17 1970s Love Songs That Owned The Radio
Picture this: bell-bottoms swaying, disco balls spinning, and radios blasting the sweetest melodies ever recorded.
The 1970s gave us love songs that weren’t just catchy – they were cultural phenomena that made hearts skip beats and couples slow dance in living rooms across America.
These 17 tracks dominated the airwaves and defined romance for an entire generation.
1. Let’s Stay Together – Al Green
Al Green’s smooth-as-butter vocals turned this 1971 classic into the ultimate commitment anthem.
His voice floats over the melody like honey dripping off a spoon, making every listener believe in forever love.
Though heartbreak inspired the song, it became the soundtrack for weddings, anniversaries, and romantic moments everywhere.
Radio DJs couldn’t stop spinning it, and neither could lovers who needed the perfect tune for their special someone.
2. How Deep Is Your Love – Bee Gees
When the Bee Gees dropped this silky-smooth disco ballad in 1977, Saturday Night Fever was taking over the world.
Barry Gibb’s falsetto practically defies gravity, soaring through questions about devotion that made everyone swoon.
If disco had a romantic ambassador, this song would hold the title proudly.
Radio stations played it on repeat, and couples everywhere claimed it as their song while grooving under mirror balls.
3. I Will Always Love You – Dolly Parton
Before Whitney Houston made it a powerhouse anthem, Dolly Parton penned this heartbreaker in 1974 as a bittersweet goodbye.
Written for her professional partner Porter Wagoner, the song captures the ache of loving someone while letting them go.
Dolly’s tender delivery feels like a warm hug and a tearful farewell all at once.
4. You Are the Sunshine of My Life – Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder’s 1973 masterpiece radiates pure joy from the very first note.
His genius shines through every lyric, comparing love to sunshine in a way that feels fresh and timeless simultaneously.
Fun fact: despite Stevie’s brilliance, other vocalists actually sing the opening lines before he takes over!
5. Just the Way You Are – Billy Joel
Billy Joel struck gold in 1977 with this piano-driven love letter to unconditional acceptance.
Written initially for his first wife, the song tells partners everywhere: don’t change a single thing about yourself.
His heartfelt delivery and relatable lyrics resonated with couples who found beauty in everyday imperfections.
6. Killing Me Softly with His Song – Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack’s 1973 rendition transformed this Lori Lieberman original into something absolutely magical.
Her velvety voice tells the story of hearing a musician perform words that seem to read your very soul.
Though technically about music itself, the intimacy feels deeply romantic and vulnerably personal.
7. Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton
Written in 1977 during a quiet moment spent waiting for Pattie Boyd to get ready for a party, the tender ballad captures an unguarded, deeply personal kind of affection.
His guitar gently weeps through a melody celebrating a partner’s beauty with genuine admiration rather than superficial flattery.
Sometimes the simplest moments inspire the most touching songs, and this proves it beautifully.
8. Let’s Get It On – Marvin Gaye
In 1973, sensual soul reached a new level when Marvin Gaye released a sultry masterpiece that permanently raised the temperature of popular music.
His smooth vocals and irresistible groove created the perfect soundtrack for romantic evenings and dimmed lights.
Radio stations initially hesitated over its suggestive nature, but listeners demanded more of Gaye’s passionate plea.
9. Close to You – Carpenters
When Karen Carpenter’s angelic voice met Burt Bacharach’s dreamy composition in 1970, magic happened instantly.
Her flawless delivery asks why birds suddenly appear whenever a loved one is near – a question that feels both whimsical and wonderfully romantic.
Richard Carpenter’s lush arrangements created the perfect sonic backdrop for Karen’s unforgettable vocals.
10. If You Leave Me Now – Chicago
Chicago proved they could rock hard and love softly with this 1976 ballad that showcased their gentler side.
Peter Cetera’s pleading vocals capture the desperation of someone begging a partner not to walk away.
Horns and strings blend beautifully, creating a lush soundscape that radio audiences couldn’t resist.
It became the band’s first number-one hit, proving that even horn-driven rock groups could master the art of romantic balladry.
11. Love Will Keep Us Together – Captain & Tennille
This infectious 1975 cover transformed Neil Sedaka’s original into the ultimate feel-good love anthem.
Toni Tennille’s powerhouse vocals and Daryl Dragon’s steady presence created chemistry that radiated through speakers everywhere.
The song’s optimistic message promised that love conquers all obstacles, a sentiment radio listeners desperately wanted to believe.
It dominated charts, won a Grammy, and became the best-selling single of the entire year.
12. Make It with You – Bread
Bread’s 1970 soft rock gem launched the band into stardom with David Gates’ impossibly smooth vocals.
The song poses a simple yet profound question about building a life together, wrapped in acoustic guitar warmth.
Its mellow vibe perfectly captured the early seventies shift toward gentler, more introspective love songs.
13. Feel Like Makin’ Love – Roberta Flack
In 1974, radio airwaves were once again ruled by Roberta Flack through a sultry yet sophisticated expression of desire that felt both intimate and refined.
Her vocals glide effortlessly over the melody, conveying passion without losing an ounce of class or elegance.
Eugene McDaniels wrote the perfect vehicle for Flack’s ability to make intimate feelings sound universally relatable.
14. We’ve Only Just Begun – Carpenters
Originally a bank commercial jingle, this 1970 Carpenters classic became the ultimate wedding song for new beginnings.
Karen Carpenter’s pristine vocals paint pictures of young love embarking on life’s journey together with hope and excitement.
Paul Williams and Roger Nichols crafted lyrics that feel both poetic and accessible, capturing universal romantic optimism.
15. Silly Love Songs – Paul McCartney & Wings
Paul McCartney fired back at critics in 1976 by writing the catchiest defense of romantic music ever recorded.
His playful lyrics ask what’s wrong with silly love songs, then proceeds to prove they’re absolutely wonderful.
The bass line grooves harder than any silly song has a right to, making it impossible not to dance.
16. You’re So Vain – Carly Simon
In 1972, romantic disappointment was transformed into radio gold when Carly Simon delivered a sharp kiss-off anthem packed with delicious attitude.
Her smoky vocals call out a self-absorbed ex-lover who probably thinks the song is about him – which, ironically, it totally is.
Decades later, people still debate the mystery man’s identity, though Simon kept the secret locked tight.
17. At Seventeen – Janis Ian
Janis Ian’s haunting 1975 ballad explores the painful side of young love through the eyes of those left out.
Her poetic lyrics examine beauty standards and teenage heartbreak with wisdom beyond her years at the time.
Though melancholy, the song resonated deeply with anyone who ever felt invisible or unworthy of romantic attention.
