Wikipedia

The Greatest Flame

"The Greatest Flame" is a 1993 single released by Scottish celtic rock band Runrig, released as the second single from their eighth studio album Amazing Things (1993). It was released by Chrysalis in the United Kingdom and across continental Europe.

"The Greatest Flame"
Single by Runrig
from the album Amazing Things and Long Distance
B-side"The Fisherman"
Released1993
StudioCastlesound Studios, Edinburgh, Scotland
LabelChrysalis – CDCHS 3975
Songwriter(s)C. Macdonald
R. Macdonald
Producer(s)Chris Harley
Runrig singles chronology
"Wonderful"
(1993) 		"The Greatest Flame"
(1993) 		"Song of the Earth"
(1993)
Alternative cover
Cover of the 1996 re–release

The song was re–released as a remixed version in 1996 alongside the release of the bands compilation album, The Best of Runrig – Long Distance (1996). Like the original release in 1993, the re–released version was a commercial success in the United Kingdom, reaching number thirty on the UK Singles Charts, six places higher than the original release in 1993. The 1996 version spent a total of three weeks within the UK Top 100 Singles Charts.[1]

Release and performance

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Commercially, "The Greatest Flame" continued the period of commercial success for Runrig, becoming their second UK Top 40 single following the release of "Wonderful" earlier in 1993. "The Greatest Flame" peaked at number thirty-six on the UK Singles Charts in its second week, where it spent a total of three weeks. The song debuted at number thirty-seven in the United Kingdom on 9 May 1993, climbing one place in its second week to achieve its peak position, before falling to number fifty-seven in its third and final week.[2]

Runrig performed "The Greatest Flame" on the BBC programme Top of the Pops on 20 May 1993.[3]

The 1996 remix which was released by the band to coincide with the release of Long Distance, their greatest hits album released the same year, was also a commercial success. Released on 30 December 1996, "The Greatest Flame" was in the running to be the first number one single of 1997.[4] In their native Scotland, it debuted at number five on the Scottish Singles Charts, before falling to eighteen in its second week.[5] In its third week, it had slipped to number twenty-nine on the Scottish Singles Charts.[6]

Critical reception

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The original 1993 release was credited in Musicweek as seeing the band "continue to pursue a more mainstream audience", claiming that "The Greatest Flame" is a song which "is a power ballad that sweeps along majestically in a polished and highly commercial manner". Musicweek predicted that the song would become their first Top 40 success in the United Kingdom, resulting in "casual buyers then warming to its considerable charms".[7]

Track listings

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CD single 1 (UK)

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  1. "The Greatest Flame" (Radio Version) – 4:25
  2. "Saint of the Soil" – 5:02
  3. "An t-Iasgair (The Fisherman)" – 3:20
  4. "Suilven" – 3:50

CD single 2 (UK)

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  1. "The Greatest Flame"
  2. "The Fisherman"
  3. "Morning Tide"
  4. "Chi Mi'n Tir = I See the Land"

CD single (Netherlands)

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  1. "The Greatest Flame" (Radio Version)
  2. "An t-Iasgair (The Fisherman)"
  3. "Morning Tide"
  4. "Chi M'in Tir (I See the Land)"

Chart performance

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1993 release

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Chart (1993) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[8] 36

1996 re–release

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Chart (1996) Peak
position
Scotland (OCC)[9] 5
UK Singles (OCC)[8] 30

References

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  1. ^ "RUNRIG". Official Charts. 8 January 1983. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  2. ^ "RUNRIG". Official Charts. 8 January 1983. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  3. ^ "1993". runrig.rocks. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  4. ^ "14 December 1996 - Musicweek" (PDF). Musicweek. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  5. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 12/1/1997". Official Charts. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  6. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 19/1/1997". Official Charts. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  7. ^ "Music Week - 8 May 1993" (PDF). Musicweek. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Cite error: The named reference "sc_UK_" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  9. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
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