The song was written by Mick Hucknall and produced by Stewart Levine.

Vaughan Arnell and Anthea Benton directed its music video.

Pan-European magazine Music & Media named the song Single of the Week, adding, "Most of the time Simply Red produce material that is primarily a vehicle for singer Mick Hucknall's undoubted vocal talents and really little else.

A great dance beat and a strong arrangement support a song that recalls the best days of Motown, while at the same time it sounds thoroughly modern.

"[2] Mike Soutar from Smash Hits wrote, "'A New Flame' is pretty much as you'd expect it to sound, i.e. Mick Hucknall proves he's got a fine set of pipes, it's perfectly pleasant and not much else.