"Love My Way" is a song by English band The Psychedelic Furs. It was released in July 1982[3] as the first single from their third studio album Forever Now. Written by the four members of the group and produced by Todd Rundgren, who also played marimba on the song,[4] and featured backing vocals from Flo & Eddie (Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan of The Turtles)[5] The song reached the top 10 of the charts in New Zealand, top 30 in Australia and the top 50 in the United Kingdom and United States.
"Love My Way" | ||||
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UK 12" sleeve | ||||
Single by The Psychedelic Furs | ||||
from the album Forever Now | ||||
Released | 2 July 1982 | |||
Recorded | April 1982 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:27 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Todd Rundgren | |||
The Psychedelic Furs singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Love My Way" on YouTube |
Lyrics
editFront man of the group Richard Butler had a specific audience in mind when he penned the lyrics to this song. He explained this in an interview with Creem in 1983: "It's basically addressed to people who are fucked up about their sexuality, and says 'Don't worry about it.' It was originally written for gay people."[6]
Release and reception
editReleased in 1982, "Love My Way" peaked at number nine in New Zealand, where it spent 21 weeks on the chart.[7] The song peaked at number 42 in the UK[8][9] and number 44 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.[10] It also reached number 30 on the U.S. Mainstream Rock chart and number 40 on the Dance Music/Club Play Singles chart.[10]
British filmmaker Tim Pope directed the official music video for "Love My Way" in 1982, and it was placed in regular rotation on MTV.[11]
The single was released in the UK with the non-album B-side, "Aeroplane."[12] In the US, the B-side was changed to a different non-album track, "I Don't Want to Be Your Shadow".[13] Both songs are included on the 2002 reissue of Forever Now.[14]
Usage in media
editThe song is featured in the 1983 film Valley Girl and appears on the soundtracks of the 1998 film The Wedding Singer, and the 2006 film Starter for 10. After it was heard in the 2017 film Call Me by Your Name, the song enjoyed a surge in streaming popularity.[15]
Track listing
edit- 7" vinyl
- "Love My Way" – 3:30
- "Aeroplane" – 3:22
- 12" vinyl
- "Love My Way" – 3:33
- "Goodbye" (dance mix) – 5:45
- "Aeroplane" (dance mix) – 5:22
Chart performance
editChart (1982-1983) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia Kent Music Report[16] | 23 |
New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart[7] | 9 |
UK Singles (OCC)[17] | 42 |
US Billboard Hot 100[18] | 44 |
US Cashbox Top 100[19] | 41 |
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[20] | 30 |
US Dance Music/Club Play[10] | 40 |
References
edit- ^ Mansour, David (2011). From Abba to Zoom: A Pop Culture Encyclopedia of the Late 20th Century. Andrews McMeel Publishing. p. 509. ISBN 978-0-7407-9307-3.
- ^ Harrington, Jim (28 August 2015). "LL Cool J, Miguel head hot Labor Day shows". The Mercury News. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
- ^ "love-my-way | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
- ^ According to co-founder Tim Butler, "Todd [Rundgren] was quite adamant about [playing on genuine marimbas...] we just said, 'Why don't you do it'. He said, 'Sure, I can play that!" Quoted and discussed in Paul Myers, A Wizard, a True Star: Todd Rundgren in the Studio (London: Jawbone Press, 2010), 225-27. ISBN 9781906002336
- ^ "5 Todd Rundgren production credits you should know". Golfmine. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
- ^ Holdship, Bill (February 1983). "The Psychedelic Furs: Sugar Cubes For The New Depression". Creem. Retrieved 8 August 2019 – via Rock's Backpages.
- ^ a b "Charts - The Psychedelic Furs - 'Love My Way'". Ultratop. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
- ^ "The Psychedelic Furs - 'Love My Way'". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
- ^ "UK Official Singles Charts". Officialcharts.com. Official Charts Company. 31 July 1982. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
- ^ a b c "The Psychedelic Furs - Charts & Awards - Billboard Singles". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 26 January 2010.
- ^ Thompson, Dave (2004). Beautiful Chaos: The Psychedelic Furs. London: Helter Skelter. p. 120. ISBN 978-1-900924-47-4.
- ^ Thompson, p. 200.
- ^ Thompson, p. 204.
- ^ Forever Now expanded edition at AllMusic. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (7 December 2017). "'Call Me by Your Name' Spurs Biggest Streaming Week Ever for The Psychedelic Furs' 'Love My Way'". Billboard. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). Sydney: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "The Psychedelic Furs: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
- ^ "The Psychedelic Furs Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
- ^ "Cash Box Top 100, 30 April 1983". tropicalglen.com. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
- ^ "The Psychedelic Furs Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 August 2017.