Love Is the Ritual

"Love Is the Ritual"
Single by Styx
from the album Edge of the Century
B-side	Homewrecker
Released	1990
Format	7", 12", Cassette, CD
Genre	Funk rock
Label	A&M
Writer(s)	Glen Burtnick Plinky Giglio
Producer(s)	Styx
Styx singles chronology
"Music Time" (1984) "Love Is the Ritual" (1990) "Show Me the Way" (1990)

"Love Is the Ritual" is the first single released from Edge of the Century by Styx.

Background

The song was written by and features the lead vocals of Glen Burtnik, who had been recruited by the band to take the place of Tommy Shaw. 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. During recording sessions as Styx, the original track's backing vocals and drums were re-recorded. Burtnik's original version was later released on his compilation album Retrospectable.

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 24th, 1990.

Personnel

• Dennis DeYoung-keyboards, background vocals
• James Young-guitar, background vocals
• Glen Burtnik-guitar, lead vocals
• Chuck Panozzo-bass guitar
• John Panozzo-drums

Track listing

7"

1. "Love Is the Ritual"
2. "Homewrecker"

12" picture disc

1. "Love Is the Ritual"
2. "Homewrecker"
3. "Babe"

References

• Styx - Love Is the Ritual

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics