If you’re a fan of 70s love songs, check out the list below for some great love ballads from that era. These songs are sure to get you in the mood for romance! Share your thoughts on them in the comments section.
70s Love Songs Era
At the end of the ’60s, a dramatic shift occurred in the music scene. The “hippy-trippy” sound that was popular at the time was replaced by many new genres. Bands from this decade utilized recording techniques from the ’60s. This was to create songs with a mix of psychedelic electronic sounds and danceable grooves. Songwriters also sought to reach wider audiences by writing more relatable pop lyrics. As a result of experimentation in the ’60s, complex and unconventional song structures took off in the ’70s.
70s love songs
“When I Need You”—Leo Sayer
“When I Need You” is a song written by Albert Hammond and Carole Bayer Sager and performed by British singer-songwriter Leo Sayer. It was released in 1977 and is featured on Sayer’s 1977 album Endless Flight. The song was a worldwide success, topping the charts in the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK. They also reached the top 10 in several other countries. It is one of Sayer’s most recognizable and popular songs.
The song is a romantic ballad about a man’s deep love and admiration for his partner. He sings about how his partner’s presence can make him feel so much better. He goes on to say how he can rely on her for strength and comfort. The song is an ode to the power of love and the strength of a relationship.
“How Deep Is Your Love”—Bee Gees
“How Deep Is Your Love” is a popular song by the Bee Gees, released in 1977. It was written by Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb and was featured on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. The 70s love song became one of the Bee Gees’ signature hits, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US and No. 3 in the UK. It is a soulful ballad that speaks of a love that is strong and deep. It is often used as a romantic song and has been covered by many artists, including Take That and Calvin Harris.
“If”—Bread
“If” is a song by the American soft rock band Bread, released in 1971. The song was written and composed by the band’s frontman David Gates. The song is a ballad about a man who is contemplating the idea of leaving his lover. It also focuses on how he is struggling to make a decision. The lyrics of the song are a stream of consciousness as the narrator works through his thoughts and feelings. The 70s love song is set to a gentle, acoustic-based arrangement featuring a prominent string section. The song was a major hit, reaching number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also hit number two on the Easy Listening chart.
“Love Hurts”—Nazareth
“Love Hurts” is a classic rock song by the Scottish hard rock band Nazareth, released in 1975. The song was written by the American songwriter Boudleaux Bryant and has been covered by numerous artists over the years, including Roy Orbison and Gram Parsons. The song is a melancholy ballad about the pain of unrequited love, with lyrics like “Love hurts, love scars, love wounds and mars, any heart not tough or strong enough to take a lot of pain, take a lot of pain”. The 70s love song has been featured in films like “Thelma and Louise” and “Twister”, and has been a staple of classic rock radio for decades.
“Just When I Needed You Most”—Randy VanWarmer
“Just When I Needed You Most” is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Randy VanWarmer. It was released in 1979 as the lead single from his second studio album, Warmer.
The song is a soft rock ballad, composed in the key of F major and set in a 4/4 time signature. The song features a simple, but effective arrangement of acoustic guitar, bass, drums, and keyboards. The lyrics tell the story of a man reflecting on a lost love, and how he desperately needs her back in his life.
The 70s love song was a major commercial success, reaching number four on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number one on the Adult Contemporary chart in the United States. It has since become a classic of the soft rock genre and has been covered by numerous artists, including Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, and Taylor Swift.
“Love Will Keep Us Together”—Captain & Tennille
“Love Will Keep Us Together” is a popular song by the duo Captain & Tennille, released in 1975. It was written by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield and was produced by Daryl Dragon and Toni Tennille. The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and was the first of four number-one hits for the duo. It also reached number one on the adult contemporary chart and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Record of the Year. The 70s love song has been covered by many other artists, including The Carpenters, Johnny Mathis, and Neil Diamond. The song is often considered to be a classic love song and is still a popular choice for wedding ceremonies.
“I Need You”—America
“I Need You” is a song by the American rock band America, released in 1972 as the lead single from their second studio album, Homecoming. The song was written by band members Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell, and it reached number 9 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song is a love ballad, with the narrator singing about how he needs his lover to be with him. The lyrics express a deep longing for companionship, and the song has a gentle, mellow feel. The 70s love song has been covered by a number of artists, including Kenny Loggins, Neil Diamond, and Barry Manilow.
“The Things That We Do for Love”—10cc
“The Things That We Do for Love” is a 70s love song by British art rock band 10cc, released in 1976 as the lead single from their fourth studio album, Deceptive Bends. The 70s love song was written by band members Graham Gouldman and Eric Stewart, and was a top 10 hit in the UK, peaking at number 6. The single was also a hit in the US, reaching number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The song is an upbeat, tongue-in-cheek look at the lengths people will go to for love, with lyrics such as “We’ll do the things that we do for love/Though it’s a one-way street/It’s a long way down, it’s the only way to be”. The song has since become a classic of the band’s repertoire and has been covered by numerous artists.
“Best of My Love”—The Emotions
“Best of My Love” is a 70s love song by the American vocal group The Emotions. It was written by Maurice White and Al McKay of Earth, Wind & Fire, and released as a single in 1977. The song topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart for one week in 1977 and was also the group’s first number-one single on the Soul Singles chart. It was also a Top 10 hit in the UK, peaking at number 8. The song is an upbeat disco-soul track with a prominent bassline. The lyrics of the song describe a woman who is giving her best of love to her man. The song has been covered by numerous artists, including Michael Jackson and Mariah Carey.
“Killing Me Softly With His Song”—Roberta Flack – 70s Love Songs
“Killing Me Softly With His Song” is a classic folk 70s love song written by Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel and most famously recorded by Roberta Flack in 1972. The song tells the story of a woman who has been deeply moved by a singer’s voice and lyrics. The song has been covered by many artists, including The Fugees and Lauryn Hill, who had a major hit with their version in 1996. Flack’s version of the song reached number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart and won two Grammy Awards in 1973. The song has become an iconic classic, with its haunting melody and poetic lyrics that speak to the power of music to touch the heart.
Summary of 70s love songs
During the ’70s, sound engineers revolutionized recording techniques, resulting in a polished sound that was ideal for love songs and ballads. Acoustic rock was especially popular during this decade and contributed to many of these types of songs. Soft rock also experienced great success during this time period, as did R&B love songs, rock love songs, country love songs, pop love songs, soul ballads and blues ballads – all of which are renowned for their smooth sound.
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