As a gamer who has lived through the golden era of rock and roll, I can tell you that stories like Cheap Trick‘s “The Flame” are what make this genre so intriguing. I remember the first time I heard “I Want You to Want Me” back in the day, and it was like a breath of fresh air amidst all the heavy metal bands dominating the scene.
In the late ’70s and early ’80s, Cheap Trick saw a decent amount of fame, thanks to timeless tunes like “I Want You to Want Me”, “Voices”, “Dream Police”, and “Surrender”. Their distinctive sound, which stood out in the realm of rock and roll, served them remarkably well.
In the mid-eighties, as rock and roll shifted focus towards style over substance, Cheap Trick found it challenging to fit in with this trend. Apart from their exceptional hit “Tonight’s It’s You” in 1985, they encountered limited success. Remarkably, even that song only reached number 44 on the Billboard charts, despite receiving reasonable rotation on MTV.
By the close of that particular decade, the band’s significance was waning significantly. However, in 1987, they were in the process of creating their album titled ‘Lap of Luxury’. Facing a need for external input, which was unprecedented for them, record company executives introduced two songs – “The Flame” and “Look Away” – to the band.
Cheap Trick originally did not want “The Flame” to appear on an album
As reported by Gary Graff from Ultimate Classic Rock, Rick Nielsen, the guitarist, angrily pulled a cassette from the player and hurled it away, showing his displeasure with the song. The band found the tune lackluster and devoid of depth, but the higher-ups insisted on their selection between two songs for the album. In the end, they opted for “The Flame,” and that decision marked a significant turning point.
“The Flame” turned out to be the solo chart-topper for the band, while “Look Away” also reached number one, but with Chicago performing it. Despite Cheap Trick’s reservations about the song, it is a moving power ballad, and Robin Zander’s lead vocals harmoniously complement it.
The song “The Flame” provided a boost for the band’s revival. After spending two weeks on top with “The Flame,” they achieved their second-best chart performance with another single a few months later. A reinterpretation of Elvis Presley’s “Don’t Be Cruel” reached number 4, followed by “Ghost Town” that went up to 33. In 1990, “Can’t Stop Falling Into Love” peaked at number 12 and “Wherever Would I Be” made it to number 50 on the charts.
As a music enthusiast, I often believe that artists usually make decisions based on what’s best for them. However, there are rare instances like this one where the record label executives truly hit the mark. Despite being compelled to produce “The Flame,” I’m grateful they went ahead with it because the outcome has been nothing short of wonderful.
The history of rock and roll is full of these little stories, and we cannot imagine “The Flame” being performed by anyone but Cheap Trick.
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2024-11-27 17:00