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Leave a Light On (Belinda Carlisle song)
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Wikipedia article
"'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."
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 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.
Music video
The music video was directed by Peter Care.
Track listings
* 'US and Canadian 7-inch single'
# "Leave a Light On" 4:15
# "Shades of Michaelangelo" 5:52
* 'UK CD single'
# "Leave a Light On" (7-inch version)
# "Shades of Michaelangelo"
# "Leave a Light On" (extended mix)
* 'UK 12-inch single'
:A1. "Leave a Light On" (extended mix)
:B1. "Leave a Light On" (7-inch version)
:B2. "Shades of Michaelangelo"
Personnel
* Produced by Rick Nowels
* Vocals by Belinda Carlisle
* Slide guitar by George Harrison
* Guitar by Rick Nowels and X.Y. Jones
* Keyboards by Charles Judge
* Twelve string guitar by Ben Schultz
* Bass by John Pierce
* Drums by Rudy Richman
* Background vocals by Ellen Shipley, Maria Vidal, Donna De Lory and Bekka Bramlett
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
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.[https://soundcloud.com/yisraelee/yisraelee-leave-a-light-on Soundcloud: Yisraelee - Leave a Light On (Retrographic Instrumental)]
*In 2016, South African four-piece band 4Werke (4Warm) released a cover version on their self-titled album.
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
Category:1989 singles
Category:1989 songs
Category:Belinda Carlisle songs
Category:MCA Records singles
Category:Song recordings produced by Rick Nowels
Category:Songs written by Ellen Shipley
Category:Songs written by Rick Nowels
Category:Virgin Records singles
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