Best valentine song popular before 1980?

February 12, 2010 9:59 AM

Your favorite/best valentine/love/torch song that was popular before 1980 (anytime before 1980)? This can include short classical and opera stuff, although that's not what I'm looking for. Please include the performer who made it popular.

I know there are a few other questions out there like this, but most of the answers refer to songs that appeared after 1980.

posted by feelinggood to media & arts (33 answers total)

Andy Williams, "Love Story (Where Do I Begin)"
posted by JanetLand at 10:03 AM on February 12, 2010

The list is endless. The Beatles' Here There and Everywhere is hard to beat.
posted by philip-random at 10:13 AM on February 12, 2010

"A Case of You" Joni Mitchell, from Blue (1971). But then I like my love tinged with a little pain and loss - makes it more real to me.
posted by greekphilosophy at 10:13 AM on February 12, 2010

"I Wont Send Roses" Jerry Herman, from Mack and Mabel (1974). (Bonus, John Barrowman singing it.)
posted by greekphilosophy at 10:18 AM on February 12, 2010

Crazy Love - Poco
Reminiscing- Little River Band
posted by eatdonuts at 10:18 AM on February 12, 2010

My Funny Valentine, of course.
posted by rhizome at 10:28 AM on February 12, 2010

"Can't Live (If Living Is Without You)" by Harry Nilsson.
posted by trinity8-director at 10:30 AM on February 12, 2010

"(Make Me Do) Anything You Want" by A Foot in Coldwater
"Precious and Few" by Climax
"I Love You" by Climax Blues Band (1981, so just misses your cut-off but included cos it's so darned romantic)
posted by Oriole Adams at 10:31 AM on February 12, 2010

Night and Day, Billie Holiday version.

I'm very partial to You're The Top, Ella Fitzgerald version, too.
posted by bearwife at 10:47 AM on February 12, 2010

Rossano Brazzi singing "Some Enchanted Evening" from South Pacific. That last line gets me every time.
posted by essexjan at 10:53 AM on February 12, 2010

I Only Want to Be With You, Dusty Springfield

Also, both of the songs reenacted in Mulholland Drive: Sixteen Reasons (Connie Stevens) and I've Told Every Little Star (Linda Scott)
posted by pete_22 at 10:57 AM on February 12, 2010

Can't believe I forgot Baby I Love You and I Can Hear Music, by the Ronettes
posted by pete_22 at 11:02 AM on February 12, 2010

Basically anything by the Carpenters.
posted by Pollomacho at 11:07 AM on February 12, 2010 [1 favorite]

Um, if you're into having a tragic, epic, literary Valentine's Day, Kate Bush's Wuthering Heights (1978, I think) is a pretty solid torch song.
posted by oinopaponton at 11:21 AM on February 12, 2010

A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square - it makes me think of love-almost-missed and love-during-wartime.

I especially love the line,"There were angels dining at the Ritz..."
posted by klpage at 11:25 AM on February 12, 2010

Unchained Melody.
posted by chazlarson at 12:26 PM on February 12, 2010

I've always been a sucker for "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)" by Rupert Holmes. Cheesy pop goodness.
posted by JeffK at 12:37 PM on February 12, 2010

Righteous Brothers - Unchained Melody

The movie is from 1990, but this version of the song was recorded in 1965.
posted by marsha56 at 12:38 PM on February 12, 2010

Argghh. Chazlarson beat me to it. Sorry.
posted by marsha56 at 12:40 PM on February 12, 2010

Read these lyrics:

First Time Ever I Saw Your Face

The first time ever I saw your face
I thought the sun rose in your eyes
And the moon and stars were the gifts you gave
To the dark and the empty skies, my love,
To the dark and the empty skies.

The first time ever I kissed your mouth
And felt your heart beat close to mine
Like the trembling heart of a captive bird
That was there at my command, my love
That was there at my command.

And the first time ever I lay with you
I felt your heart so close to mine
And I knew our joy would fill the earth
And last till the end of time my love
It would last till the end of time my love

The first time ever I saw your face, your face,
your face, your face

Then go listen to the song

Then go lie down and catch your breath.
posted by philad at 12:51 PM on February 12, 2010 [1 favorite]

Wild is the Wild. Pick your poison: Johnny Mathis 1957, Nina Simone 1964, David Bowie 1976
posted by kimdog at 1:55 PM on February 12, 2010

For something a bit passionate, a good torch song is "Fever" by Peggy Lee.
posted by srbrunson at 2:16 PM on February 12, 2010

More Mathis: It's Not for Me to Say and Chances Are.
posted by aquanaut at 2:32 PM on February 12, 2010

Then He Kissed Me, the Crystals

Don't Worry Baby, the Beach Boys

I Second That Emotion, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles

The Very Thought of You, Billie Holiday
posted by sallybrown at 2:38 PM on February 12, 2010

The ultimate lovers' song: Ne me quitte pas, Jacques Brel (NB this vid better with eyes closed)

Love Will Tear Us Apart, Joy Division (more end-of-the-affair-ish)

Love and Affection, Joan Armatrading (sigh)

Nights in White Satin, The Moody Blues (bit am-dram)

Let's It Get On, Marvin Gaye (R.A.U.N.C.H.Y.)

It Must Be Love, Madness (1980 I THINK, poss 1981 but oh well)
posted by HandfulOfDust at 6:19 PM on February 12, 2010

Let's It Get On? I got over excited. You know what I mean.
posted by HandfulOfDust at 6:21 PM on February 12, 2010

Totally after your timeline by a good 28 years or so (thus tiny text) but Jill Barber - Oh My My
posted by Decimask at 6:35 PM on February 12, 2010

One more. This.
posted by HandfulOfDust at 6:42 PM on February 12, 2010

Etta James: At Last
posted by dogmom at 6:51 PM on February 12, 2010

I immediately thought of Gram Parsons' "A Song for You".
Also "You Send Me" by Sam Cooke. And Dennis Linde's original version of "Burning Love".
posted by ajarbaday at 7:21 PM on February 12, 2010

Thanks, all.
posted by feelinggood at 7:17 AM on February 13, 2010

Thanks for all the links to Youtube. I had no idea that kind of stuff was out there. A quite a few of these above are quite new to me: Wild is the Wind, The Piña Colada song, I Won't Send Roses, etc. Thanks again.
posted by feelinggood at 7:42 AM on February 13, 2010

The Turtles - "So Happy Together"
posted by trialex at 3:26 PM on February 13, 2010