Book of Love (band)

Book of Love
Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1983 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Headquarters	New York City, United States
Key people	Susan Ottaviano (vocalist), Ted Ottaviano (keyboardist), Lauren Roselli (keyboardist), Jade Lee (keyboardist)
Products	Music albums, singles

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Book of Love (band), available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 29 November 2025

Book of Love was an American electronic and synth-pop group established in 1983 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, eventually relocating to New York City. Fronted by vocalist Susan Ottaviano, the lineup also featured keyboardists Ted Ottaviano, Lauren Roselli, and Jade Lee. Their early recognition came from supporting Depeche Mode on tour in 1985 and 1986. The band was distinguished by its forward-thinking lyrics exploring themes of sexual identity and gender.

Overview

Between 1985 and 1993, Book of Love secured seven singles on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, marking notable success in the US dance music scene. Their most prominent mainstream radio single was "Pretty Boys and Pretty Girls," a song addressing the AIDS crisis, featured on the album Lullaby. Initially part of a medley with Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells," it became their sole entry on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching number 90 in 1988.

Their compositions were included in various movies and television programs, enhancing their visibility. The track "Modigliani (Lost in Your Eyes)" appeared in the 1987 film Planes, Trains & Automobiles as well as an episode of Miami Vice. In 1991, "Sunny Day" was featured in The Silence of the Lambs, with Lauren Roselli making a cameo appearance. Other notable placements include "Enchanted" on the Naked in New York soundtrack (1993) and "I Touch Roses" in American Psycho (2000). Additionally, "Boy" was used in the 2025 film Companion.

Following their active years, songs such as "Boy" and "I Touch Roses" experienced renewed popularity within dance venues and alternative radio formats through both original tracks and remixes. In February 2001, a remix of "Boy," originating from their debut album, climbed to number one on the US dance chart as the lead single from their compilation album, I Touch Roses: The Best of Book of Love.

The band reunited in 2013 for club performances and began working on new material.

Formation and early years (1981–1985)

Although sharing a surname, Ted Ottaviano and Susan Ottaviano are not related; they started collaborating musically during their high school years in Connecticut. Susan later enrolled at the Philadelphia College of Art, where she met Jade Lee; along with Celeste Ries, they formed the group Head Cheese. In July 1981, Head Cheese released a 7" record via Burn Potential Records featuring the songs "Teenage Idol," "Non-Melodic," and "Jungle Jam," with Ted serving as executive producer and co-writer. Concurrently, Ted attended New York City's School of Visual Arts, where he connected with Lauren Roselli. Operating between Philadelphia and New York, they officially established Book of Love in May 1983.

The band's name was inspired by The Monotones' track "The Book of Love," selected for its evocative imagery rather than direct musical influence. In 1983, Susan produced a local compilation titled I'd Rather Be in Philadelphia, which included Book of Love's debut released song "Henna," with cover art designed by Jade Lee.

By 1984, Susan and Jade moved to New York City to join Ted and Lauren. Immersed in the city's dynamic club environment—including venues like Danceteria and CBGB—the band drew creative influence from punk and new wave genres. Their inspirations spanned from 1950s-60s girl groups to artists such as David Bowie, The Ramones, Patti Smith, Human League, Gary Numan, Altered Images, Psychedelic Furs, Kate Bush, Cocteau Twins, Public Image Limited, The Cure, OMD, and Depeche Mode.

During 1984–85, Book of Love recorded demos at Manhattan's Noise studio. Among these was "Boy," featuring tubular bells reminiscent of Altered Images’ style; this track attracted DJ Ivan Ivan's attention. He passed it along to Seymour Stein, president of Sire Records, who signed the band in August 1984.

In 1985, under Ivan’s production at Unique Recording Studios, they recorded tracks for their debut album including "Boy" and their eponymous theme song "Book of Love." The single "Boy" achieved significant club success, peaking at number seven on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Play chart. Following this achievement, all members left their day jobs and secured an opening act position for Depeche Mode’s North American Some Great Reward Tour starting March 1985.

After touring with Depeche Mode, Book of Love recorded "Happy Day" as a B-side for the UK release of "Boy" and performed at southern U.S. clubs not covered by the main tour. In September 1985 they released "I Touch Roses," remixed for European audiences by Daniel Miller of Mute Records. This single reached number eight on Billboard’s dance chart and helped garner label support necessary to complete their first album. Ted Ottaviano later noted that success with "I Touch Roses" was crucial for advancing the band's career under Sire Records.

Debut album Book of Love, Depeche Mode Black Celebration Tour, '86 Club Tour (1986–1987)

By mid-1985, the group had completed just five tracks. Following the success of "I Touch Roses," they resumed recording sessions in September 1985 at Unique Recording and Sigma Sound Studios in New York City, ultimately finishing seven additional songs for their first album. Their instrumentation featured synthesizers such as the Oberheim Xpander, Yamaha DX-7, Casio CZ-1000, Roland Juno 6, and Roland JX-8P, alongside an E-mu Emulator sampler, piano, tubular bells, chimes, melodica, and both acoustic and electronic percussion including a Yamaha RX-11 drum machine and Simmons Toms. Ted Ottaviano took the lead on songwriting, with Susan Ottaviano co-authoring six pieces and Jade Lee contributing to two. The album also included a rendition of "Die Matrosen," originally by Swiss post-punk band LiLiPUT. Recording concluded in January 1986.

Their self-titled debut was released on April 1, 1986, during the height of 1980s synthpop popularity. The lead single, "You Make Me Feel So Good," which came out on July 31, 1986, marked their initial success on CHR radio formats. This single featured remixes by Jellybean and Ivan Ivan; additionally, the album track "Lost Souls" was remixed by Mark Kamins for its 12-inch release. A music video shot in New York City supported the single’s promotion.

In 1986, Book of Love served as the opening act for Depeche Mode during their Black Celebration Tour, joining the European dates in April and performing 48 shows across North America through July. Capitalizing on this exposure, they embarked on their own club tour from August 1986 until March 1987.

The album’s second and final single, "Modigliani (Lost in Your Eyes)," released in April 1987, became a hit in dance clubs, reaching number 17 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Play chart—achieving a level of popularity comparable to singles by New Order and Depeche Mode. Composed by Jade Lee along with the Ottavianos, it paid homage to Italian painter Amedeo Modigliani. The single’s cover art displayed Modigliani’s paintings and included band portraits by Susan Ottaviano styled to reflect his artistic aesthetic.

A four-minute 'Requiem Mass' remix of "Modigliani" was featured in a 1987 episode of Miami Vice, while both the original and remix versions appeared in the film Planes, Trains and Automobiles.

In 1987, satirical punk group The Dead Milkmen referenced Book of Love alongside other synthpop artists in their track "Instant Club Hit (You'll Dance to Anything)," underscoring the band’s significance within club culture.

November 1988 saw Book of Love issued on CD for the first time, including five additional remix tracks as bonus content.

Lullaby album and the Lullaby Tour (1987–1989)

Extensive touring commitments supporting Depeche Mode's Black Celebration delayed Book of Love's work on their sophomore album. Ted Ottaviano later noted that they had little opportunity to fully absorb their debut's impact before moving on to new compositions. From March through August 1987, demo development took place followed by recording sessions at D+D Recording and Unique Recording Studios in New York City with producer Mark Ellis (Flood), renowned for his collaborations with Depeche Mode and Erasure. Flood co-produced alongside Ted Ottaviano and introduced orchestral textures including bagpipes and cathedral organ sounds—most notably on "With a Little Love," which showcased Ted's first lead vocal performance.

In December 1987, the band recorded an unconventional version of "We Three Kings" for Warner Bros.' holiday compilation Yulesville. The New York sessions wrapped by December 18; additional vocals were tracked at Berlin’s Hansa Tonstudio on January 1, 1988. Flood mixed key selections while Alan Meyerson handled mixing duties for other tracks in Los Angeles; mastering was completed at Sterling Sound.

The lead single "Pretty Boys and Pretty Girls," released May 24, 1988, addressed the AIDS epidemic with lyrics advocating safe sex practices. It became their highest-charting entry on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 90 and climbed to number five on the Hot Dance Club Play Chart. The music video was directed by Carlos Grosso.

Released June 21, 1988, Lullaby reached number 156 on the Billboard 200—their strongest album chart showing. Its cover displayed an 1872 photograph titled "Cupid Considering" by Julia Margaret Cameron. Opening with a cover of Mike Oldfield’s "Tubular Bells," which incorporated samples from The Exorcist, the album’s title track featured bagpipes and string arrangements performed by Juilliard students; it peaked at number 27 on the Dance Club chart and became emblematic for the band.

A planned autumn tour in 1988 was postponed due to illness; instead they performed warm-up gigs late that year and early in 1989. The Lullaby Tour commenced across U.S. clubs from February through June 1989 with local acts opening at various stops. The band paused touring briefly in April and May to finalize remixes for "Witchcraft," the album’s third single issued July 15, 1989. Although it did not enter charts, "Witchcraft" incorporated samples from the television show Bewitched and featured playful rap-style vocals from Susan Ottaviano, Jade Lee, and Lauren Roselli. It became a fan-favorite live number during which the band donned witches’ hats on stage.

Candy Carol album and Candy Carol Tour (1990–1991)

Two years following the release of Lullaby, Book of Love unveiled their third studio album, Candy Carol. Although the band had previously enjoyed success on college radio stations and dance venues throughout the 1980s, the early 1990s brought a shift in popular music toward hip hop, grunge, and house genres, which challenged their commercial relevance. Reflecting in 2009, Lauren Roselli Johnson described this period as "the beginning of the end" for the group due to these changing trends.

Created between 1989 and 1990, Candy Carol drew inspiration from late-1960s pop music. Ted Ottaviano characterized the album as embodying "melody" comparable to the nostalgic charm of a Christmas carol, though without any religious connotations. The recording sessions took place across three New York City studios, with Ottaviano co-producing alongside Ben Grosse. For the first time, Lauren Roselli contributed both songwriting and lead vocals on two tracks under Ottaviano’s guidance.

Among the notable elements, "Turn The World" featured a choir composed of thirty friends, while "Wall Song" incorporated spoken German poetry influenced by the fall of the Berlin Wall. Recording commenced in January 1990 at Chung King House of Metal, continued at The Hit Factory and Unique Recording Studios, and wrapped up by June. Mixing was completed in Detroit during July, followed by mastering at Sterling Sound.

Although initially slated for an October 1990 release, the album's launch was postponed until January 1991 to allow additional remixing of the lead single "Alice Everyday" by Ben Grosse. This delay was intended to enhance label support and avoid competition during the holiday season. Ottaviano later acknowledged that despite initial frustration, this strategic postponement benefited the band given their smaller profile.

The lead single "Alice Everyday," released in January 1991, featured repetitive sing-song vocals with a chorus listing various girls’ names—one drawn from a notebook dating back to the 1800s. It achieved a peak position of number 21 on the Hot Dance Club Play Chart over a nine-week period. Rocky Schenck directed the accompanying music video, which visually echoed the album’s snow globe motif.

Candy Carol sold approximately 60,000 copies during its first week and reached number 174 on the Billboard 200 chart, marking it as their second most successful chart performance. The album’s cover art was created by Jade Lee with photography by Marc David Cohen.

The second single, "Sunny Day," featuring Ted Ottaviano as lead vocalist, did not enter the charts but gained exposure through its inclusion in Jonathan Demme’s 1991 film The Silence of the Lambs, where band member Lauren Roselli appeared as Stacy Hubka.

The third single, "Counting the Rosaries," led vocally by Lauren Roselli and including her brother Marc Roselli singing the Sanctus, also failed to chart.

To support Candy Carol, Book of Love undertook a U.S. tour from March through June 1991. They headlined small club venues across various cities for three months, often accompanied by local opening acts.

Lovebubble album and disbandment (1992–1994)

Prior to beginning work on their fourth album, the band convened an important discussion. Susan Ottaviano recalled in 2009 that they questioned one another: “Do you think we can do it again?” This was a pivotal moment as new musical forces such as Nirvana and Pearl Jam were reshaping industry dynamics during the transition from the 1980s to 1990s.

Recorded at Unique Recording Studios in New York City, Lovebubble marked Ted Ottaviano’s first solo production effort for the group. The album displayed a variety of styles with creative contributions from all members, each assuming lead vocal duties at different points. Tracks like "Tambourine," "Flower In My Hand," and "Enchanted" echoed earlier sonic themes, while songs such as "Boy Pop" and "Chatterbox (Pt. 2)" explored more club-oriented sounds. Internal tensions within the band fostered a more liberated recording environment.

The song "Sunday A.M." was inspired by Ted Ottaviano and Lauren Roselli’s Sunday mornings spent at The Sound Factory in New York City. "Happily Ever After," featuring Roselli on lead vocals, incorporated a sample from The 5th Dimension’s hit "Aquarius." The album also included two cover versions: David Bowie's "Sound and Vision," reflecting one of their major influences; and "Woyaya," originally performed by Ghanaian group Osibisa, with Ottaviano providing vocals amid ambient recordings of city protests.

The lead single "Boy Pop," released in May 1993, became a dance anthem celebrating gay men and reached number four on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Play chart. Its music video depicted vibrant club scenes with dancers.

Released on June 15, 1993—almost two years after Candy Carol—Lovebubble did not enter the charts amid grunge’s prevailing popularity. The cover art featured a tic-tac-toe grid composed of nine images designed by David Byrne.

The follow-up double A-side single "Hunny Hunny"/"Chatterbox (Pt. 2)" arrived in September 1993 but failed to chart despite showcasing contrasting vocal styles.

The track "Enchanted" was included on the soundtrack for the film Naked in New York (1993).

To promote Lovebubble, Book of Love toured select small clubs in early 1994 before ultimately disbanding.

Looking back on this period, Susan Ottaviano remarked on both a decline in melodic focus across music and internal difficulties affecting their trajectory. Ted Ottaviano added in 2013 that evolving audience tastes toward dance-centric electronic music and alternative rock left their synth-pop approach without a clear niche. He acknowledged that although they could have continued making music together, they felt they had achieved their artistic objectives.

Best of collection and tour (2001)

In 2001, Reprise Records issued Book of Love's sole greatest hits compilation, I Touch Roses: The Best of Book of Love, thereby completing the band's agreement with Warner Bros.. Following an eight-year hiatus after Lovebubble, the revival of electroclash and electronic dance music sparked renewed enthusiasm for the group.

During 2000, the band produced three fresh tracks at Sound Umbrella studio in New York City. "Getting Faster," composed by Susan and Ted Ottaviano, embraced a dance-pop style; "Try," a collaboration between Jade Lee and Ted Ottaviano, featured shared lead vocals; and "It's In Your Eyes," one of their earliest creations, was recorded for the first time to appeal to dedicated fans. Ted Ottaviano remarked that this retrospective project was well-timed, blending new compositions with their established repertoire.

A revamped rendition of "Sunny Day," produced by Ted Ottaviano, included guitar contributions from Lori Lindsay, who later worked with Ottaviano in The Myrmidons.

Released on March 13, 2001, I Touch Roses: The Best of Book of Love encompassed sixteen selections from across their career but did not enter the Billboard charts. Notably absent were singles such as "Witchcraft" and "Boy Pop."

The compilation's only single was a remixed take on "Boy" by DJ-producer Peter Rauhofer, originally featured on their debut album. This remix reached the top position on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. Various remix versions by Rauhofer and others fueled its popularity in clubs, with a second remix peaking at number two on the same chart.

A promotional video accompanying the "Boy" (Big Red Mix) remix showcased live footage from a 1989 benefit concert. Building on this momentum, Reprise Records enlisted Markus Schulz to remix "I Touch Roses," which was released as a promotional 12-inch in spring 2001.

To promote the compilation, Book of Love briefly reunited for a nationwide club tour in 2001 before parting ways once more.

Ted Ottaviano emphasized the band's strong connection with gay audiences, explaining that tracks like "Boy" conveyed themes of individuality and self-discovery.

Book of Love reissues (2009)

On July 21, 2009, Collector's Choice/Noble Rot issued remastered and expanded versions of Book of Love's complete discography, marking the first time many remixes were available in digital format.

The debut album Book of Love was re-released as a Silver Anniversary Edition, including a bonus disc with five demos, two remixes, two live recordings, an instrumental track, and the rare cover of "We Three Kings."

The sophomore album Lullaby returned with five additional tracks, featuring the 14-minute-plus medley "Tubular Bells/Pretty Boys And Pretty Girls" and the uncommon B-side "Enchantra."

Candy Carol, their third studio effort, received remastering along with four bonus tracks, among them the industrial-style remix "Alice Everyday" (Sam the Butcher Mix).

The final album Lovebubble was also reissued with four extra tracks that included two remixes of the dance single "Boy Pop."

To commemorate these reissues and celebrate 25 years since the release of "Boy," the band reunited for a special one-night performance on September 27, 2009 at New York City's Highline Ballroom.

Reunion and recent endeavors (since 2013)

On April 27, 2013, Book of Love came together once more for a singular performance at Numbers Night Club in Houston, Texas. The lineup featured Ted Ottaviano, Lauren Johnson (formerly Roselli), and Susan Ottaviano as a trio, with keyboardist Jade Lee absent from the stage but still involved in the creative process.

During a podcast in 2013, Ted Ottaviano mentioned that David Bowie's unexpected release of The Next Day inspired their reunion and expressed the band's continued enthusiasm for producing new music. Plans were made to schedule further concerts following the Houston appearance.

By October 2013, Book of Love revealed five tour dates across California (MMXIII) and confirmed they were developing fresh material intended to be showcased during these performances.

On June 17, 2016, Sire/Rhino Records marked the 30th anniversary of Book of Love's debut album with MMXVI - Book of Love - The 30th Anniversary Collection, which included remastered classics, previously unreleased demos, and two new songs titled "All Girl Band" and "Something Good". The band reunited in full for a show in New York City on June 23, 2016. The track "All Girl Band" was issued as a promotional single accompanied by a lyric video.

On January 19, 2018, Notefornote Music alongside Rhino Records released The Sire Years: 1985-1993, a remastered compilation featuring selections from their first four albums. To support this release, the band announced a North American tour earlier that month.

Post-Book of Love ventures

In 1993, Ted Ottaviano teamed up with vocalist Basil Lucas for the dance music project Doubleplusgood, a name derived from Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four. Between 1993 and 1997, Doubleplusgood released five tracks including club favorites such as "Conga Té" (which reached no. 12 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in 1993) and "The Winding Song" (peaking at no. 2 in 1996).

Throughout the 1990s, Ottaviano produced remixes for various artists including The Heads ("Damage I've Done"), Fleetwood Mac ("Landslide"), David Byrne ("Wicked Little Doll"), and Hole ("Malibu"). In the mid-2000s, he worked with New York City-based groups like Dangerous Muse and The Ones, among other local dance music acts.

Additionally, Ottaviano composed the score for a short film by photographer Steven Klein and contributed music to Klein’s collaborative art installation with Madonna titled X-STaTIC PRO=CeSS.

Susan Ottaviano transitioned into food styling after completing studies at both the Culinary Institute of America and the Institute of Culinary Education. Her signature style is known for its artistic and painterly qualities in food presentation and recipe creation. She has collaborated with brands such as Macy's, Godiva, Post Foods, and Kraft Foods. Her work has been featured in magazines including Bon Appétit, Cooking Light, Men's Health, Every Day with Rachael Ray, and Oprah Magazine.

In 2003, Susan contributed vocals to darkwave band Exhibition’s cover of Joy Division’s "She's Lost Control," which appeared on DJ Keoki’s compilation CD Kill The DJ: A Non-Stop Mash-Up Mix By Keoki.

Lauren Roselli (now Lauren Johnson) pursued an acting career with appearances in films like Philadelphia (1993), Beloved (1998), and The Manchurian Candidate (2004). She remains engaged in photography and video art while also contributing musically to The Myrmidons.

Jade Lee continues her work as a graphic designer and artist, maintaining creative involvement with Book of Love while choosing not to participate in touring activities.

The Myrmidons

During the mid-2000s, Ted Ottaviano and Lauren (Roselli) Johnson, both formerly of Book of Love, established The Myrmidons, a name inspired by a legendary tribe of ant-like beings. They brought on board Lori Lindsay, previously with The Prissteens, whom they regarded as a "musical kindred spirit." The Myrmidons' musical style pays homage to 1960s pop, highlighting melodic structures, chord progressions, and the use of bells. Ted Ottaviano characterized the group as a "'90s band," drawing influence from post-punk and electronic artists such as Garbage and Elastica, while also aligning with early 2000s bands like The Strokes. To date, The Myrmidons have produced four EPs comprising nine original tracks.

In 2006, two EPs were released: The Myrmidons EP, which included "Clap (See The Stars)," "Dirty Secret," and "My Favorite"; and The Clap EP, featuring different versions of "Clap (See The Stars)" alongside "What Color Is Love?" Notably, "Clap (See The Stars)" was part of the soundtrack for the film Another Gay Movie.

The Golden Toys EP, released in 2008, introduced three additional songs: "Golden Toys Pt. 1," "Golden Toys Pt. 2," and "Andy Is."

On February 5, 2013, The Blue EP became available digitally, containing two new compositions—"So I Cried" (Le Bleu Mix) and "Dizzy"—as well as a fresh remix of "Clap (See The Stars)" titled The Blue Mix.

A digital anthology titled THE GOLDEN TOYS, The Myrmidons compiled (2005-2015) was issued on September 29, 2015. This collection features ten tracks including one previously unreleased song called "Happy Together."

Band members

Susan Ottaviano – lead vocals, lyricist
Ted Ottaviano – keyboards, lyric writing, sampling, programming, piano, melodica, tubular bells, backing vocals (lead vocals on selected tracks)
Lauren Roselli (now Johnson) – keyboards, backing vocals (lead vocals and lyricist on select pieces)
Jade Lee – keyboards, percussion, backing vocals (lead vocals and lyrics on certain tracks)

Discography

Book of Love (1986)
Lullaby (1988)
Candy Carol (1991)
Lovebubble (1993)

Concert tours

Depeche Mode – Some Great Reward Tour (1985)
Depeche Mode – Black Celebration Tour (1986)
Club Tour '86 (1986–1987)
Lullaby Tour (1988–1989)
Candy Carol Tour (1991)
Lovebubble Tour (1993–1994)
2001 Club Tour (2001)
New York City Highline Ballroom performance (September 2009)
2013 Tour (2013)
MMXV Tour (2015)
MMXVI Tour (2016)
The Sire Years Tour (2018)

Bibliography

Eric Weisbard, "Who'll Write the Book of Love: Pop Music and Pop Prose", pages 1–12 in Eric Weisbard, editor, This is Pop. Boston: Harvard University Press, 2004.

External links