In the 1970s, long before cassette tapes, CDs, iPods, and streaming, music lovers turned on their radio or fired up their record players to hear the latest songs. Music fans would set the needle and spend hours spinning vinyl and staring at record covers. Albums were prized as much for their music as the cover designs. Sitting cross-legged on the floor listening to records was a favorite pastime.
The ‘70s may be the most diverse decade in music. From disco that dominated the charts and the dance floor to funk, rock, pop, and punk, the decade pushed music to the edge. Artists like Elton John and David Bowie took to the stage in wild costumes. Freddie Mercury and Queen revolutionized the idea of what a song should be, and Led Zeppelin, The Who, and Pink Floyd were experimenting with themed albums. The rock band KISS was turning rock into a theatrical performance by wearing makeup and lighting fires on stage, while The Rolling Stones were exploring controversial themes like sex, drugs, and interracial relationships. It got even wilder in the latter part of the decade with mohawks, leather biker jackets, and mosh pits as punk rock slammed onto the music scene.
In the 1970s, love songs were a mix of sexy and sweet. The Partridge Family’s “I Think I Love You” and The Captain and Tenille’s “Love Will Keep Us Together” celebrated the sweet side, while songs like “Love Hangover” by Diana Ross and “Love Hurts” by Nazareth shined a light on the salty side of love. The biggest songs about love from the 1970s explored the journey of falling in and out of love in style. (Speaking of style, here are 50 photos that prove the ’70s had the best style.)
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”
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
- 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)”
Source: Steve Wood / Getty Images
- 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”
Source: joeglo / Flickr
- 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”
Source: Archive Photos / Archive Photos via Getty Images
- 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”
Source: Scott Barbour / Getty Images
- 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”
Source: RB / Redferns via Getty Images
- 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”
Source: Jarrett Gaza / Wikimedia Commons
- 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”
Source: filonmar / E+ via Getty Images
- 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”
Source: LisaValder / Getty Images
- 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”
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
American Motown singer Diana Ross of The Supremes out shopping in New York City, circa 1965. (Photo by Don Paulsen/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
- 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”
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
- 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”
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Stringer / Getty Images
- 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”
Source: Pictorial Parade / Archive Photos via Getty Images
- 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”
Source: edogisgod / Flickr
- 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”
Source: AVRO / Wikimedia Commons
- 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”
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
- 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”
Source: Public domain / Wikimedia Commons
- 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”
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
- 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”
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
- 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’”
Source: Public domain / Wikimedia Commons
- 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”
Source: dbking / Wikimedia Commons
- 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”
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
- 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”
Source: Evening Standard / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
- 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”
Source: jeaneeem / Flickr
- 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”
Source: MiliHell / Wikimedia Commons
- 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”
Source: Hulton Archive / Archive Photos via Getty Images
- 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”
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
- 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”
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
- 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”
Source: Reg Lancaster / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
- 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”
Source: Ken Papai / Wikimedia Commons
- 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”
Source: Darwin Brandis / iStock via Getty Images
An acoustic guitar on an empty stage
- 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”
Source:
- 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”
Source: Public domain / Wikimedia Commons
- 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”
Source: David Redfern / Redferns via Getty Images
- 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”
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Stringer / Getty Images
- 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”
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
- 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”
Source: David Redfern / Redferns via Getty Images
- 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”
Source: Sydney O'Meara / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
Popular English vocal trio the Bee Gees; from left to right, brothers Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb (1949 - 2003). (Photo by Sydney OMeara/Getty Images)
- 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”
Source: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
- 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”
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- 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”
Source: Fin Costello / Redferns via Getty Images
- 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”
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
- 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”
Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images
- 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”
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
- 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”)”
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
- 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”
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
- 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)”
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
- 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)”
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
- 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”
Source: Fin Costello / Redferns via Getty Images
- 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”
Source: my_public_domain_photos / Flickr
- Entered Hot 100: Sept. 24, 1977
- Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 3 weeks)
- Total time on Hot 100: 33 weeks