🎵 1970s Pop Wedding Songs

42 timeless 1970s hits for cocktails, dinner, and the dance floor

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This is the final article in the series of 1970s wedding songs by genre. The article includes pop songs, folk and singer-songwriter songs, and world crossover hits. Many songs can be included in multiple genres. I did my best to include songs in only one genre.

Table of Contents

• 1970s Pop Wedding Songs

  • Cocktails & Dinner

  • Party Time

• 1970s Singer-Songwriter / Folk Songs

• 1970s World Crossover Songs

• Spotify Playlist - 42 songs!

Every song on the playlist was released in the 1970s!

See my previously released 1970s Country Songs, 1970s R&B Soul Funk, 1970s Rock Songs, 1970s Disco Party Playlist, and 1970s Yacht Rock Cocktail Hour!

1970s Pop Wedding Songs

Cocktails & Dinner

After the Lovin' - Engelbert Humperdinck

1976 - The song was nominated for Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. It reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 but topped the Adult Contemporary chart.

Escape (The Piña Colada Song) - Rupert Holmes

1979 - The song hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in December 1979, making it the very last chart-topper of the decade. The lyrics tell a story of two lovers connecting through ads in the newspaper. It has been featured in Shrek and Guardians of the Galaxy.

Love of My Life – Queen

1975 - Freddie Mercury wrote the song for his longtime companion, Mary Austin, and it reflects their deep bond. Mercury often let the crowd sing most of the lyrics during concerts - and during weddings.

Magic - Pilot

1974 - “Magic” was the Scottish band Pilot’s debut single and their first big hit, reaching #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was memorably used in Nesquik ads and appeared in movies like Herbie: Fully Loaded and Happy Gilmore.

Me and Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin

1971 - Joplin’s version was released after her death. It hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became her only chart-topping single. The track made her the second artist in history to have a posthumous #1 (after Otis Redding with “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay”).

Say You Love Me - Fleetwood Mac

1976 - The song was the band’s first U.S. Top 40 hit, reaching #11 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song is famous for its three-part vocal blend, with McVie joined by Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham.

Top of the World - Carpenters

1973 - Before the Carpenters released it as a single, country singer Lynn Anderson recorded it. The Carpenters’ re-recorded single soared to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

We've Only Just Begun - Carpenters

1970 - The song began as a TV commercial for Crocker Bank about young couples starting their lives together. It became one of their defining hits, reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The track earned the Carpenters their first Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Performance.

You Are So Beautiful - Joe Cocker

1973 - The song was co-written by Billy Preston (the “Fifth Beatle”) and lyricist Bruce Fisher. Cocker’s version climbed to #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. The track’s power comes from its simplicity: short length, sparse instrumentation (mostly piano and strings), and Cocker’s raw, soulful voice.

Party Time

Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor) - Robert Palmer

1979 - The song was written and first recorded in 1978 by Moon Martin. It became one of his signature tracks, making it to #14 on the Billboard Hot 100. The track has a rock-driven, guitar-heavy sound that shows his versatility.

Copacabana (At the Copa) - Barry Manilow

1978 - The song was named after the legendary Copacabana nightclub in New York City. It reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Male Vocal Performance. The track blended disco beats with theatrical storytelling.

Da Doo Ron Ron - Shaun Cassidy

1977 - The song was first released by The Crystals, who made it a Top 5 hit in 1963. Cassidy’s version hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Cassidy was already a famous from playing Joe Hardy on The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries.

Don't Bring Me Down - Electric Light Orchestra

1979 - The song became ELO’s highest-charting single in the U.S., peaking at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. NASA even used it as a wake-up call for astronauts on Space Shuttle missions.

Don't Go Breaking My Heart - Elton John & Kiki Dee

1976 - The song became Elton John’s first-ever #1 single in the U.K. It also hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The track is a playful homage to Motown duets, inspired by Marvin Gaye’s duets with Tammi Terrell.