15 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Rick Nowels | |||
Belinda Carlisle singles chronology | ||||
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"Leave a Light On" is a song written by Rick Nowels and Ellen Shipley, produced by Nowels for American rock singer Belinda Carlisle's third solo studio album, Runaway Horses (1989). It was released as the album's lead single in September 1989; in Japan, "(We Want) The Same Thing" was issued as the lead single concurrently with "Leave a Light On" the following month. [1] [2] The single 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. The song's music video was directed by Peter Care.
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 of the Beatles 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." [3]
There are four versions of the song. The album version and the 7-inch edit were mixed by Shelly Yakus and Steve McMillan. The other two, mixed by Jason Corsaro, 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.
David Giles from Music Week named "Leave a Light On" a Single of the Week, writing, "No great departure from the formula pop of her earlier singles, with glossy production undercut by a rock edge as though to indicate some serious intent beneath the glossy surface." [4] Richard Lowe from Smash Hits said, "Magnificent. I'm a sucker for thoroughly predictable American rock records with whistleable tunes, chugging guitars, big blustering choruses and words about nothing in particular except for general lovey-doveyness. And so are lots of people, which is why this'll be a giant hit. Quite right too." [5]
The accompanying music video for "Leave a Light On" was directed by Peter Care. [6]
In the music video, Carlisle is seen driving through the desert, filling up her car tank at a nearby gas station, singing the song in different outfits, backgrounds and locations, and walking down the metropolitan streets of Las Vegas where she poses for pictures and laughs while sharing moments of levity with tourists.
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Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
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Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA) [37] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
Sweden (GLF) [39] | Gold | 25,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [40] | Silver | 200,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
"Circle in the Sand" is a song recorded by American singer Belinda Carlisle for her second studio album, Heaven on Earth (1987). It was written by Rick Nowels, who also produced it, and Ellen Shipley. "Circle in the Sand" was the third single released from Heaven on Earth in May 1988. It reached number seven, becoming Carlisle's fourth and last top-10 hit in the United States. It also charted at number five in Canada, ending the year as the country's 69th-most-successful single.
"(We Want) The Same Thing" is a song by American singer Belinda Carlisle. Written by Rick Nowels and Ellen Shipley, it was produced by Nowels for Carlisle's third album, Runaway Horses (1989). In Japan, it was released simultaneously with "Leave a Light On" as the album's lead single on October 21, 1989, while in the United Kingdom, it was issued as the album's fifth single in October 1990. To help promote the single in the UK, Virgin Records released a deluxe 12-inch vinyl box set with free stickers and a picture disc single on CD, in addition to standard formats. The single peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart and spent 10 weeks in the top 75.
"Rooms on Fire" is a song by American singer and songwriter Stevie Nicks from her fourth solo studio album The Other Side of the Mirror (1989). Written by Nicks and Rick Nowels, and produced by Rupert Hine, the song was released on April 24, 1989, by the Modern label, as the lead single from The Other Side of the Mirror. The 12-inch single was released in a limited-edition poster sleeve in certain territories.
"Secret Love" is a song by musical group the Bee Gees. It was released as the lead single from their 19th studio album, High Civilization (1991), on 18 February 1991 by Warner Bros. Records. It is an up-tempo song with a Supremes style similar to the 1986 Diana Ross hit "Chain Reaction", which was also written by the Bee Gees. The single reached the top 10 in several European countries, but was not released as a single in the United States.
"I Didn't Want to Need You" is a song by American rock band Heart. It was composed by veteran songwriter Diane Warren and released as the second single from the band's 10th studio album, Brigade (1990). "I Didn't Want to Need You" peaked at number 23 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 14 on the Canadian RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart. It also reached the top 40 in Ireland and Sweden and number 47 on the UK Singles Chart.
"Summer Rain" is a song written by Robbie Seidman and Maria Vidal, produced by Rick Nowels for American singer Belinda Carlisle's third album, Runaway Horses (1989). The power ballad is about a man who goes away to war and leaves his wife, saying that nothing will change—they will be together forever and always. Although the conflict is unidentified, images in the video of a transport aircraft on an airfield and troops parachuting from transport aircraft suggest the man is an airborne soldier. The song is set in the present as his widow sings it, remembering the last time she saw him.
Heaven on Earth is the second solo studio album by American singer Belinda Carlisle. It was released on October 5, 1987, by MCA Records. Three singles reached the top 10 of the US Billboard Hot 100, including the number-one single and Carlisle's signature song "Heaven Is a Place on Earth". The album has been certified triple Platinum in the United Kingdom and Platinum in many countries, including the United States.
"Sweet Surrender" is the first single from British band Wet Wet Wet's third studio album, Holding Back the River (1989). It was released on 18 September 1989 and reached number six on the UK Singles Chart. In Ireland, "Sweet Surrender" peaked at number one, becoming the group's second of three number-one singles there. In Australia, "Sweet Surrender" reached number seven on the ARIA Singles Chart in May 1990 and was certified gold.
"Four Letter Word" is the fourth single from English pop singer Kim Wilde's sixth studio album, Close (1988). The song was issued as a single in November 1988, marking Wilde's last release of a track written by her father and brother, who had written the majority of her early hits together. "Four Letter Word" became Wilde's third consecutive UK top-10 single from Close, reaching number six. It also peaked within the top 10 in Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, and the Netherlands. An extended version as well as a "late night" remix of "Four Letter Word" were released on the 12-inch and CD singles.
"I Get Weak" is a song by American singer Belinda Carlisle from her second studio album, Heaven on Earth (1987). Written by Diane Warren and produced by Rick Nowels, the song was released as the second single from Heaven on Earth in January 1988. "I Get Weak" reached number two on the US Billboard Hot 100, number four on Canada's RPM 100 Singles chart, and number 10 on the UK Singles Chart.
"In Too Deep" is a song written by Rick Nowels and produced by Andrew Farriss for Jenny Morris's fourth studio album Salvation Jane (1995). It was released as the album's fourth single but was not successful, peaking at number 143 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart.
"Big Scary Animal" (titled "It's Too Real (Big Scary Animal)" in the United States and Japan) is a song written by American singer-songwriter Belinda Carlisle with Charlotte Caffey and Ralph Schuckett, and produced by Schuckett for Carlisle's fifth studio album, Real (1993). The song was released on September 13, 1993 by Virgin Records, as the album's lead single. The CD single includes two B-sides: "Windows of the World", also from the Real album, and "Change", which is an eight-track demo. "Big Scary Animal" peaked at number 12 on the UK Singles Chart, reached number 26 in Iceland, and became a minor hit in Australia, Canada, and Germany. Three music videos were produced for the song.
"Live Your Life Be Free" is a song written by Rick Nowels and Ellen Shipley, and produced by Nowels for American singer Belinda Carlisle's fourth album, Live Your Life Be Free (1991). Released on September 16, 1991 by Virgin and Offside, the single reached the top 20 in Australia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The song's music video was directed by Nick Egan.
"Runaway Horses" is a song by American singer Belinda Carlisle. It was released as the fourth single from her third album, Runaway Horses (1989), in February 1990. "Runaway Horses" reached the top 50 in Australia and the United Kingdom. The music video was directed by Greg Masuak.
"Vision of You" is a song by American singer Belinda Carlisle, released as the fifth single from her third solo album, Runaway Horses (1989). The song was released on May 14, 1990, in the United Kingdom and reached number 41. A year later, it was remixed and re-released on 12-inch vinyl with a live version of "Heaven Is a Place on Earth", but this release charted lower, at number 71.
"Do You Feel Like I Feel?" is a song by American singer Belinda Carlisle, released as the second single from her fourth studio album, Live Your Life Be Free (1991). It became Carlisle's last single to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 73.
"Little Black Book" is the fourth and final single from American singer Belinda Carlisle's fourth studio album, Live Your Life Be Free (1991). Released on August 17, 1992, it was Carlisle's first single containing a co-writing credit from her. American singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow performs the background vocals under the name "Cherryl Crowe". One of the single's B-side, "The Air You Breathe", was originally performed by Stéphanie in 1991 under the title "You Don't Die from Love".
"Always Breaking My Heart" is the second single from American singer Belinda Carlisle's sixth studio album, A Woman and a Man (1996). The song was written by Per Gessle from Swedish band Roxette, and a demo of the song recorded by Gessle was later released as a B-side of his single "Do You Wanna Be My Baby?", as well as the 2009 reissue of Crash! Boom! Bang! (1994). Released on September 9, 1996, "Always Breaking My Heart" peaked at number eight on the UK Singles Chart and number 50 in Australia. It remains Carlisle's final UK top-10 hit.
"As Long as You Follow" is a song by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac. Performed by Christine McVie and written alongside her then-husband, Eddy Quintela, the song was one of two new tracks on the band's 1988 greatest hits album, along with "No Questions Asked". Lead guitarist Rick Vito singled out the guitar solo on "As Long as You Follow" as his best work with Fleetwood Mac.
"I'm Not Scared" is a song by British pop band Eighth Wonder, released in February 1988 by CBS as the first single from their debut album, Fearless (1988). The song achieved success in France, Italy, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and West Germany, where it was a top-10 hit. Written by the Pet Shop Boys, the original version contains several words in French. "J'ai pas peur" is the French adaptation of "I'm Not Scared" and is included as the B-side to the 7-inch and 12-inch singles. The 12-inch "disco mix" combines the two versions into one long mix. Pet Shop Boys also released their own version of the song, with Neil Tennant vocals, on the album Introspective.
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