Love Is the Ritual
"Love Is the Ritual" is the first single released from Edge of the Century by Styx.
"Love Is the Ritual" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Styx | ||||
from the album Edge of the Century | ||||
B-side | "Homewrecker" | |||
Released | October 1990[1] | |||
Genre | Funk rock[2] | |||
Length | 3:48 | |||
Label | A&M | |||
Songwriter(s) | Glen Burtnik, Plinky Giglio | |||
Producer(s) | Styx | |||
Styx singles chronology | ||||
|
Background
The song was written and sung by Glen Burtnik, who had been recruited by the band as a new guitarist. Shaw was at that time busy as a member of the group Damn Yankees.
Burtnik had recorded the track before he was offered a position with Styx in anticipation of using it for his third solo album. The track was re-recorded during recording sessions as Styx.[3] Burtnik's original version was later released on his compilation album Retrospectable.
The song also appeared on the B-side of the 7" single release of "Carrie Ann" (A&M Records โ 390 610-7) which had been only released in Europe.[4]
Charts
"Love Is the Ritual" was a disappointment commercially. It peaked at only #80 on the Billboard Top 100 Singles chart. However, it fared better on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, where it attained #9. It also reached #59 on the Canada RPM Top Singles chart the week of November 24, 1990.
Personnel
- Glen Burtnik - lead vocals, lead guitar
- Dennis DeYoung - keyboards, backing vocals
- James Young - rhythm guitar, backing vocals
- Chuck Panozzo - bass
- John Panozzo - drums
Track listing
- 7"
- "Love Is the Ritual"
- "Homewrecker"
- 12" picture disc
- "Love Is the Ritual"
- "Homewrecker"
- "Babe"
Notes
- Strong, Martin Charles (1995). The Great Rock Discography. p. 799. ISBN 9780862415419.
- Kenyon, Ian (1991). "Styx: Edge of the Century". Hi-Fi News & Record Review. Vol. 36. p. xxx.
Burtnick's influence cannot be understated; the opening 'Love Is A Ritual' is a Dan Reed-style dual-tempo funk rocker that oozes sex and sensuality.
- "Aor.nu - Glen Burtnik". Archived from the original on August 8, 2007. Retrieved July 12, 2007.
- "Carrie Ann (Vinyl)". Discogs.com. 1990. Retrieved April 7, 2017.