The Flame (Cheap Trick song)

Last updated
"The Flame"
The Flame (Cheap Trick single - cover art).jpg
Single by Cheap Trick
from the album Lap of Luxury
B-side "Through the Night"
ReleasedApril 5, 1988
Recorded1987
Genre
Length4:44 (7" edit/video version)
5:37 (album version)
Label Epic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Richie Zito
Cheap Trick singles chronology
"Kiss Me Red"
(1986)		"The Flame"
(1988)		"Don't Be Cruel"
(1988)
Music video
"The Flame" on YouTube

"The Flame" is a power ballad [3] released in 1988 by the American rock band Cheap Trick as the first single from their tenth album, Lap of Luxury . It was written by songwriters Bob Mitchell and Nick Graham, and was produced by Richie Zito. "The Flame" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in July 1988; it also reached number one in Australia and Canada.

Contents

Background

"The Flame" was written by British songwriters Bob Mitchell and Nick Graham in November 1987. [4] It was one of two tracks that the pair wrote for English singer Elkie Brooks and her 1988 studio album Bookbinder's Kid , but Brooks disliked "The Flame" and chose only to record the other song, "Only Love Will Set You Free". [5] By the time Brooks refused to record "The Flame", the recording of the backing track was already underway. It was subsequently completed with Graham on lead vocals and was then sent to various record companies, including Epic Records, where it was warmly received by the vice president, Don Grierson. [6]

For their tenth studio album, Lap of Luxury, Cheap Trick were asked to work with outside songwriters by Epic Records. Rick Nielsen, the band's main songwriter, was apprehensive about the prospect, but agreed. [7] The band were offered the choice of recording "The Flame" or the Diane Warren song "Look Away". Cheap Trick drummer Bun E. Carlos explained to Songfacts in 2023, "[Grierson] goes, 'I'll give you first pick. The other one I'm going to give to Chicago.' He played us 'Look Away' first, and we were like, eh. Then he plays us 'The Flame,' and we're like, 'Well, that ain't as bad as the first one.'" [8]

The band disliked the song at first; [9] Rick Nielsen in particular disliked it so much on first hearing that he yanked it from the tape player and ground the cassette beneath his boot heel. [10] Producer Richie Zito recalled that he and the band had "some pretty good arguments" over the song. [6] The band initially attempted to record a take of the song together, but Nielsen repeated his contempt for the song and left, followed by Petersson. [8] Zito subsequently decided to focus on one band member at a time and convince each one, in turn, to record their parts. [6] He started with singer Robin Zander, [6] recording his vocals over a simple backing track featuring keyboards by Kim Bullard and a drum machine, and Carlos's drums. Nielsen and Petersson then agreed to add their parts. [8] Zito recalled: "I figured if I was going to expose the band to this song, it had better be as right for [Zander] as I thought. It became screamingly obvious that the song was tailor-made for him." [6]

In 2021, Nielsen emphasized that he did not dislike "The Flame" and thought it was a "terrific song". He said his frustration came from it being forced upon the band after they had already recorded various tracks given to them: "The record company and producer said, 'You've got to record this.' We [had already] recorded about 10 different things. It's like, 'Why didn't we do this one first?'" [7]

Release

"The Flame" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in July 1988. As of 2024, the single is the band's only number one hit. [11] The success of the single brought the group out of a years-long commercial slump and back into music industry prominence. Lap of Luxury went on to spawn a further two top 40 US hit singles. [12]

"The Flame" also reached number one in Australia [13] and Canada. [14] In the UK, it peaked at #77 in July 1988 and a re-issue exclusively in the UK saw the song re-chart at #87 in January 1989. [15]

Music video

The song's music video was directed by Jim Yukich and produced by Paul Flattery for FYI Productions. [16] It achieved heavy play on MTV. [17] In 2020, PopMatters critic Dennis Shin rated the video as one of "20 '80s music videos that have aged terribly" on the basis of the band "not [seeming] to be enjoying themselves" and that their individuality was suppressed to make them look like a typical hair band shooting a video for a power ballad. [18]

Live performances

Robin Zander had one of his guitars altered to attempt to better mimic the recorded sound on live shows by adding a seventh string in the G position. [19] A previously unreleased live version of "The Flame" was included on the 2000 compilation Authorized Greatest Hits , which featured sixteen tracks handpicked by the band themselves. [20] A live version was recorded for the 2001 live set Silver . [21]

Critical reception

Upon its release, Billboard described "The Flame" as an "endearing rock ballad" that "has the potential to put these boys back at the top" and Cash Box called it a "great melodic rock tune, and a radio smash." [22] [23] Dave Sholin of the Gavin Report noted that Zito "takes Cheap Trick in a new direction with thrilling results", with the band "prov[ing] they have mastered the art" of the "subdued approach to rock", the power ballad. [24] In the UK, Phil Wilding of Kerrang! considered it "absolute pop perfection hiding in the shade of the rock". [25]

In a retrospective review of the song, Steve Huey of AllMusic described "The Flame" as a "lush power ballad", which Cheap Trick "made their own with Zander's sobbing vocal dramatics and the haunting tones of Nielsen's mandocello chiming behind the guitar and keyboard backing". He considered the lyrics to hint at the Police's "Every Breath You Take" "school of disguising unhealthy obsession as sentimentality". [9] In a review of Lap of Luxury, Ira Robbins of Rolling Stone noted that "emotional singing and an affecting Nielsen solo make 'The Flame' memorable, if not quite equal to the band's best ballads". [26]

Track listing

7-inch single (US, Canada, UK, Europe and Australasia) and cassette single (US) [27] [28] [29]

  1. "The Flame" – 4:30
  2. "Through the Night" – 4:15

12-inch and CD single (Europe) [30] [31]

  1. "The Flame" – 5:37
  2. "Through the Night" – 4:10
  3. "All We Need is a Dream" – 4:19

12-inch and CD single (UK) [32] [33]

  1. "The Flame" (Album Version) – 5:37
  2. "Through the Night" – 4:10
  3. "I Want You to Want Me" (Album Version) – 3:09
  4. "If You Want My Love" – 3:35

CD single (Japan) [34]

  1. "The Flame" – 5:37
  2. "Through the Night" – 4:10

Charts

Original release

Chart (1988)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [13] 1
Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [14] 1
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [35] 11
UK Singles (OCC) [15] 77
US Billboard Hot 100 [36] 1
US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) [37] 29
US Mainstream Rock ( Billboard ) [38] 3
US Cash Box Top 100 Singles [39] 1
US AOR Tracks ( Radio & Records ) [40] 2
US Contemporary Hit Radio ( Radio & Records ) [41] 1
West Germany (GfK) [42] 32

Year-end charts

Chart (1988)Peak
position
US (Billboard) [43] 14

UK 1989 re-issue

Chart (1989)Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC) [44] 87

Personnel

Cheap Trick

Production

Erin Hamilton version

"The Flame"
Single by Erin Hamilton
from the album One World
Released1999
Genre Dance
Songwriter(s) Bob Mitchell
Nick Graham
Erin Hamilton singles chronology
"Dream Weaver"
(1998)		"The Flame"
(1999)		"Satisfied"
(1999)
I Got the Music in Me
(2002)
The Flame 08
(2008)

"The Flame" was covered in 1998 by electronic dance music singer Erin Hamilton. Included on her 1999 album One World, the song was a top-twenty hit on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart. Nine years later, the song was remixed and re-released as "The Flame 08" and this version went to number one on the U.S. dance chart, becoming Hamilton's first chart-topper. [45]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheap Trick</span> American rock band

Cheap Trick is an American rock band from Rockford, Illinois, formed in 1973 by guitarist Rick Nielsen, bassist Tom Petersson, lead vocalist Robin Zander and drummer Bun E. Carlos. Their work bridged elements of '60s guitar pop, '70s hard rock, and the emerging punk rock sound, and would help set the template for subsequent power pop artists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robin Zander</span> American singer and guitarist

Robin Wayne Zander is an American musician, best known as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for the rock band Cheap Trick, but is also a solo artist. Zander was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016 as a member of Cheap Trick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bun E. Carlos</span> American musician

Brad M. Carlson, better known by the stage name Bun E. Carlos, is the original drummer for American rock band Cheap Trick. He recorded and performed with the band from 1973 to 2010. Carlos was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016 as a member of Cheap Trick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eternal Flame (song)</span> 1989 song by the Bangles

"Eternal Flame" is a song by American pop rock group the Bangles for their third studio album, Everything (1988). Released on January 23, 1989, the power ballad was written by group member Susanna Hoffs with the established hit songwriting team of Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly. Upon its 1989 single release, "Eternal Flame" became a number-one hit in nine countries, including Australia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Since its release, it has been covered by many musical artists, including Australian boy band Human Nature, who reached the Australian top 10 with their version, and British girl group Atomic Kitten, who topped four national charts with their rendition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Want You to Want Me</span> 1977 single by Cheap Trick

"I Want You to Want Me" is a song by the American rock band Cheap Trick. It is originally from their second album In Color, released in September 1977. It was the first single released from that album, but it did not chart in the United States in its original studio version, which was influenced by music hall styles.

<i>Lap of Luxury</i> 1988 studio album by Cheap Trick

Lap of Luxury is the tenth studio album by American band Cheap Trick. Released on April 12, 1988, it is the band's second-most commercially successful studio album, reaching number 16 on the Billboard 200 and being certified platinum in sales. The album contains the band's only US number-one hit, "The Flame", as well as the additional hit singles "Don't Be Cruel" and "Ghost Town".

<i>Busted</i> (Cheap Trick album) 1990 studio album by Cheap Trick

Busted is the eleventh studio album released by Cheap Trick, which was released in 1990 and peaked at number 44 on the US album charts. After the success of "The Flame" from the previous album Lap of Luxury, the band recorded Busted with a similar format, especially on the single "Can't Stop Fallin' into Love." The single peaked at number 12 on the US charts. The album failed to be as successful as the label had hoped, and about a year after the release of Busted, Epic Records dropped the band.

<i>Woke Up with a Monster</i> 1994 studio album by Cheap Trick

Woke up with a Monster is the twelfth studio album by Cheap Trick which was released by Warner Bros. Records in 1994. Produced by Ted Templeman, the album peaked at number 123 on the US Billboard 200 chart. It was Cheap Trick's first and only album for Warner Bros., who dropped the band from their roster shortly after its release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">When I See You Smile</span> 1989 single by Bad English

"When I See You Smile" is a song written by Diane Warren and performed by American-British glam metal band Bad English. It was released in September 1989 as the second single taken from their self-titled debut album released in 1989. The power ballad is the band's most successful song, reaching number-one in both the United States and Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Look Away</span> 1988 single by Chicago

"Look Away" is a 1988 power ballad by American rock band Chicago. Written by Diane Warren, produced by Ron Nevison, and with Bill Champlin on lead vocals, it is the second single from the band's album Chicago 19. "Look Away" topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in December 1988, becoming the group's third and final number one hit, following "If You Leave Me Now" (1976) and "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" (1982). "Look Away" is Chicago's seventh song to have peaked at No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart, and it was also the No. 1 song on the 1989 year-end Billboard Hot 100 chart, even though it never held the No. 1 spot at all in 1989. This is because Billboard's year-end chart covers the charts as far back as late November of the previous year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Show Me Heaven</span> 1990 single by Maria McKee

"Show Me Heaven" is a song written by American singer and songwriter Maria McKee, Eric Rackin and Jay Rifkin, and recorded by McKee for the soundtrack to the Tom Cruise film Days of Thunder, released in June 1990. Produced by Peter Asher, the power ballad received favorable reviews from most music critics, reached number one on the UK Singles Chart for four weeks and became the sixth-highest-selling single of 1990 in the UK. Additionally, the song became a worldwide hit, topping the charts of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Norway and becoming a top-five hit in Australia, Ireland, Sweden, and Switzerland. It has since been covered by numerous other artists, including Tina Arena.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Can't Stop Fallin' into Love</span> 1990 single by Cheap Trick

"Can't Stop Fallin' into Love" is a song by the American rock band Cheap Trick, which was released in 1990 as the lead single from their eleventh studio album Busted. It was written by guitarist Rick Nielsen, lead singer Robin Zander and bassist Tom Petersson, and Fred Nesbit, and was produced by Richie Zito.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">If You Want My Love</span> 1982 single by Cheap Trick

"If You Want My Love" is a song by American rock band Cheap Trick, released in 1982 as the lead single from their sixth studio album One on One. It was written by guitarist Rick Nielsen and produced by Roy Thomas Baker. It reached number 45 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 2 on the Australian Kent Music Report chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tonight It's You</span> 1985 single by Cheap Trick

"Tonight It's You" is a song by American rock band Cheap Trick, which was released in 1985 as the lead single from their eighth studio album Standing on the Edge. It was written by Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander, Jon Brant and Mark Radice, and produced by Jack Douglas. "Tonight It's You" reached No. 44 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 8 on the Billboard Top Rock Tracks Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ghost Town (Cheap Trick song)</span> 1988 single by Cheap Trick

"Ghost Town" is a song by American rock band Cheap Trick, released in 1988 as the third single from their tenth studio album Lap of Luxury. It was written by Diane Warren and guitarist Rick Nielsen, and produced by Richie Zito. The song peaked at number 33 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Never Had a Lot to Lose</span> 1989 single by Cheap Trick

"Never Had a Lot to Lose" is a song by the American rock band Cheap Trick, which was released in 1989 as the fifth and final single from their tenth studio album Lap of Luxury (1988). It was written by lead vocalist Robin Zander and bassist Tom Petersson, and produced by Richie Zito. The song reached No. 75 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stop This Game</span> 1980 single by Cheap Trick

"Stop This Game" is a song by American rock band Cheap Trick, released in 1980 as the lead single from their fifth studio album All Shook Up. It was written by Rick Nielsen and Robin Zander, and produced by George Martin. "Stop This Game" reached No. 48 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 32 on the Canadian RPM Top Singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let Go (Cheap Trick song)</span> 1988 single by Cheap Trick

"Let Go" is a song by the American rock band Cheap Trick, which was released in 1988 as the fourth single from their tenth studio album Lap of Luxury. It was written by guitarist Rick Nielsen and Todd Cerney, and produced by Richie Zito.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It's Only Love (Cheap Trick song)</span> 1986 single by Cheap Trick

"It's Only Love" is a song by American rock band Cheap Trick, which was released in 1986 as the lead single from their ninth studio album The Doctor. It was written by guitarist Rick Nielsen and lead vocalist Robin Zander, and produced by Tony Platt. The song failed to chart in the US. Despite the commercial failure of the song, the music video is notable for the use of American Sign Language.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World's Greatest Lover (Cheap Trick song)</span> 1981 single by Cheap Trick

"World's Greatest Lover" is a song by American rock band Cheap Trick, which was released in 1981 as the second and final single from their fifth studio album All Shook Up (1980). The song was written by Rick Nielsen and produced by George Martin.

References

  1. ↑ "80 best love songs of the 1980s". Cleveland. August 31, 2018.
  2. ↑ "HAIR METAL SPECTACULAR: The Top 19 Sappiest — and Greatest — Power Ballads of All-Time". 23 July 2024.
  3. ↑ February 2015, Classic Rock14. "The 40 Greatest Power Ballads Playlist". Classic Rock Magazine. Retrieved 24 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ↑ Mike Cooper, ed. (August 5, 1988). "Music Now!". The Hard Report. No. 90. p. 32.
  5. ↑ "The Flame Still Burns". Playback . No. 90. Fall 2008. p. 63.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Breihan, Tom (May 14, 2021). "The Number Ones: Cheap Trick's "The Flame"". Stereogum . Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  7. 1 2 Hyden, Steven (26 March 2021). "Rick Nielsen Of Cheap Trick Reviews Cheap Trick's Biggest Albums". UPROXX. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  8. 1 2 3 Prato, Greg (July 18, 2023). "The Rise and Fall of the Power Ballad, As Told by Bun E. Carlos of Cheap Trick". Songfacts . Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  9. 1 2 Huey, Steve. "The Flame". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-03-13.
  10. ↑ Bourgoin, Suzanne (1994-09-09). Contemporary Musicians: Profiles of the People in Music. Gale Research, Incorporated. ISBN   9780810385535.
  11. ↑ "Cheap Trick US chart history". Billboard. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Cheap Trick". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-03-13.
  13. 1 2 "Cheap Trick – The Flame". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  14. 1 2 "Top RPM Singles: Issue 8580." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  15. 1 2 "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Video Music: New Videoclips". Billboard . Vol. 100, no. 15. Billboard Publications, Inc. April 9, 1988. p. 71. ISSN   0006-2510.
  17. ↑ "The Clip List". Billboard . Vol. 100, no. 25. Billboard Publications, Inc. June 18, 1988. p. 47. ISSN   0006-2510.
  18. ↑ Shin, Dennis (November 19, 2020). "20 '80s Music Videos That Have Aged Terribly". PopMatters. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
  19. ↑ "Rig Rundown - Cheap Trick Robin Zander and Tom Petersson". YouTube. 26 September 2012. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  20. ↑ Unterberger, Richie (2000-08-29). "Authorized Greatest Hits - Cheap Trick". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-03-13.
  21. ↑ "Cheap Trick - Silver at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
  22. ↑ "Single Reviews". Billboard . Vol. 100, no. 15. Billboard Publications, Inc. April 9, 1988. p. 65. ISSN   0006-2510.
  23. ↑ "Single Releases". Cash Box . Vol. 51, no. 39. April 2, 1988. p. 11. ISSN   0008-7289.
  24. ↑ Sholin, Dave (31 October 1986). "Dave Sholin's Personal Picks - Singles". Gavin Report . No. 1699. p. 65. OCLC   34039542.
  25. ↑ Wilding, Phil (May 14, 1988). "Singlez". Kerrang! . No. 187. p. 27. ISSN   0262-6624.
  26. ↑ Ira Robbins (1988-06-02). "Lap Of Luxury | Album Reviews". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2012-03-14.
  27. ↑ The Flame (US and Canadian 7-inch single sleeve). Cheap Trick. Epic Records. 1988. 34-07745.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  28. ↑ The Flame (UK, European and Australasian 7-inch single sleeve). Cheap Trick. Epic Records. 1988. 651466 7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  29. ↑ The Flame (US and Canadian cassette single sleeve). Cheap Trick. Epic Records. 1988. 34T 07745.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  30. ↑ The Flame (European 12-inch single sleeve). Cheap Trick. Epic Records. 1988. 651466 8.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  31. ↑ The Flame (European CD single sleeve). Cheap Trick. Epic Records. 1988. 651466 9.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  32. ↑ The Flame (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Cheap Trick. Epic Records. 1988. 651466 6.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  33. ↑ The Flame (UK CD single sleeve). Cheap Trick. Epic Records. 1988. 651466 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  34. ↑ The Flame (Japanese CD single sleeve). Cheap Trick. Epic Records. 1988. 10 8P-3031.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  35. ↑ "Cheap Trick – The Flame". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  36. ↑ "Cheap Trick Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  37. ↑ "Cheap Trick Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  38. ↑ "Cheap Trick Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  39. ↑ Downey, Pat; Albert, George; Hoffman, Frank (1994). Cash Box Pop Singles Charts, 1950-1993 . Englewood, Colorado: Libraries Unlimited, Inc. p.  60. ISBN   1563083167 . Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  40. ↑ "National Airplay: AOR Tracks". Radio & Records . No. 738. Radio & Records, Inc. May 20, 1988. p. 104. ISSN   0277-4860.
  41. ↑ "National Airplay: Contemporary Hit Radio". Radio & Records . No. 745. Radio & Records, Inc. July 8, 1988. p. 88. ISSN   0277-4860.
  42. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Cheap Trick – The Flame" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  43. ↑ "1988 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 100, no. 52. December 24, 1988. p. Y-20.
  44. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  45. ↑ "Hot Dance Club Songs". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. April 12, 2008. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.