Torchlight

Album: Spirit Of St. Louis (1981)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Ellen Foley, famous for performing in Hair on Broadway and for frustrating Meat Loaf in "Paradise by the Dashboard Light," had an impressive backing band for her second solo album, Spirit Of St. Louis. She was dating Mick Jones of The Clash as the time, and Jones played on the album along with his bandmates: Joe Strummer, Paul Simonon and Topper Headon.

    Strummer and Jones also wrote several songs on the album, including "Torchlight," which Foley sings as a duet with Jones.
  • In this song, Foley and Jones pledge their support for each other, promising to help each other see through the dark by torchlight. Foley doesn't think of it as a love song, but a song about hope and friendship.
  • Foley made a video for this song that shows her running through the woods at night and arriving at a bonfire, where she dances by torchlight. Foley was an accomplished actress, so she could pull it off.

    Most American artists didn't make videos in 1981, but Foley was targeted to Europe, where music videos were a big promotional tour. Another American artist who made videos pre-MTV was Meat Loaf, whom she performed with in the '70s.
  • Mick Jones produced this track. On the album, he's listed as "My Boyfriend."
  • That's a marimba playing throughout the song, giving in a buoyant sound. "The marimba on 'Torchlight' hits me right in the heart," Foley told Songfacts.
  • This wasn't the first duet between Ellen Foley and Mick Jones: They paired up on the Clash song "Hitsville UK," released on their Sandinista! album in 1980.
  • Spirit Of St. Louis was Ellen Foley's second solo album; she was born and raised in St. Louis, then moved to New York City. It charted in the UK but not in America, where she never broke through as a solo artist. In that country, she's better known for her acting roles, including a stint on the hit TV series Night Court.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

John Waite

John WaiteSongwriter Interviews

"Missing You" was a spontaneous outpouring of emotion triggered by a phone call. John tells that story and explains what MTV meant to his career.

Charlie Daniels

Charlie DanielsSongwriter Interviews

Charlie discusses the songs that made him a Southern Rock icon, and settles the Devil vs. Johnny argument once and for all.

Barry Dean ("Pontoon," "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools")

Barry Dean ("Pontoon," "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools")Songwriter Interviews

A top country songwriter, Barry talks about writing hits for Little Big Town, Tim McGraw and Jason Aldean.

Director Nick Morris ("The Final Countdown")

Director Nick Morris ("The Final Countdown")Song Writing

Nick made some of the biggest videos on MTV, including "The Final Countdown," "Heaven" and "Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)."

John Kay of Steppenwolf

John Kay of SteppenwolfSongwriter Interviews

Steppenwolf frontman John Kay talks about "Magic Carpet Ride," "Born To Be Wild," and what he values more than awards and accolades.

Supertramp founder Roger Hodgson

Supertramp founder Roger HodgsonSongwriter Interviews

Roger tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits, including "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home" and "The Logical Song."