20 love songs from the 70s from Billy Joel to Olivia Newton-John
These songs will bring back memories
Last updated 15th Aug 2024
Ah, the 1970s... the decade of flared trousers, Saturday Night Fever and many, many love songs that will transport you back to those years. Here at Greatest Hits Radio we've gathered together some of our favourite love songs, such as Paul McCartney's 'My Love' to Real Thing's 'Can't Get By Without You', and Billy Joel's 'She's Always A Woman'.
Along with Jackson 5's 'I'll Be There' and Olivia Newton-John's song from Grease, 'Hopefully Devoted To You', we've got lots of brilliant songs from the 70s to take you on a trip down memory lane.
Take a look through some of our favourite love songs from the 70s:
Bread - 'Make It With You' (1970)
Bread's 'Make It With You' was the band's only American Number 1, reaching Number 5 in the UK. Lead vocalist David Gates, who wrote the song, also played guitar, bass and strings on this song.
Listen to the song on YouTube.
Jackson 5 - 'I'll Be There' (1970)
The Jackson 5 released 'I'll Be There' back in 1970. Michael Jackson was only 11-years-old when he sang lead vocals. The song went to Number 4 in the UK, topping the US Billboard 100.
Listen to the song on YouTube.
Harry Nilsson - 'Without You' (1971)
Harry Nilsson covered 'Without You' a year after it was released by Badfinger in 1970. The song has subsequently been covered by Mariah Carey in 1994. Harry Nilsson's version of the song had a lot of success going to Number 1 in the UK, America and beyond.
Listen to the song on YouTube.
Carole King - 'It's Too Late' (1971)
Carole King's 'It Too Late' was a Top 10 hit in the UK, reaching Number 1 in the USA. Written by Carole and Toni Stern, the song went on to win a Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1972, and is included in Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest songs of all time (2021).
Listen to the song on YouTube.
Al Green - 'Let's Stay Together' (1971)
Al Green released 'Let's Stay Together' in 1971. The love song was a Top 10 hit in the UK, reaching Number 1 in the USA. In 2010 it was selected by the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry. The Registry chooses recordings which are "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" each year.
The song was later covered by Tina Turner in 1983, which once again was a Top 10 hit.
Listen to the song on YouTube.
James Taylor - 'You've Got A Friend' (1971)
'You've Got A Friend' was originally written and released by Carole King in 1971 on her album 'Tapestry', it was later released by James Taylor, who went to Number 4 in the UK. The song also won both James and Carole Grammy Awards for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and Song of the Year.
Listen to the song on YouTube.
Roberta Flack - 'Killing Me Softly with His Song' (1973)
Roberta Flack released her version of 'Killing Me Softly with His Song' in 1973. Roberta's version of the song was a Top 10 hit in several countries. The song went on to win Roberta a Grammy Award for Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. It was later covered by The Fugees in 1996 sending it to Number 1 across the world.
Listen to the song on YouTube.
Paul McCartney and Wings - 'My Love' (1973)
Paul McCartney wrote 'My Love' about his wife, Linda McCartney. The song was later recorded live with an orchestra at Abbey Road Studios and became a Top 10 hit for the singer and his band.
Watch the music video on YouTube.
Marvin & Diana - 'You Are Everything' (1974)
Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross covered the Stylistics song 'You Are Everything' in 1974, and it reached Number 5 in the UK selling more than 250,000 copies.
Listen to the song on YouTube.
Frankie Valli - 'My Eyes Adored You' (1974)
Originally recorded by The Four Seasons, 'My Eyes Adored You' was rejected by their label, and lead singer Frankie ended up buying the rights for $4,000. The song was then released in November 1974, topping the Billboard Hot 100 a few months later in March 1975.
Listen to the song on YouTube.
10cc - 'I'm Not In Love' (1975)
10cc released 'I'm Not In Love' back in 1975, and it topped the UK charts for two weeks. Kathy Redfern, who was the recording studio secretary, whispers 'big boys don't cry' on the song!
Watch the music video on YouTube.
Dr Hook - 'A Little Bit More' (1976)
Back in 1976, Dr Hook released 'A Little Bit More'. The song spent five weeks at Number 2 in UK as Elton John and Kiki Dee's 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart' was at Number 1. The song was later covered in the 90s by boy band 911, who reached Number 1 in 1999.
Watch the music video on YouTube.
Real Thing - 'Can't Get By Without You' (1976)
Real Thing's 'Can't Get By Without You' was released in 1972. The song went to Number 2 in the UK, but was kept off the top spot by ABBA's 'Dancing Queen'.
Watch the music video on YouTube
Barbra Streisand - 'Evergreen' (1976)
From the 70s version of the movie A Star Is Born,' Evergreen' won Song of the Year at the Grammys and was a commercial success reaching Number 3 in the UK. The song was featured on the film soundtrack album for A Star Is Born.
Watch the music video on YouTube.
Gallagher and Lyle - 'I Wanna Stay With You' (1976)
Benny Gallagher and Graham Lyle released 'I Wanna Stay With You' in 1976, making it their first Top 10 hit, closely followed by 'Heart on My Sleeve'. The duo originally gained recognition after being signed to write for Apple Records artists by The Beatles.
Watch them perform the song on YouTube.
Leo Sayer - 'When I Need You' (1977)
In 1997, Leo Sayer released 'When I Need You', and it was a massive hit. The song was co-written by Carole Bayer Sager and it was Leo's only UK Number 1 song. It also went to Number 1 in the USA and Canada.
Watch the music video on YouTube.
Billy Joel - 'She's Always A Woman' (1978)
Billy wrote 'She's Always A Woman' about his then wife, Elizabeth. The song was certified Platinum in both the USA and UK.
Watch a performance of the song on YouTube.
Olivia Newton-John - 'Hopelessly Devoted To You' (1978)
Olivia Newton-John sung 'Hopelessly Devoted To You' in Grease back in 1978. The song reached Number 2 in the UK, and Olivia performed it at the Grammys in 1979. The song also received an Oscar nomination as Best Original Song, but lost out to 'Last Dance' from Thank God It's Friday.
Listen to the song on YouTube.
Eric Clapton - 'Wonderful Tonight' (1978)
Eric Clapton released 'Wonderful Tonight' in 1978. The song was written while he was waiting for Pattie Boyd (his then-girlfriend) to get ready for Paul and Linda McCartney's annual Buddy Holly party. In 1979 Eric and Pattie married, and he sang 'Wonderful Tonight' for her on stage at a show in Arizona.
Listen to the song on YouTube.
Peaches & Herb - 'Reunited' (1978)
Peaches & Herb scored a Top 5 hit in the UK with 'Reunited' when they released it in 1978. The song was featured on their album, '2 Hot' released in the same year.
See a performance by Peaches & Herb on YouTube.
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