The 100 Greatest Love Songs
By JIM FARBER
DAILY NEWS MUSIC CRITIC
Tuesday, February 13th, 2007
Some may find them smug, or sappy, or overplayed. But the songs here have probably made more lovers misty than any music in memory. So how did we go about compiling this list of all-time hand-holding odes? Eligible songs had to have endured at least a decade in the public consciousness, if not two or three. And they had to have been popular enough to have ranked among the top 20 pop songs in whatever year they were released.
These aren't necessarily the sexiest songs. If they had been, you'd see cuts by James Brown and Prince. But they are all classic serenades to a love achieved, the kind of songs meant to make listeners swoon.
1. "My Girl" The Temptations
2. "I'll Be There" The Jackson 5
3. "Wonderful Tonight" Eric Clapton
4. "I Just Called to Say I Love You" Stevie Wonder
5. "You Are So Beautiful" Joe Cocker
6. "In My Life" The Beatles
7. "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" Roberta Flack
8. "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" Elvis Presley
9. "Michelle" The Beatles
10. "I Can't Stop Loving You" Ray Charles
11. "Best of My Love" The Emotions
12. "Bridge Over Troubled Water" Simon & Garfunkel
13. "All I Have to Do Is Dream" The Everly Brothers
14. "You've Got a Friend" Carole King
15. "Killing Me Softly With His Song" Roberta Flack
16. "To Sir With Love" Lulu
17. "Sherry" The Four Seasons
18. "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" Queen
19. "Unchained Melody" The Righteous Brothers
20. "Save the Last Dance for Me" The Drifters
21. "Stay" Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs
22. "Will You Love Me Tomorrow?" Carole King
23. "Up on the Roof" The Drifters
24. "He's So Fine" The Chiffons
25. "I Will Follow Him" Little Peggy March
26. "Chapel of Love" The Dixie Cups
27. "My Guy" Mary Wells
28. "Happy Together" The Turtles"
29. "Back in My Arms Again" The Supremes
30. "I Got You Babe" Sonny and Cher
31. "My Love" Petula Clark
32. "(You're My) Soul and Inspiration" The Righteous Brothers
33. "I Will Always Love You" Dolly Parton/Whitney Houston
34. "When a Man Loves a Woman" Percy Sledge
35. "Reach Out I'll Be There" The Four Tops
36. "Strangers in the Night" Frank Sinatra
37. "Baby Love" The Supremes
38. "This Guy's in Love With You" Herb Alpert
39. "Love Theme From Romeo and Juliet" Henry Mancini
40. "Higher Love" Steve Winwood
41. "Sugar Sugar" The Archies
42. "The Long and Winding Road" The Beatles
43. "Close to You" The Carpenters
44. "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" Diana Ross
45. "Let's Stay Together" Al Green
46. "Heart of Gold" Neil Young
47. "Here, There and Everywhere" The Beatles
48. "Lean on Me" Bill Withers
49. "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" Stevie Wonder
50. "Let's Get It On" Marvin Gaye
51. "Midnight Train to Georgia" Gladys Knight
52. "The Way We Were" Barbra Streisand
53. "Love's Theme" The Love Unlimited Orchestra
54. "Feel Like Makin' Love" Roberta Flack
55. "Can't Get Enough of Your Love Babe" Barry White
56. "Then Came You" Dionne Warwick and the Spinners
57. "Lovin' You" Minnie Ripperton
58. "Shining Star" Earth Wind & Fire
59. "You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)" Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr.
60. "How Deep Is Your Love" The Bee Gees
61. "You're the One That I Want" John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John
62. "Love You Inside Out" Bee Gees
63. "Come On Eileen" Dexys Midnight Runners
64. "Time After Time" Cyndi Lauper
65. "Crazy for You" Madonna
66. "Take on Me" a-ha
67. "Moon River" Henry Mancini
68. "With or Without You" U2
69. "Vision of Love" Mariah Carey
70. "Kiss From a Rose" Seal
71. "Girl" The Beatles
72. "Chelsea Morning" Joni Mitchell
73. "P.S. I Love You" The Beatles
74. "Just Like a Woman" Bob Dylan
75. "Do You Believe in Magic?" The Lovin' Spoonful
76. "Still in Love With You" Al Green
77. "Somewhere" Stephen Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein
78. "On the Street Where You Live" From "My Fair Lady"
79. "Saving All My Love for You" Whitney Houston
80. "Always on My Mind" Willie Nelson
81. "Crazy" Patsy Cline
82. "Sexual Healing" Marvin Gaye
83. "Do You Want to Dance?" Bette Midler
84. "Fever" Peggy Lee
85. "Last Dance" Donna Summer
86. "Just the Way You Are" Billy Joel
87. "Songbird" Fleetwood Mac
88. "You Make Loving Fun" Fleetwood Mac
89. "At Last" Etta James
90. "All I Want" Joni Mitchell
91. "Natural Woman" Aretha Franklin
92. "A Man and a Woman" Anita Kerr Singers
93. "Someone to Watch Over Me" Linda Ronstadt
94. "Some Enchanted Evening" From "South Pacific"
95. "Do You Love Me?" From "Fiddler on the Roof"
96. "Alison" Elvis Costello
97. "How Can I Tell You" Cat Stevens
98. "Have I Told You Lately" Van Morrison
99. "When I Fall In Love" Nat King Cole
100. "Oh Girl" The Chi-Lites
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