"Heartlight" is a song written by Neil Diamond, Carole Bayer Sager and her then-husband, Burt Bacharach, and recorded by Diamond in 1982. It is the first track on Diamond's 1982 album, also titled Heartlight, and reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming his thirteenth (and last) top 10 hit on the chart. It also spent four weeks atop the adult contemporary chart in late 1982, and was the last of his eight #1s on that chart. Reportedly, it was inspired by the 1982 film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and Diamond allegedly settled with MCA/Universal for $25,000, due to its supposedly drawing on the material of the film.
Cash Box said that the song "will unquestionably stick in the minds of adult pop and A/C listeners like a piece of ear candy." Billboard described it as a "pretty, romantic ballad with a light, lilting melodyline."
Personnel Burt Bacharach – orchestra arrangements and conductor Paulinho da Costa – percussion Neil Diamond – lead vocals, guitar (uncredited) David Foster – keyboards Craig Hundley – synthesizer Jim Keltner – drums Richard Page – backing vocals Linda Press – backing vocals Stephanie Spruill – backing vocals Neil Stubenhaus – bass guitar Julia Waters Tillman – backing vocals H.L. Voelker – backing vocals Marty Walsh – guitar Maxine Waters Willard – backing vocals Frank DeCaro - music contractor/ album supervisor
Chart performance
Weekly charts Chart (1982–83)PeakpositionAustralia29Belgium 23Canada RPM Top Singles6Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary 1UK47US Billboard Hot 1005US Billboard Adult Contemporary Tracks1US Cash Box Top 10010
Year-end charts Chart (1982)RankAustralia177Canada 55U.S. (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual)34U.S. Cash Box 67
See also List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1982 (U.S.)
References
External links Songfacts - Heartlight by Neil Diamond