Leave a Light On (Belinda Carlisle song)

"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.

"Leave a Light On"
Single by Belinda Carlisle
from the album Runaway Horses
B-side	"Shades of Michaelangelo"
Released	September 25, 1989
Length	4:15
Label	MCA Virgin
Songwriter(s)	Rick Nowels Ellen Shipley
Producer(s)	Rick Nowels
Belinda Carlisle singles chronology
"Love Never Dies" (1988) "Leave a Light On" (1989) "(We Want) The Same Thing" (1989)

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 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] In a 1991 joint television interview with Harrison and Eric Clapton, Harrison recounted playing on the song, but couldn't remember Carlisle's name, referring to her as "...whatshername, the one with the red hair."^[4]

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.

Critical reception

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."^[5] 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."^[6]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Leave a Light On" was directed by Peter Care.^[7]

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.

Track listings

• 7-inch, cassette, and Japanese mini-CD single^[8][9][10]

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

• 12-inch single^[11]

A1. "Leave a Light On" (extended mix)

B1. "Leave a Light On" (7-inch version)

B2. "Shades of Michaelangelo"

• CD and European mini-CD single^[12][13]

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

Personnel

Produced by Rick Nowels Vocals by Belinda Carlisle Slide guitar solo by George Harrison Guitar by Rick Nowels and X.Y. Jones Keyboards by Charles Judge

12-string guitar by Ben Schultz Bass by John Pierce Drums by Rudy Richman Backing vocals by Ellen Shipley, Maria Vidal, Donna De Lory and Bekka Bramlett

Charts

Weekly charts 1989–1990 weekly chart performance for "Leave a Light On" Chart (1989–1990) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[14] 5 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[15] 4 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[16] 9 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[17] 8 Denmark (Hitlisten)[18] 7 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles)[19] 13 European Airplay (European Hit Radio)[20] 6 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[21] 13 France (SNEP)[22] 92 Iceland (Dagblaðið Vísir)[23] 7 Ireland (IRMA)[24] 4 Italy (Musica e dischi)[25] 4 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[26] 11 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[27] 7 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[28] 22 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[29] 8 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[30] 8 UK Singles (OCC)[31] 4 US Billboard Hot 100[32] 11 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[33] 8 US Cash Box Top 100[34] 12 West Germany (GfK)[35] 15 2022 weekly chart performance for "Leave a Light On" Chart (2022) Peak position Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[36] 93

Year-end charts 1989 year-end chart performance for "Leave a Light On" Chart (1989) Position Netherlands (Single Top 100)[37] 96 UK Singles (Gallup)[38] 50 1990 year-end chart performance for "Leave a Light On" Chart (1990) Position Australia (ARIA)[39] 51 Germany (Official German Charts)[40] 89

Certifications

Certifications for "Leave a Light On"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[39]	Platinum	70,000^
Sweden (GLF)[41]	Gold	25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[42]	Silver	200,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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.^[43]
• In 2016, South African four-piece band 4Werke (4Warm) released a cover version on their self-titled album.

^[44]

• Australian singer-songwriter Josh Pyke released a cover version on his 2024 EP Covers.

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. "輝きのままで | ベリンダ・カーライル" [Remain in the Shine | Belinda Carlisle] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
2. "この胸の想い | ベリンダ・カーライル" [This Heart Thought | Belinda Carlisle] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
3. Carlisle, Belinda (2010). Lips Unsealed: a memoir. New York City: Three Rivers Press (Random House). p. 153. ISBN 978-0-307-46350-0.
4. "George Harrison & Eric Clapton at Bray Studios 1991". YouTube. 6 March 2020.
5. Giles, David (September 30, 1989). "Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 25. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
6. Lowe, Richard (September 20, 1989). "Singles". Smash Hits. p. 73. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
7. Video on YouTube
8. Leave a Light On (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). Belinda Carlisle. MCA Records. 1989. MCA-53706.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
9. Leave a Light On (US cassette single sleeve). Belinda Carlisle. MCA Records. 1989. MCAC-53706.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
10. Leave a Light On (Japanese mini-CD single liner notes). Belinda Carlisle. Virgin Records Japan. 1989. VJD-10223.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
11. Leave a Light On (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Belinda Carlisle. Virgin Records. 1989. VST1210.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
12. Leave a Light On (UK CD single liner notes). Belinda Carlisle. Virgin Records. 1989. VSCDT 1210, 662 719-211.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
13. Leave a Light On (European mini-CD single liner notes). Belinda Carlisle. Virgin Records. 1989. VSCD1210.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
14. "Belinda Carlisle – Leave a Light On". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
15. "Belinda Carlisle – Leave a Light On" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
16. "Belinda Carlisle – Leave a Light On" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
17. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 8678." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
18. Danish Charts Archive. 3 November 1988.
19. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 44. November 4, 1989. p. IV. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
20. "European Airplay Top 50" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 45. November 11, 1989. p. 12. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
21. Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
22. "Official French Charts Weekly TOP 100 Archive" (in French). Laurentpons. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
23. "Íslenski Listinn". DV. 1 December 1988. p. 34. ISSN 1021-8254.
24. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Leave a Light On". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
25. "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved June 4, 2022. Select "Singoli" in the "Tipo" field, type "Belinda Carlisle" in the "Artista" field and press "cerca".
26. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 49, 1989" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
27. "Belinda Carlisle – Leave a Light On" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
28. "Belinda Carlisle – Leave a Light On". Top 40 Singles.
29. "Belinda Carlisle – Leave a Light On". Singles Top 100.
30. "Belinda Carlisle – Leave a Light On". Swiss Singles Chart.
31. "Belinda Carlisle: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
32. "Belinda Carlisle Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
33. "Belinda Carlisle Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
34. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending December 16, 1989". Cash Box. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
35. "Offiziellecharts.de – Belinda Carlisle – Leave a Light On" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
36. "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
37. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1989" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
38. "Year End Singles" (PDF). Record Mirror. January 27, 1990. p. 44. ISSN 0144-5804 – via World Radio History.
39. "Australian Top 100 Singles 1990". The ARIA Report. No. 50 – via Imgur.
40. "Top 100 Singles-Jahrescharts – 1990" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
41. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. January 9, 1990. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-05-17.
42. "British single certifications – Belinda Carlisle – Leave a Light On". British Phonographic Industry. December 1, 1989. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
43. Soundcloud: Yisraelee - Leave a Light On (Retrographic Instrumental)
44. "Leave the Light on for Me". Amazon.

External links

• "Leave a Light On" at Discogs (list of releases)