THE FLAME - CHEAP TRICK

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The Flame - CHEAP TRICK

"The Flame" is a power ballad written by British songwriters Bob Mitchell and Nick Graham. The song was released in 1988 by the American rock band Cheap Trick and the first single from their tenth album Lap of Luxury.

"The Flame" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in July 1988, becoming the band's only Number One hit. It also reached Number One in Australia and Canada.

During the recording of the Lap of Luxury album, Epic Records asked Cheap Trick to work with outside songwriters, a request which guitarist Rick Nielsen, the band's main songwriter, was apprehensive about.

Prior to being offered to Cheap Trick, "The Flame" was first offered to British blues rock singer Elkie Brooks, who turned it down.  "The Flame" was written by Nick Graham, a former member of the British rock band Atomic Rooster, and Bob Mitchell.

Cheap Trick drummer Bun E. Carlos recalled that "The Flame" was offered to the band by the vice president of Epic Records along with the Diane Warren song "Look Away"; "[He] told us he had these two songs and they're both gonna be Number 1. 

He goes, 'We got one for you and one for the group Chicago, but you can have first choice.' He said, 'I think the one 'The Flame' would be good for you guys.' The other one was 'Look Away,' and it sounded like some girl singing on the demo. We really didn't like that song anyway, so 'Sure, we'll do 'The Flame.' We're game.'"

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