Between 1985 and 1986, Lita was hard at work recording her third solo studio album, The Bride Wore Black. Unfortunately, it would ultimately be shelved by her record label, Mercury. Further complications at the label involving internal management shakeups would result in her being dropped. Not to worry, Lita would sign with Sharon Osbourne Management and obtain a new deal through RCA.
Her misfortune would turn out to be Mercury's loss. With the supervision of Sharon, and producer Mike Chapman, Ford would go on to record her most successful album in her career, 1988's Lita. It was led by hits, Kiss Me Deadly, Back To The Cave, and the massive duet with Ozzy Osbourne, Close My Eyes Forever. The latter remains her most successful single, peaking at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100. As a whole, the album would peak at number 29 on the Billboard 200.
Music videos for Kiss Me Deadly, Back To The Cave, of course, Close My Eyes burned up airplay on MTV, further launching the album into mainstream success. Kiss Me Deadly would also go on to be crowned number seventy-six on VH1's list of best hard rock songs.
For how long this album's been in my life, I'm disappointed with myself to say I've never actually listened to it in its entirety. While I wasn't denying myself a perfect masterpiece, I was missing out on some solid gems.
Back To The Cave, Blueberry, Broken Dreams, Kiss Me Deadly, and yes, the song I bought the album for, Close My Eyes Forever, were all fantastic additions to my shuffle list. With the exception of the latter, the album keeps up a consistent hard rock sound with awesome guitar solos, and wonderful synthesizers.
Hearing Close My Eyes Forever really hit me hard. Hearing Ozzy in his prime coming through the headphones was almost too much. I think it may very well be the first time I actually mourned his death and not just acknowledged mentally that he was gone. It's an epic track, and one which will forever live in my personal rotation.
Lita would be at her peak with the album, and its success allowed her the ability to continue on throughout the 90's. However, before doing so, she'd part ways with Osbourne, citing a love-hate relationship. She'd release two more albums for RCA: Stiletto (1990), Dangerous Curves (1991). The last would provide her final career charting single, Shot Of Poison. Prior to taking an extended hiatus, Ford moved to German label, ZYX, and released 1995's Black.
By this time, she had shifted her priorities to raising her kids. It wouldn't be until 2008 that she'd reemerge with a new band and release Wicked Wonderland in 2009. Though she label hopped from this point on, she would release two more studio albums to date, Living Like A Runaway (2012), and Time Capsule (2016).
Speaking of the Runaways, while Ford has long advocated for a reunion, it's all come down to holdout Joan Jett. Though she loves rock and roll, Jett has held the stance that the Runaways legacy should be left untainted. She sees no reason to recreate it decades later. As of 2006, it's become a rather moot point with the passing of Sandy West.
As for Lita herself, she continues to perform live, with her most recent being in March of 2026. At sixty-seven, she seems to have no interest in slowing down, and hey, why not. She's still physically fit and able to rock a stage. So, if the fans keep coming, why stop now?
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