ELVIS COSTELLO & THE ATTRACTIONS WITH DARYL HALL - THE ONLY FLAME IN TOWN

Released: July 1984

Charts: US: #56    UK: #71 

"The Only Flame in Town" is a song by Elvis Costello, recorded with his band the Attractions, and featured on his 1984 album “Goodbye Cruel World”. Initially written as a torch song, producers Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley reworked it into a more pop-oriented style. The final version includes backing vocals from Daryl Hall of Hall & Oates. While the single only reached number 71 in the UK, it achieved more success in the US, peaking at number 56, partly due to a popular MTV music video featuring a fictional "Win a Date with the Attractions" contest.

"The Only Flame in Town" was originally conceived by Elvis Costello as a slower torch song, intended for soul singer Aaron Neville, but after recording it with the Attractions, Costello felt the initial version was too "labored" and "arcane." Producers Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley reworked the track into a more pop/R&B-influenced style, featuring mechanical percussion by Pete and Bruce Thomas, and a Bach-inspired keyboard part from Steve Nieve. This pop version ultimately became the final release, with an alternate slower version later included as a bonus track on the 2004 “Goodbye Cruel World” reissue.

"The Only Flame in Town" was one of the first recordings by Elvis Costello and the Attractions to feature additional musicians. Gary Barnacle played saxophone And Daryl Hall also contributed backing vocals. Despite these collaborations, the production choices—especially the sax—are remembered by Costello with a bit of irony, as they reflect the pop-oriented approach taken for the song.

Directed by Allan Arkush, the video played on the concept of a fictional "Win a date with The Attractions" contest, where each band member was given a distinct personality. In the video, Costello's romantic rival was Daryl Hall, who also contributed vocals to the track. Costello humorously recalled the experience, noting how a Columbia Records promotion woman pressured the makeup artist to "make him look handsome" while a hungover Hall effortlessly appeared like a movie star.

In a 1984 interview, Elvis Costello reflected on working with Daryl Hall during the recording of the song and video of "The Only Flame in Town." Initially thinking of Hall as more of a "cult" artist, Costello found him to be a "very nice person" and "professional," noting how Hall completed the session quickly and seemed to enjoy the experience. Costello dismissed criticism from "inverted snobs" in the music industry who might be offended by his collaboration with a mainstream pop artist, saying that what mattered most to him was Hall's "great voice," rather than his association with commercial pop music.