Love Is the Law (The Seahorses song)

"Love Is the Law" is the debut single of Britpop band the Seahorses, released as the first single from their only studio album, Do It Yourself (1997). Written by ex-Stone Roses guitarist John Squire, the song contains a lengthy guitar solo at the end that was edited out for a single release. The cover artwork features a painting by Squire, also called Love Is the Law, that he created in 1996.

"Love Is the Law"
Single by the Seahorses
from the album Do It Yourself
B-side	"Dreamer" "Sale of the Century"
Released	28 April 1997 (1997-04-28)
Studio	Royaltone (North Hollywood, California)
Length	7:43 (original version) 3:42 (single edit)
Label	Geffen
Songwriter(s)	John Squire
Producer(s)	Tony Visconti
The Seahorses singles chronology
"Love Is the Law" (1997) "Blinded by the Sun" (1997)
Music video
"Love Is the Law" on YouTube

"Love Is the Law" is the Seahorses' biggest hit, debuting and peaking at number three on the UK Singles Chart in May 1997. The song also reached number 11 in Ireland and number 38 in Sweden. Outside Europe, "Love Is the Law" received airplay on North American radio, and its music video aired on MTV and VH1.^[1] This exposure allowed the song to reach number three on the Canadian RPM Alternative 30 chart.

Track listings

UK, Japanese, and Australian CD single^[2]

1. "Love Is the Law" – 3:42
2. "Dreamer" – 3:31
3. "Sale of the Century" – 3:50

UK 7-inch single^[3]

A. "Love Is the Law" – 3:42

B. "Dreamer" – 3:31

Credits and personnel

Credits are taken from the UK 7-inch single sleeve and the Do It Yourself album booklet.^[3][4]

Studios

• Recorded and mixed at Royaltone Studios (North Hollywood, California)
• Mastered at Gateway Mastering (Portland, Maine, US)

Personnel

• John Squire – writing, artwork painting (1996)
• Tony Visconti – production
• Rob Jacobs – recording, mixing
• Jeff Thomas – assistant engineer
• Bob Ludwig – mastering
• Matt Squire – photography

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1997) Peak position Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)[5] 3 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[6] 17 Ireland (IRMA)[7] 11 Scotland (OCC)[8] 1 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[9] 38 UK Singles (OCC)[10] 3

Year-end charts Chart (1997) Position UK Singles (OCC)[11][12] 91

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United Kingdom	28 April 1997	7-inch vinyl CD cassette	Geffen	[13]
Japan	21 May 1997	CD		[14]
United States	2 June 1997	Alternative radio		[15]

References

1. Bomberboy (2 November 2016). "Love Is the Law by The Seahorses". God's Jukebox. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
2. "The Seahorses – Love Is the Law Overview". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
3. Love Is the Law (UK 7-inch single sleeve). The Seahorses. Geffen Records. 1997. GFS 22243.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
4. Do It Yourself (UK CD album booklet). The Seahorses. Geffen Records. 1997. GED-25134.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
5. "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 3301." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
6. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 20. 17 May 1997. p. 11. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
7. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Love Is the Law". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
8. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
9. "The Seahorses – Love Is the Law". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
10. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
11. "Top 100 Singles 1997". Music Week. 17 January 1998. p. 27.
12. "Najlepsze single na UK Top 40–1997" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 4 June 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
13. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 26 April 1997. p. 33. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
14. "ラブ・イズ・ザ・ロー | シーホーセズ" [Love Is the Law | Seahorses] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
15. "Be on the Lookout". Gavin Report. No. 2156. 23 May 1997. p. 32.