Love to love you, Baby….

Okay, it’s February and that includes Valentine’s day, a time when most people’s thoughts turn to romance, blah blah blah….

There are many opinions on what songs are the greatest love songs of all time. Some love songs undeniably belong on such a “greatest” list, while others, maybe not so much.

But with that in mind, here are some of the greatest love songs:

 

“Your Song” – Elton John, 1970

Sir Elton’s first hit, “Your Song” reached #8 on the United States Billboard Hot 100 charts and hit #4 in the United Kingdom. Interestingly, “Your Song” was originally released as a B-side to “Take Me To The Pilot,” but the two songs’ sides were quickly reversed when DJs preferred the ballad.

 

“Can’t Help Falling In Love” – Elvis Presley, 1961

 You can’t have a list of the greatest love songs without including a ballad by the “King” of ballads.

The song was a popular among his fans, and he used to perform it as the finale to his live concerts.

“In Your Eyes” – Peter Gabriel, 1986

 Although never released as a single in his native United Kingdom, “In Your Eyes” became Gabriel’s first gold single in the United States. Its African influences combined with the beautiful lyrics make it one of the most romantic love songs of all time.

 

“When A Man Loves A Woman” – Percy Sledge, 1966

 Only the original recording by Percy Sledge in 1966 of “When A Man Loves a Woman” belongs on this list of the 10 greatest love songs of all time. None of the imitations and re-recordings (I’m talking to you, Michael Bolton) that came after can hold a candle to Sledge’s original, beautiful ballad.

 

Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton, 1977

 Written by Eric Clapton about his then-love, Pattie Boyd.  The song tells a story, dealing with a party the pair attended. Each of the three verses is a scene from a part of the night: preparing for the party, going to the party and coming home from the party. In each scene, he mentions how wonderful she is, how beautiful she looks while preparing for the party, how happy he is to be at the party with her and how grateful he is that she puts up with him after he drinks too much.

 

“Something”- The Beatles- 1969

 Also written about Pattie Boyd (he had her first), George Harrison’s finest moment on the Abbey Road album was one of the record’s undisputed highlights, and showed him finally leaving the songwriting shadow of Lennon and McCartney.  ‘Something’ was written during the 1968 sessions for The White Album, though it wasn’t finished until the following year.

Frank Sinatra called it “the greatest love song ever written,” although he mistakenly gave credit to Lennon/ McCartney.

  

“Maybe I’m Amazed”- Paul McCartney-1970

 Written and recorded at home, the original version of this song had McCartney playing all the instruments. 

He meant this one.

He was going through a horrible break up of the only band he had ever known (The Beatles) and had just married Linda Eastman.

He loved her, and he needed her, and he expressed it better than just about anything he had written before.  And you could HEAR it in his vocals.

 

 “God only Knows”- The Beach Boys 1966

Paul McCartney himself says this is the greatest song ever written. 

Brian Wilson wrote and produced while little brother Carl sings beautifully. 

It’s perfect.

Any other “greatest love songs” to add to the list?