The 1970s was a diverse time period for music, and it was a great era for romantic songs. Here are a few of the greatest romantic songs from the 1970s:
1970 Elton John: “Your Song”
What better way to be romantic than to play a song just for your lover? Elton John may not remember if they’re green or if they’re blue, but he knows how to sing a sweet romantic song with a blend of piano and acoustic music that definitely separates itself from the usual sappy love song formula. Perhaps this is because Elton’s formula involved mish-mashing songs he had already written together to make this one. Stacks of unsung lyrics + a little creativity = a romantic masterpiece.
1972 Jim Croce: “Time in A Bottle
The music in this song is truly haunting. Even more haunting is the fact that the song was just beginning to grow in popularity right before Jim Croce’s tragic death in a plane crash in 1973, and went to number 1 on the charts after he had died. The idea of being able to save eternity in a bottle so that you can spend it with someone you love makes this one of the most romantic songs from the 1970s, and the line “but there never seems to be enough time to do the things you want to do once you find them” is beautiful and a little foreboding.
1973 Marvin Gaye: “Let’s Get it On
This song may be a little too sexual for some to be romantic, but romance eventual leads to love making, and this song is just eager to get there. The slow, sensuous music paired with Gaye’s lustful lyrics make this the best romantic song from the 1970’s for those who want to get further than second base. It’s hard to believe that, before the lyrics were tweaked (a lot), the sexiest song ever started out as a politically-charged anthem.
1974 The Eagles: “Best of My Love”
The Eagles were one of the best bands of the ’70s, and while they may not have always been the most romantic, they did produce a few love songs. This is one of their best and their first single to hit number 1. Like many of their songs, it focuses on the difficulties of living a rough, fast-paced life on the road. But through it all, Henley wants his girl to know she’s got the best of his love. What more could a girl ask for?
1974 Frankie Valli: “My Eyes Adored You
Valli had to attempt to peddle the recording of this song around a few places before he got it released, but when he finally did, he got his first number 1. It’s a song of unrequited love that starts in childhood: A girl is admired from afar by a boy who adored her but never laid a hand on her, and though he moves away and makes a name for himself, he can never forget her. It’s a short and sweet love story but worded in a way that will surely melt your heart.
1975 Peter Frampton: “Baby, I Love Your Way
Frampton ruled the world in the 1970s, and he definitely wrote one the best romantic songs from the 1970’s with this chart-topping hit. It’s been featured on the cartoon Family Guy as Peter and Lois’ song, and although it may seem silly, that’s when I really fell in love with it, and now my husband and I consider it our song. One of my favorite, and very vivid, lines is “clouds are stalking islands in the sun.”
1975 Orleans: “Dance With Me”
Orleans knew the way to a girl’s heart with this song: don’t ask her to dance with you; tell her to! Instead of writing a song for dancing to, they wrote a song about dancing (that you can still dance to), and what’s more romantic than dancing?
1976 Wings: “Maybe I’m Amazed”
Whether the members of The Beatles are together, solo, or with another band, they sure know how to pump out perfect love songs. This is one of McCartney’s better songs, in my opinion, and was written for his wife at the time. It’s a one of the most romantic songs from the 1970’s because it’s all about a man trying to figure out what love is, in a way, hence the word “maybe” in front of almost every line. This gives the song a true, heartfelt feeling.
1977 Eric Clapton: “Wonderful Tonight
Yet another of the many beautiful love songs written about the much-adored Pattie Boyd. After “stealing” Boyd from one of his best friends, George Harrison, Eric Clapton wrote this song about his wife as she was getting ready for a party one night. The wailing guitar in this song is very memorable, and sometimes all a girl needs to hear to put her in a romantic mood is “Yes, you look wonderful tonight.”
1979 Rupert Holmes: “Escape: The Pina Colada Song”
Have you grown tired of your lady? Well, listen to this song. It’s the greatest song about rekindling a romance ever written. It’s definitely the romantic comedy of songs, and while it begins with a husband and wife planning to each start sordid affairs, it ends with the beginning of a great romance. Rupert Holmes had originally planned for the first line of the song to be “If you like Humphrey Bogart,” and, though Bogie was a pretty cool dude, pina colada does seem to fit a little better.
So there you have it. I know this list is missing many, many other great romantic love songs from the 1970’s, but I don’t think I did too bad. So if you and your lover are feeling romantic, whether it’s in a nostalgic, lighthearted, or sexual way, or even if you’re heart is going astray, give some of these songs a listen, have a pina colada, and escape.
