Story Songs: Love is in the Air

With Valentine's Day around the corner, here are a few love songs that I have enjoyed through the years. 

The Bee Gees's last Top 10 hit in the U.S. was "One" in 1989, reaching No. 7 on the Billboard chart.  The song was written by the Gibbs brothers, one of the greatest songwriting teams in history.

James Taylor's "Only One" didn't crack the Billboard Top 100 in 1985 but it was No. 6 on the Adult Contemporary chart. The JT-penned song was on his "That's Why I'm Here" album.

The late, great Jim Croce's "I'll Have to Say I Love You in a Song" was No. 9 (No. 1 in AC) in 1974, a year after his death in an airplane accident. I've often wondered why he's not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 

Elton John's "Your Song," written by John and Bernie Taupin, was his first big hit at No. 8 in 1971.  I first heard the tune in the movie "Friends" and became a big fan of his music. 

One of the greatest Beach Boys' songs is "God Only Knows," written by Brian Wilson and Tony Asher. It is on the masterpiece "Pet Sounds" album, released in 1966 with Carl Wilson doing the lead vocals. Although charting at only No. 39 (with "Wouldn't It Be Nice"), Rolling Stone magazine rated it No. 11 on its greatest rock songs of all time. 

From the doo-wop era comes "I Only Have Eyes for You," a No. 11 cover by The Flamingos in 1959. The song was written by Harry Warren and Al Dubin for the movie Dames in 1934.  It was a No. 18 song for Art Garfunkel in 1975.

Daryl Hall and John Oates, we know them as Hall & Oates,  had an upbeat love song with "You Make My Dreams," a No. 5 tune in 1981 written by Hall, Oates, and Sara Allen. 

There are countless other love songs I've admired and appreciated through the years but I wanted to keep this list manageable (I've blogged about other love songs so check my past posts under Story Songs). 

Happy Valentine's Day to all!

Until the next time . . . 

Story Songs -- Some Friendly Tunes

Some of the most uplifting tunes are those about friendship. Aside from food and water, having friends helps sustain us through life's journey.

Friends are special. They brighten our days with their presence,  lift us up when we're down, and enhance our memories when we reflect on our lives. 

There are quite a few friendship songs that I've enjoyed through the years, so many that I can't include them all in this post. More will come later. 

Here are some of my favorites:

The Beach Boys -- "Friends"
No. 47 in 1968
Written by Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson, Dennis Wilson and Al Jardine

"We been friends now for so many years

We've been together through the good times and the tears

Turned each other on to the good things that life has to give"

Queen -- "You're My Best Friend"
No. 16 in 1976
Written by John Deacon

"Oh, you're the best friend I ever had

I've been with you such a long time

You're my sunshine and I want you to know

That my feelings are true

I really love you

Oh you're my best friend"

James Taylor -- "You've Got a Friend"
No. 1 in 1971
Written by Carole King

"You just call out my name

And you know wherever I am

I'll come running, to see you again

Winter, spring, summer or fall

All you have to do is call

And I'll be there

You've got a friend"

Simon & Garfunkel -- "Old Friends"
Released in 1968 on "Bookends" album
Written by Paul Simon

"Old friends

Memory brushes the same years

Silently sharing the same fear"

Andrew Gold -- "Thank You for Being a Friend"
No. 25 in 1978
Written by Andrew Gold

"And when we both get older

With walking canes and hair of gray

Have no fear, even though it's hard to hear

I will stand real close and say,

Thank you for being a friend"

Kenny Loggins and Stevie Nicks -- "Whenever I Call You Friend"
No. 5 in 1978
Written by Kenny Loggins and Melissa Manchester

"Whenever I call you friend

I believe I've come to understand

Everywhere we are

You and I were meant to be

Forever and ever"

The Zombies -- "Friends of Mine"
Released in 1968 on "Odyssey and Oracle" album
Written by Chris White

"It feels so good to know two people

So in love...

So in love..."

More to come later, my friends.

Until the next time...