"Love Is the Ritual" is the first single released from ''

Edge of the Century ''Edge of the Century'' is the twelfth studio album by Styx, released in 1990. It was the first Styx album featuring A&M solo artist Glen Burtnik, the only album to feature the Dennis DeYoung/James Young/Glen Burtnik/Chuck Panozzo/John Panozzo l ...

'' by

Styx In Greek mythology, Styx (; grc, Στύξ ) is a river that forms the boundary between Earth (Gaia) and the Underworld. The rivers Acheron, Cocytus, Lethe, Phlegethon, and Styx all converge at the centre of the underworld on a great marsh, whic ...

Background

The song was written and sung by

Glen Burtnik Glen Burtnik (born Glenn Burtnick; April 8, 1955) is a singer, songwriter, entertainer and multi-instrumentalist, best known as a former member of Styx. Burtnik is originally from North Brunswick, New Jersey, in the Middlesex County part of t ...

, 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 ''Damn Yankees'' is a 1955 musical comedy with a book by George Abbott and Douglass Wallop, music and lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. The story is a modern retelling of the Faust legend set during the 1950s in Washington, D.C., during ...

. 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. 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 – 390 610-7) which had been only released in Europe.

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

- lead vocals, lead guitar *

Dennis DeYoung Dennis DeYoung (born February 18, 1947) is an American musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. He was a founding member of the rock band Styx, and served as its primary lead vocalist and keyboardist from 1972 until 1999. DeYoung was th ...

- keyboards, backing vocals * James Young - rhythm guitar, backing vocals *

Chuck Panozzo Charles Salvatore Panozzo (born September 20, 1948) is an American musician best known as a co-founder of the rock band Styx. He is currently a part-time bass player in the band, sharing bass duties with Ricky Phillips. Panozzo suffers from HIV ...

- bass *

John Panozzo John Anthony Panozzo (September 20, 1948 – July 16, 1996) was an American drummer best known for his work with rock band Styx. Early life and career Panozzo grew up in the Roseland neighborhood, the south side of Chicago, Illinois, with hi ...

- drums

Track listing

;7" # "Love Is the Ritual" # "Homewrecker" ;12" picture disc # "Love Is the Ritual" # "Homewrecker" # "Babe"

Notes

References

Styx - Love Is the Ritual
{{authority control 1990 singles 1990 songs Styx (band) songs Funk rock songs Songs written by Glen Burtnik A&M Records singles