Belinda Carlisle "Leave A Light On (Single & Video)"

"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 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. 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 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.

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." 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."

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

Track listings

US and Canadian 7-inch single

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

UK CD single

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

UK 12-inch single

Side A

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

Side B

1. "Shades of Michaelangelo"