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 lineup, and the last album to feature John Panozzo on drums before his death in 1996.

Edge of the Century
Studio album by Styx
Released	October 9, 1990
Recorded	April 1989 - August 1990
Studio	Chicago Recording Company, Chicago, IL
Genre	Glam metal^[1]
Length	42:35
Label	A&M
Producer	Dennis DeYoung
Styx chronology
Caught in the Act (1984) Edge of the Century (1990) Return to Paradise (1997)
Singles from Edge of the Century
"Love Is the Ritual" Released: October 1990^[2] "Show Me the Way" Released: November 1990^[3] "Love at First Sight" Released: March 1991^[4]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[5]
Entertainment Weekly	C^[6]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	^[7]

The album spawned three singles. "Show Me the Way" was written by DeYoung and peaked at #3 on both the Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart and Adult Contemporary Chart. Some radio stations played a version edited with snippets of congressional debate and caller dedications to troops in the Gulf War.^[8] "Love Is the Ritual", (Pop singles peak #80) written by Burtnik and Plinky Giglio, and "Love at First Sight", (Pop singles chart peak, #25) written by Burtnik, DeYoung and Young, were also released as singles, but neither garnered the same amount of success as "Show Me the Way".

The album sold more than 500,000 copies and was certified gold by the RIAA.

Edge of the Century would be Styx's last album of new music for A&M Records and due to poor album sales, A&M did not renew their contract.

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"Love Is the Ritual"	Burtnik, Plinky	Burtnik	3:48
2.	"Show Me the Way"	DeYoung	DeYoung	4:35
3.	"Edge of the Century"	Burtnik, Bob Burger	Burtnik	4:20
4.	"Love at First Sight"	Burtnik, DeYoung, Young	DeYoung	4:35
5.	"All in a Day's Work"	Burtnik, DeYoung	Burtnik	4:11
6.	"Not Dead Yet"	Ralph Covert	DeYoung	3:32
7.	"World Tonite"	Burtnik	Burtnik	3:38
8.	"Carrie Ann"	DeYoung	DeYoung	4:26
9.	"Homewrecker"	Young, DeYoung	Young	5:12
10.	"Back to Chicago"	DeYoung	DeYoung	4:18

Personnel

Styx

• Dennis DeYoung – vocals, keyboards, accordion
• James "JY" Young – guitars, vocals
• Glen Burtnik – guitars, vocals
• Chuck Panozzo – bass guitar
• John Panozzo – drums, percussion

Additional personnel

• Salvatore "Plinky" Giglio – sequencing (1)
• Gary Fry – Synclavier programming (4)
• Terry Fryer – sound effects (9)
• Howard Levy – harmonica
• Joe Pusateri – percussion
• Ronald Kolber – baritone saxophone
• Jon Negus – clarinet, saxophones, horn arrangements (10)
• Michael Smith – saxophones
• Mike Halpin – trombone
• Danny Barber – trumpet
• Mark Ohlson – trumpet
• Mac Bialystock – horn arrangements (10)

Production

• Dennis DeYoung – producer, mixing
• Phil Bonanno – engineer, mixing
• Chris Shepard – second engineer
• Plinky Giglio – additional engineer (1)
• Ted Jensen – mastering at Sterling Sound, NYC
• Hugh Syme – art direction, design
• Mark Hauser – photography

Charts

Album - Billboard (United States)

Year	Chart	Position
1990	The Billboard 200	63

Singles - Billboard (United States)

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1990	"Love Is the Ritual"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	9
		The Billboard Hot 100	80
	"Show Me the Way"		3
		Top Adult Contemporary	3
1991	"Love at First Sight"	The Billboard Hot 100	25
		Top Adult Contemporary	13

References

1. McPadden, Mike (September 16, 2015). "10 Hard Rock + Heavy Metal Artists That Went Glam for One Album". VH1. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
2. Strong, Martin Charles (1995). The Great Rock Discography. p. 799. ISBN 9780862415419.
3. "Styx singles".
4. "Styx singles".
5. Mansfield, Brian. "Edge of the Century - Styx | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
6. Robbins, Ira (October 12, 1990). "Edge of the Century". Entertainment Weekly.
7. Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 789. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. rolling stone styx album guide.
8. "New Philadelphia Times Reporter Archives, Feb 10, 1991, p. 21". newspaperarchive.com.