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.

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.

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.

200 Greatest Power Ballads and Rock Love Songs of the 60s, 70s, and 80s

1. I Want To Know What Love Is- Foreigner
2. Love Hurts- Nazareth
3. Wish You Were Here- Pink Floyd
4. Feel Like Makin’ Love- Bad Company
5. Dust in the Wind- Kansas
6. All My Love- Led Zeppelin
7. (I Just) Died in Your Arms Tonight- Cutting Crew
8. Heaven- Bryan Adams
9. Beth- Kiss
10. Missing You- John Waite
11. Soldier of Fortune- Deep Purple
12. Desperado- Eagles
13. Changes- Black Sabbath
14. Right Here Waiting- Richard Marx
15. Open Arms- Journey
16. Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now- Starship
17. Albatross- Fleetwood Mac
18. Africa- Toto
19. I Remember You- Skid Row
20. Have You Ever Seen The Rain- Creedence Clearwater Revival
21. The Search Is Over- Survivor
22. Carrie- Europe
23. Alone- Heart
24. Take it To the Limit- The Eagles
25. With Or Without You- U2
26. Holiday- Scorpions
27. Wonderful Tonight- Eric Clapton
28. Is This Love- Whitesnake
29. You’re The Inspiration- Chicago
30. Angel- Aerosmith
31. Don’t Let Me Down- The Beatles
32. Hold On To The Nights- Richard Marx
33. More Than A Feeling- Boston
34. In My Dreams- REO Speedwagon
35. Still Loving You- Scorpions
36. If You Leave Me Now- Chicago
37. I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For- U2
38. When The Smoke is Going Down- Scorpions
39. Nights in White Satin- The Moody Blues
40. With A little Help From My Friends- Joe Cocker
41. Angie- Rolling Stones
42. When I See You Smile- Bad English
43. I’ll Be There For You- Bon Jovi
44. Freebird- Lynyrd Skynyrd
45. Don’t Know What You Got (Till It’s Gone)- Cinderella
46. Golden Brown- The Stranglers
47. Lyin’ Eyes- The Eagles
48. House of the Rising Sun- The Animals
49. Tequila Sunrise- Eagles
50. A Whiter Shade of Pale- Procol Harum
51. Total Eclipse of the Heart- Bonnie Tyler
52. Angelia- Richard Marx
53. Midnight Blue- Lou Gramm
54. The First Time- Robin Beck
55. Faithfully- Journey
56. Always Somewhere- Scorpions
57. Heaven- Warrant
58. When I’m With You- Sherriff
59. Sweet Child O’ Mine- Guns N’ Roses
60. When The Children Cry- White Lion
61. All or Nothing- Small Faces
62. Love Bites- Def Leppard
63. Never Tear Us Apart- INXS
64. Hard To Say I’m Sorry- Chicago
65. Lost In Love- Air Supply
66. Don’t Stop Me Now- Queen
67. Patience- Guns N’ Roses
68. Best of My Love- Eagles
69. Up Where We Belong- Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes
70. Save Your Love- Great White
71. Baby I Love Your Way- Peter Frampton
72. Heaven In Your Eyes- Loverboy
73. Can’t Fight This Feeling- REO Speedwagon
74. As Tears Go By- Rolling Stones
75. Waiting For A Girl Like You- Foreigner
76. Is There Anybody There? - Scorpions
77. The Flame- Cheap Trick
78. Come Sail Away- Styx
79. Rosanna- Toto
80. Love Song- Tesla
81. Close My Eyes Forever- Lita Ford and Ozzy Osbourne
82. Midnight Blue- ELO
83. Honestly- Stryper
84. Have I Told You Lately- Van Morrison
85. Babe- Styx
86. Only Women Bleed- Alice Cooper
87. Parisienne Walkways- Garry Moore
88. Black Velvet- Alannah Myles
89. Sunshine- Nazareth
90. You Make Loving Fun- Fleetwood Mac
91. New Kid In Town- Eagles
92. Every Rose Has Its Thorn- Poison
93. The Deeper the Love- Whitesnake
94. Drive- The Cars
95. Almost Paradise- Mike Reno and Ann Wilson
96. Don’t Dream It’s Over- Crowded House
97. Valarie- Steve Winwood
98. How Much I Feel- Ambrosia
99. The Smile Has Left Your Eyes- Asia
100. Even The Nights Are Better- Air Supply
101. Broken Wings- Mr. Mister
102. Love Walks In- Van Halen
103. On and On- Stephen Bishop
104. Ready For Love- Bad Company
105. Wild Horses- The Rolling Stones
106. Dream On- Nazareth
107. All By Myself- Eric Carmen
108. Straight From The Heart- Bryan Adams
109. The Best of Times- Styx
110. Biggest Part of Me- Ambrosia
111. You are So Beautiful- Joe Cocker
112. Dreams- Fleetwood Mac
113. Couldn’t Get It Right- Climax Blues Band
114. Snowy White- Bird of Paradise
115. The Ballad Of Jayne- L.A. Guns
116. What Love Can Be- Kingdom Come
117. Home Sweet Home- Motley Crue
118. Amanda- Boston
119. Don’t Walk Away- Danger Danger
120. Lay Back In the Arms of Someone- Smokie
121. I Believe In You- Y&T
122. Make Me Lose Control- Eric Carmen
123. Tender Is the Night- Jackson Browne
124. Sister Christian- Night Ranger
125. Auberge- Chris Rea
126. Never Say Goodbye- Bon Jovi
127. Hard Habit to Break- Chicago
128. Everytime You Go Away- Paul Young
129. Rikki Don’t Lose That Number- Steely Dan
130. I Won’t Hold You Back- Toto
131. Before The Dawn- Judas Priest
132. Dolphin’s Lullaby- Firefall
133. Baby Come Back- Player
134. God Only Knows- The Beach Boys
135. I’m In You- Peter Frampton
136. When It’s Love- Van Halen
137. Eternal Flame- The Bangles
138. Peaceful Easy Feeling- Eagles
139. Kiss You All Over- Exile
140. You Can Do Magic- America
141. Little Lies- Fleetwood Mac
142. Reminiscing- Little River Band
143. Angel Eyes- Jeff Healy
144. Love of My Life- Queen
145. Baby I’m-a Want You- Bread
146. Say You Love Me- Fleetwood Mac
147. Melissa- Allman Brothers Band
148. You Took My Breath Away- Traveling Wilburys
149. Big Log- Robert Plant
150. Sometimes When We Touch- Dan Hill
151. Lost Without Your Love- Bread
152. Steal Away- Robbie Dupree
153. Don’t Let It End- Styx
154. Sailing- Christopher Cross
155. Quarterflash- Harden My Heart
156. Precious and Few- Climax
157. Take It Easy On Me- Little River Band
158. Make It with You- Bread
159. Why Not Me- Fred Knoblock
160. Fields of Gold- Sting
161. Dream Weaver- Garry Wright
162. Nice To Be With You- Gallery
163. I’d Love You to Want Me- Lobo
164. Just Remember I Love You- Firefall
165. Sara- Starship
166. You’re The Only Woman (You and I)- Ambrosia
167. Forever- Kiss
168. Love Takes Time- Orleans
169. It’s A Heartache- Bonnie Tyler
170. I Don’t Want To Live Without You- Foreigner
171. You Are the Woman- Firefall
172. Rock Me on The Water- Jackson Browne
173. Time- The Alan Parsons Project
174. It’s Sad to Belong- England Dan & John Ford Coley
175. Weather with You- Crowded House
176. Headed For A Heartbreak- Winger
177. Don’t You (Forget About Me)- Simple Minds
178. Don’t Close Your Eyes- Kix
179. Can We Still Be Friends- Todd Rundgren
180. Hurts To Be In Love- Gino Vannelli
181. A Little Bit More- Dr Hook & The Medicine Show
182. Goodbye To Romance- Ozzy Osbourne
183. All I see Is Your Face- Dan Hill
184. Sharing the Night Together- Dr Hook & The Medicine Show
185. I Believe In You- Stryper
186. Hungry Eyes- Eric Carmen
187. Magnet and Steel- Walter Egan
188. Fallin’ In Love- Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds
189. If You Think You Know How To Love Me- Smokie
190. Second Chance- 38 Special
191. I Love You- Climax Blues Band
192. Fool If You Think It’s Over- Chris Rea
193. I’m Not In Love- 10cc
194. Ride like The Wind- Christopher Cross
195. Foolish Heart- Steve Perry
196. Kayleigh- Marillion
197. It’s All Up to You- Jim Capaldi
198. Lady- Styx
199. Always Gonna Love You- Gary Moore
200. These Dreams- Heart

© 2018 Ansel Pereira