Leave a Light On
Encyclopedia
"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). It was released as the album's first single in the end of 1989 as a CD single
, 7" single and a 12" single.
The song reached within the top ten position in Australia
, Austria
, Italy
, Sweden
, Switzerland
, Canada
, Netherland
and the UK
making it one of her biggest hits to date. In the U.S. it peaked at number 11. "Leave a Light On'" features former Beatle George Harrison
on the slide guitar
.
The single can be heard in a 1991 episode of the TV sitcom Out of This World
entitled "I Want My Evie TV".
Note: There is also a version of "Leave a Light On" called the Kamikazee mix, included on Carlisle's "Vision of You" CD single, clocking in a 4:42, but it is unknown whether this version is simply shorter than the 8:05 "extended version" or a new, unique mix.
7" single
12" maxi
Rick Nowels
Richard Wright Nowels Jr. is a Grammy / Ivor Novello award-winning songwriter/producer who has worked with many of the most vibrant artists in contemporary music...
and Ellen Shipley
Ellen Shipley
Ellen Shipley, born 24 March 1949 in New York, is a US musician and songwriter.-Biography:Shipley is best known for work with Rick Nowels. Together they've written for Kim Wilde and worked on the Belinda Carlisle albums Belinda, Heaven on Earth, Runaway Horses, and Live Your Life Be Free...
, produced by Nowels for Belinda Carlisle
Belinda Carlisle
Belinda Jo Carlisle is an American singer who gained worldwide fame as the lead vocalist of the Go-Go's, one of the most successful all-female bands and the first such group whose members wrote their own songs and played their own instruments...
's third solo album Runaway Horses
Runaway Horses (album)
-Peak Positions:- End of year chart :- Certifications :-Singles:The following singles were released from the album, with the highest charting positions listed.-Personnel:*Kenny Aronoff — drums*Bekka Bramlett — background vocals...
(1989). It was released as the album's first single in the end of 1989 as a CD single
CD single
A CD single is a music single in the form of a standard size Compact Disc, not to be confused with the 3-inch CD single, which uses a smaller form factor. The format was introduced in the mid-1980s, but did not gain its place in the market until the early 1990s...
, 7" single and a 12" single.
The song reached within the top ten position in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Netherland
Netherland
Netherland is a critically acclaimed novel by Joseph O'Neill. It concerns the life of a Dutchman living in New York in the wake of the September 11 attacks who takes up cricket and starts playing at the Staten Island Cricket Club.-Plot summary:...
and the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
making it one of her biggest hits to date. In the U.S. it peaked at number 11. "Leave a Light On'" features former Beatle George Harrison
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
on the slide guitar
Slide guitar
Slide guitar or bottleneck guitar is a particular method or technique for playing the guitar. The term slide refers to the motion of the slide against the strings, while bottleneck refers to the original material of choice for such slides: the necks of glass bottles...
.
The single can be heard in a 1991 episode of the TV sitcom Out of This World
Out of This World (TV series)
Out Of This World is an American fantasy sitcom about a teenage girl who is half alien, which gives her unique supernatural powers. It first aired in U.S. syndication on September 17, 1987 and ended on May 25, 1991. It was first broadcast in the UK on the ITV network on April 9, 1990, usually at...
entitled "I Want My Evie TV".
Note: There is also a version of "Leave a Light On" called the Kamikazee mix, included on Carlisle's "Vision of You" CD single, clocking in a 4:42, but it is unknown whether this version is simply shorter than the 8:05 "extended version" or a new, unique mix.
Track listing
CD single- "Leave a Light On"
- "Shades of Michaelangelo"
- "Leave a Light On" (extended mix)
7" single
- "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
Charts
| Chart (1989) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart | 5 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 4 |
| Canadian Singles Chart | 6 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 7 |
| German Singles Chart | 15 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 4 |
| Italian Singles Chart | 4 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 22 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 8 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 8 |
| UK Singles Chart | 4 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 11 |
| U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary | 8 |
Personnel
- Produced by Rick NowelsRick NowelsRichard Wright Nowels Jr. is a Grammy / Ivor Novello award-winning songwriter/producer who has worked with many of the most vibrant artists in contemporary music...
- Slide guitarSlide guitarSlide guitar or bottleneck guitar is a particular method or technique for playing the guitar. The term slide refers to the motion of the slide against the strings, while bottleneck refers to the original material of choice for such slides: the necks of glass bottles...
by George HarrisonGeorge HarrisonGeorge Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other... - Guitar by Rick Nowels and X.Y. Jones
- KeyboardKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
s by Charles Judge
- Twelve string guitarTwelve string guitarThe twelve-string guitar is an acoustic or electric guitar with 12 strings in 6 courses, which produces a richer, more ringing tone than a standard six-string guitar...
by Ben Schultz - BassBass (instrument)Bass describes musical instruments that produce tones in the low-pitched range. They belong to different families of instruments and can cover a wide range of musical roles...
by John Pierce - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
by Rudy Richman - Background vocals by Ellen Shipley, Maria VidalMaria VidalMaria Vidal is an American singer who had one hit single with the song, "Body Rock" in 1984; it also reached #8 on the US dance charts, and #11 in the UK.Vidal was originally a member of the band, Desmond Child & Rouge, but went solo with a self-titled debut album...
, Donna DeLoryDonna DeLoryDonna De Lory is an American singer, dancer and songwriter. Part of a musical family, De Lory has been performing since a young age. Her voice can be heard on albums by Carly Simon, Ray Parker, Jr., Kim Carnes, Santana, Laura Branigan, Belinda Carlisle, Mylène Farmer and Madonna...
and Bekka BramlettBekka BramlettRebekka Ruth Lazone "Bekka" Bramlett is a singer from the United States. She is the daughter of popular music duo Delaney and Bonnie....