200 Greatest Power Ballads and Rock Love Songs of the 60s, 70s, and 80s
When you get immersed in the hypnotic depth of a ballad you cannot but help succumb to the warmth and nostalgia. Memories come alive the moment lyrics take you on a musical escapade in the past. When you listen to rock love songs, it’s that flashback moment you associate with that stirs a range of emotions within. You get overwhelmed when the lyrics in a ballad relate to your life. The 60s paved the way for rock ballads of the future. The folk and blues scene helped power ballads emerge in new light. High octane balladry reached a new level with soul music in the 60s. Many rock artists experimented with diverse genres bringing a unique identity to rock love songs.
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The blues-rock sound that gained prominence in the late 60s propelled a new wave of ballads in the realms of rock. Acoustic rock ballads started becoming hugely popular in the 70s. Acoustic guitar intros and electro-acoustic pieces of instrumentation form an integral part of the signature rock ballad sound. Through the 70s the melodic approach in rock love songs evolved rhythmically. A melodic hard-rock sound started emerging in rock love songs towards the late 70s. Metal bands gave new identity to ballads in the 80s. The hair metal scene gained prominence in the 80s bringing to life a new sound in the form of power ballads. The hard edged melodic sound encompassed with high-pitched vocals gave power ballads in the 80s unique identity.
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The AOR scene in the 80s gave new meaning to rock love songs. The popularity of power ballads in the 80s witnessed a significant rise in compilation albums. Record companies cashed on the glam metal trend by releasing power ballad collections and rock ballad collections. A number of rock bands played sellout venues in the 80s. At concerts many bands performed ballads from their albums in front of large crowds lighting up night skies with lighters. While rock love songs have evolved a great deal in this present age, the 60s, 70s and 80s remain the true decades of ballads.
The lines below showcase a diverse list of power ballads and rock love songs of the 60s, 70s and 80s.
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200 Greatest Power Ballads and Rock Love Songs of the 60s, 70s, and 80s
- I Want To Know What Love Is- Foreigner
- Love Hurts- Nazareth
- Wish You Were Here- Pink Floyd
- Feel Like Makin’ Love- Bad Company
- Dust in the Wind- Kansas
- All My Love- Led Zeppelin
- (I Just) Died in Your Arms Tonight- Cutting Crew
- Heaven- Bryan Adams
- Beth- Kiss
- Missing You- John Waite
- Soldier of Fortune- Deep Purple
- Desperado- Eagles
- Changes- Black Sabbath
- Right Here Waiting- Richard Marx
- Open Arms- Journey
- Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now- Starship
- Albatross- Fleetwood Mac
- Africa- Toto
- I Remember You- Skid Row
- Have You Ever Seen The Rain- Creedence Clearwater Revival
- The Search Is Over- Survivor
- Carrie- Europe
- Alone- Heart
- Take it To the Limit- The Eagles
- With Or Without You- U2
- Holiday- Scorpions
- Wonderful Tonight- Eric Clapton
- Is This Love- Whitesnake
- You’re The Inspiration- Chicago
- Angel- Aerosmith
- Don’t Let Me Down- The Beatles
- Hold On To The Nights- Richard Marx
- More Than A Feeling- Boston
- In My Dreams- REO Speedwagon
- Still Loving You- Scorpions
- If You Leave Me Now- Chicago
- I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For- U2
- When The Smoke is Going Down- Scorpions
- Nights in White Satin- The Moody Blues
- With A little Help From My Friends- Joe Cocker
- Angie- Rolling Stones
- When I See You Smile- Bad English
- I’ll Be There For You- Bon Jovi
- Freebird- Lynyrd Skynyrd
- Don’t Know What You Got (Till It’s Gone)- Cinderella
- Golden Brown- The Stranglers
- Lyin’ Eyes- The Eagles
- House of the Rising Sun- The Animals
- Tequila Sunrise- Eagles
- A Whiter Shade of Pale- Procol Harum
- Total Eclipse of the Heart- Bonnie Tyler
- Angelia- Richard Marx
- Midnight Blue- Lou Gramm
- The First Time- Robin Beck
- Faithfully- Journey
- Always Somewhere- Scorpions
- Heaven- Warrant
- When I’m With You- Sherriff
- Sweet Child O’ Mine- Guns N’ Roses
- When The Children Cry- White Lion
- All or Nothing- Small Faces
- Love Bites- Def Leppard
- Never Tear Us Apart- INXS
- Hard To Say I’m Sorry- Chicago
- Lost In Love- Air Supply
- Don’t Stop Me Now- Queen
- Patience- Guns N’ Roses
- Best of My Love- Eagles
- Up Where We Belong- Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes
- Save Your Love- Great White
- Baby I Love Your Way- Peter Frampton
- Heaven In Your Eyes- Loverboy
- Can’t Fight This Feeling- REO Speedwagon
- As Tears Go By- Rolling Stones
- Waiting For A Girl Like You- Foreigner
- Is There Anybody There? - Scorpions
- The Flame- Cheap Trick
- Come Sail Away- Styx
- Rosanna- Toto
- Love Song- Tesla
- Close My Eyes Forever- Lita Ford and Ozzy Osbourne
- Midnight Blue- ELO
- Honestly- Stryper
- Have I Told You Lately- Van Morrison
- Babe- Styx
- Only Women Bleed- Alice Cooper
- Parisienne Walkways- Garry Moore
- Black Velvet- Alannah Myles
- Sunshine- Nazareth
- You Make Loving Fun- Fleetwood Mac
- New Kid In Town- Eagles
- Every Rose Has Its Thorn- Poison
- The Deeper the Love- Whitesnake
- Drive- The Cars
- Almost Paradise- Mike Reno and Ann Wilson
- Don’t Dream It’s Over- Crowded House
- Valarie- Steve Winwood
- How Much I Feel- Ambrosia
- The Smile Has Left Your Eyes- Asia
- Even The Nights Are Better- Air Supply
- Broken Wings- Mr. Mister
- Love Walks In- Van Halen
- On and On- Stephen Bishop
- Ready For Love- Bad Company
- Wild Horses- The Rolling Stones
- Dream On- Nazareth
- All By Myself- Eric Carmen
- Straight From The Heart- Bryan Adams
- The Best of Times- Styx
- Biggest Part of Me- Ambrosia
- You are So Beautiful- Joe Cocker
- Dreams- Fleetwood Mac
- Couldn’t Get It Right- Climax Blues Band
- Snowy White- Bird of Paradise
- The Ballad Of Jayne- L.A. Guns
- What Love Can Be- Kingdom Come
- Home Sweet Home- Motley Crue
- Amanda- Boston
- Don’t Walk Away- Danger Danger
- Lay Back In the Arms of Someone- Smokie
- I Believe In You- Y&T
- Make Me Lose Control- Eric Carmen
- Tender Is the Night- Jackson Browne
- Sister Christian- Night Ranger
- Auberge- Chris Rea
- Never Say Goodbye- Bon Jovi
- Hard Habit to Break- Chicago
- Everytime You Go Away- Paul Young
- Rikki Don’t Lose That Number- Steely Dan
- I Won’t Hold You Back- Toto
- Before The Dawn- Judas Priest
- Dolphin’s Lullaby- Firefall
- Baby Come Back- Player
- God Only Knows- The Beach Boys
- I’m In You- Peter Frampton
- When It’s Love- Van Halen
- Eternal Flame- The Bangles
- Peaceful Easy Feeling- Eagles
- Kiss You All Over- Exile
- You Can Do Magic- America
- Little Lies- Fleetwood Mac
- Reminiscing- Little River Band
- Angel Eyes- Jeff Healy
- Love of My Life- Queen
- Baby I’m-a Want You- Bread
- Say You Love Me- Fleetwood Mac
- Melissa- Allman Brothers Band
- You Took My Breath Away- Traveling Wilburys
- Big Log- Robert Plant
- Sometimes When We Touch- Dan Hill
- Lost Without Your Love- Bread
- Steal Away- Robbie Dupree
- Don’t Let It End- Styx
- Sailing- Christopher Cross
- Quarterflash- Harden My Heart
- Precious and Few- Climax
- Take It Easy On Me- Little River Band
- Make It with You- Bread
- Why Not Me- Fred Knoblock
- Fields of Gold- Sting
- Dream Weaver- Garry Wright
- Nice To Be With You- Gallery
- I’d Love You to Want Me- Lobo
- Just Remember I Love You- Firefall
- Sara- Starship
- You’re The Only Woman (You and I)- Ambrosia
- Forever- Kiss
- Love Takes Time- Orleans
- It’s A Heartache- Bonnie Tyler
- I Don’t Want To Live Without You- Foreigner
- You Are the Woman- Firefall
- Rock Me on The Water- Jackson Browne
- Time- The Alan Parsons Project
- It’s Sad to Belong- England Dan & John Ford Coley
- Weather with You- Crowded House
- Headed For A Heartbreak- Winger
- Don’t You (Forget About Me)- Simple Minds
- Don’t Close Your Eyes- Kix
- Can We Still Be Friends- Todd Rundgren
- Hurts To Be In Love- Gino Vannelli
- A Little Bit More- Dr Hook & The Medicine Show
- Goodbye To Romance- Ozzy Osbourne
- All I see Is Your Face- Dan Hill
- Sharing the Night Together- Dr Hook & The Medicine Show
- I Believe In You- Stryper
- Hungry Eyes- Eric Carmen
- Magnet and Steel- Walter Egan
- Fallin’ In Love- Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds
- If You Think You Know How To Love Me- Smokie
- Second Chance- 38 Special
- I Love You- Climax Blues Band
- Fool If You Think It’s Over- Chris Rea
- I’m Not In Love- 10cc
- Ride like The Wind- Christopher Cross
- Foolish Heart- Steve Perry
- Kayleigh- Marillion
- It’s All Up to You- Jim Capaldi
- Lady- Styx
- Always Gonna Love You- Gary Moore
- These Dreams- Heart
© 2018 Ansel Pereira
