The Biggest Love Songs From the 1970s

Published: December 15, 2025 by Christian Drerup

The 1970s was a golden age for love songs. Throughout this decade, love ballads dominated the airwaves with soulful melodies, heartfelt lyrics, and unforgettable voices. The 70s gave us some of the most iconic romantic tracks in music history; love songs which spanned multiple genres, from soft rock to smooth R&B to charming folk. Each tune packed its own emotional punch, warming homes, inspiring slow dances at weddings, and uniting students at high-school proms. These songs were so enduring that they continue to tug at heartstrings generations later.

The love songs of the 1970s reflected the timeless themes of passion, longing, and loyalty. But what makes them so memorable is the way they reflected the changing culture of the times and that groovy 70s sound. Artists weren’t afraid to wear their hearts on their sleeves, crafting music that was deeply personal and resonated with the masses. These hits truly moved listener, through goosebump-inducing orchestral arrangements and raw lyrical confessions. Revisiting the biggest love songs from the ’70s is a celebration of music’s ability to speak the universal language of love.

To determine the biggest songs about love from the 1970s, 24/7 Tempo reviewed historical performance data from the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. Songs containing the word “love” in their title that charted between 1970 and 1979 were ranked based on an inverse point system wherein a week at No. 1 is worth 100 points, a week at No. 2 worth 99 points, and so on, up to a week at No. 100 worth 1 point. Only songs that reached No. 10 or higher on the Hot 100 were included. Chart data is current through March 16, 2024.

50. Andy Gibb, “(Our Love) Don’t Throw It All Away”

Entered Hot 100: Oct. 14, 1978
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 9 (for 5 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 18 weeks

49. Olivia Newton-John, “If You Love Me (Let Me Know)”

Entered Hot 100: April 13, 1974
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 5 (for 2 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 20 weeks

48. Earth, Wind & Fire, “After The Love Has Gone”

Entered Hot 100: July 7, 1979
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 (for 2 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 27 weeks

47. The Four Seasons, “Who Loves You”

Entered Hot 100: Aug. 23, 1975
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 3 (for 2 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 20 weeks

46. Olivia Newton-John, “I Honestly Love You”

Entered Hot 100: Aug. 17, 1974
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 2 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 24 weeks

45. Paul Simon (with The Dixie Hummingbirds), “Loves Me Like A Rock”

Entered Hot 100: Aug. 4, 1973
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 (for 1 week)
Total time on Hot 100: 16 weeks

44. Bellamy Brothers, “Let Your Love Flow”

Entered Hot 100: Jan. 31, 1976
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 1 week)
Total time on Hot 100: 19 weeks

43. Luther Ingram, “(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want To Be Right”

Entered Hot 100: June 3, 1972
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 3 (for 2 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 16 weeks

42. LTD, “(Every Time I Turn Around) Back In Love Again”

Entered Hot 100: Oct. 15, 1977
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 4 (for 3 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 19 weeks

41. Diana Ross, “Love Hangover”

Entered Hot 100: April 3, 1976
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 2 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 18 weeks

40. Nicolette Larson, “Lotta Love”

Entered Hot 100: Nov 25, 1978
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 8 (for 2 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 19 weeks

39. Minnie Riperton, “Lovin’ You”

Entered Hot 100: Jan. 18, 1975
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 1 week)
Total time on Hot 100: 18 weeks

38. Natalie Cole, “Our Love”

Entered Hot 100: Jan. 14, 1978
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 10 (for 2 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 21 weeks

37. Major Harris, “Love Won’t Let Me Wait”

Entered Hot 100: March 29, 1975
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 5 (for 3 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 18 weeks

36. 10cc, “The Things We Do For Love”

Entered Hot 100: Jan. 8, 1977
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 5 (for 2 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 19 weeks

35. Eagles, “Best Of My Love”

Entered Hot 100: Nov. 30, 1974
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 1 week)
Total time on Hot 100: 19 weeks

34. Ohio Players, “Love Rollercoaster”

Entered Hot 100: Nov. 15, 1975
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 1 week)
Total time on Hot 100: 16 weeks

33. Stevie Wonder, “Send One Your Love”

Entered Hot 100: Nov. 3, 1979
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 4 (for 4 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 18 weeks

32. Donna Summer, “Love To Love You Baby”

Entered Hot 100: Dec. 6, 1975
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 (for 2 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 18 weeks

31. Engelbert Humperdinck, “After The Lovin’”

Entered Hot 100: Oct. 23, 1976
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 8 (for 1 week)
Total time on Hot 100: 19 weeks

30. Natalie Cole, “I’ve Got Love On My Mind”

Entered Hot 100: Jan. 29, 1977
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 5 (for 1 week)
Total time on Hot 100: 21 weeks

29. KC And The Sunshine Band, “Keep It Comin’ Love”

Entered Hot 100: July 30, 1977
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 (for 3 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 20 weeks

28. Paul McCartney and Wings, “My Love”

Entered Hot 100: April 14, 1973
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 4 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 18 weeks

27. John Paul Young, “Love Is In The Air”

Entered Hot 100: July 15, 1978
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 7 (for 2 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 21 weeks

26. Lou Rawls, “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine”

Entered Hot 100: June 5, 1976
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 (for 2 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 21 weeks

25. Commodores, “Sweet Love”

Entered Hot 100: Dec. 27, 1975
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 5 (for 2 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 23 weeks

24. Donna Summer, “I Feel Love”

Entered Hot 100: Aug. 6, 1977
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 6 (for 1 week)
Total time on Hot 100: 23 weeks

23. Captain & Tennille, “Muskrat Love”

Entered Hot 100: Sept. 25, 1976
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 4 (for 5 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 20 weeks

22. Wings, “Silly Love Songs”

Entered Hot 100: April 10, 1976
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 5 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 19 weeks

21. Nazareth, “Love Hurts”

Entered Hot 100: Nov. 22, 1975
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 8 (for 1 week)
Total time on Hot 100: 23 weeks

20. Peter McCann, “Do You Wanna Make Love”

Entered Hot 100: April 23, 1977
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 5 (for 2 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 22 weeks

19. Sweet, “Love Is Like Oxygen”

Entered Hot 100: Feb. 18, 1978
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 8 (for 2 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 25 weeks

18. The Partridge Family, “I Think I Love You”

Entered Hot 100: Oct. 10, 1970
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 3 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 19 weeks

17. Dr. Hook, “When You’re In Love With A Beautiful Woman”

Entered Hot 100: April 14, 1979
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 6 (for 2 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 25 weeks

16. Mary MacGregor, “Torn Between Two Lovers”

Entered Hot 100: Nov. 20, 1976
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 2 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 22 weeks

15. The Captain & Tennille, “Love Will Keep Us Together”

Entered Hot 100: April 19, 1975
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 4 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 23 weeks

14. Olivia Newton-John, “A Little More Love”

Entered Hot 100: Nov. 25, 1978
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 3 (for 2 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 20 weeks

13. Bee Gees, “Love So Right”

Entered Hot 100: Sept. 18, 1976
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 3 (for 4 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 23 weeks

12. Redbone, “Come And Get Your Love”

Entered Hot 100: Jan. 12, 1974
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 5 (for 2 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 23 weeks

11. England Dan & John Ford Coley, “I’d Really Love To See You Tonight”

Entered Hot 100: June 12, 1976
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 (for 2 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 24 weeks

10. Queen, “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”

Entered Hot 100: Dec. 22, 1979
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 4 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 22 weeks

9. Rita Coolidge, “(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher And Higher”

Entered Hot 100: May 7, 1977
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 (for 1 week)
Total time on Hot 100: 27 weeks

8. Dionne Warwick, “I’ll Never Love This Way Again”

Entered Hot 100: June 23, 1979
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 5 (for 2 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 24 weeks

7. The Emotions, “Best Of My Love”

Entered Hot 100: June 11, 1977
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 5 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 23 weeks

6. Barbra Streisand, “Evergreen (Love Theme From “A Star Is Born”)”

Entered Hot 100: Dec.r 11, 1976
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 3 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 25 weeks

5. Gary Wright, “Love Is Alive”

Entered Hot 100: April 17, 1976
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 (for 2 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 27 weeks

4. The Miracles, “Love Machine (Part 1)”

Entered Hot 100: Oct. 25, 1975
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 1 week)
Total time on Hot 100: 28 weeks

3. Alicia Bridges, “I Love The Nightlife (Disco ’round)”

Entered Hot 100: July 8, 1978
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 5 (for 3 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 31 weeks

2. Andy Gibb, “(Love Is) Thicker Than Water”

Entered Hot 100: Nov. 5, 1977
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 2 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 29 weeks

1. Bee Gees, “How Deep Is Your Love”

Entered Hot 100: Sept. 24, 1977
Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 3 weeks)
Total time on Hot 100: 33 weeks