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.