Just in time for Valentine's Day:



The 100 most romantic love songs of all time

BY JIM FARBER

Some may find them smug. Or sappy. Or at the very least overplayed. But the songs below have probably made more lovers misty than any music in memory.

So how did we go about compiling this list of hand-holding odes? Eligible songs had to have endured at least a decade in the public consciousness, if not two or three. More, they had to have been popular enough to have ranked among the Top 20 songs in whatever year they were released.


One more note: These aren't necessarily the sexiest songs of all time. If they had been, you would have seen cuts by James Brown and Prince near the top. Neither are they the edgiest. Or those that stoke the most pained yearning. Instead, they're classic serenades to a love achieved, songs meant to make you swoon.


1. "My Girl" - The Temptations
2. "I'll Be There" - The Jackson 5
3. "Wonderful Tonight" - Eric Clapton
4. "I Just Called to Say I Love You" - Stevie Wonder
5. "You Are So Beautiful" - Billy Preston/Joe Cocker
6. "In My Life" - The Beatles
7. "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" - Roberta Flack
8. "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" - Elvis Presley
9. "Michelle" - The Beatles
10. "I Can't Stop Loving You" - Ray Charles
11. "Best Of My Love" - The Emotions
12. "Bridge Over Troubled Water" - Simon & Garfunkel
13. "All I Have To Do Is Dream" - The Everly Brothers
14. "You've Got A Friend" - Carole King
15. "Killing Me Softly With His Song" - Roberta Flack
16. "To Sir With Love" - Lulu
17. "Sherry" - the Four Seasons
18. "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" - Queen
19. "Unchained Melody" - The Righteous Brothers
20. "Save The Last Dance For Me" - The Drifters
21. "Stay" - Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs
22. "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" - Carole King
23. "Up On The Roof" - The Drifters/Carole King
24. "He's So Fine" - The Chiffons
25. "I Will Follow Him" - Little Peggy March
26. "Chapel Of Love" - The Dixiecups
27. "My Guy" - Mary Wells
28. "Happy Together" - The Turtles"
29. "Back In My Arms Again" - The Supremes
30. "I Got You Babe" - Sonny and Cher
31. "My Love" - Petulia Clark
32. "You're My Soul and Inspiration" - The Righteous Brothers
33. "I Will Always Love You" - Dolly Parton/Whitney Houston
34. "When A Man Loves A Woman" - Percy Sledge
35. "Reach Out I'll Be There" - The Four Tops
36. "Strangers In The Night" - Frank Sinatra
37. "Baby Love" - The Supremes
38. "This Guys' In Love With You" - Herb Alpert
39. "Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet" - Henry Mancini
40. "Higher Love" - Stevie Winwood
41. "Sugar Sugar" - The Archies
42. "The Long and Winding Road" - The Beatles
43. "Close To You" - The Carpenters
44. "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" - Diana Ross
45. "Lets Stay Together" - Al Green
46. "Heart Of Gold" - Neil Young
47. "Here There And Everywhere" - The Beatles
48. "Lean On Me" - Bill Withers
49. "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" - Stevie Wonder
50. "Let's Get It On" - Marvin Gaye
51. "Midnight Train To Georgia" - Gladys Knight
52. "The Way We Were" - Barbra Streisand
53. "Love's Theme" - The Love Unlimited Orchestra
54. "Hooked On A Feeling" - Blue Swede
55. "Feel Like Makin' Love" - Roberta Flack
56. "Can't Get Enough Of YOur Love Baby" - Barry White
57. "Then Came You" - Dionne Warwick and The Spinners
58. "Lovin You" - Minnie Ripperton
59. "Shining Star" - Earth Wind & Fire
60. "You Don't Have To Be A Star (To Be In My Show)." - Marilyn McCoo and Billy David Jr.
61. "How Deep Is Your Love" - The Bee Gees
62. "You're The One That I Want" - John Travlota and Olivia Newton John
63. "Love You Inside Out" - Bee Gees
64. "Come On Eileen" - Dexy's Midnight Runners
65. "Time After Time" - Cyndi Lauper
66. "Crazy For You" - Madonna
67. "Take On Me" - A-Ha
68. "Moon River" - Henry Mancini
69. "With or Without You" - U2
70. "Vision Of Love" - Mariah Carey
71. "Kiss From A Rose" - Seal
72. "Girl" - The Beatles
73. "Chelsea Morning" - Joni Mitchell
74. "P.S. I Love You" - The Beatles
75. "Just Like A Woman" - Bob Dylan
76. "Do You Believe In Magic" - The Lovin' Spoonful
77. "Still In Love With You" - Al Green
78. "Somewhere" - Steven Sondheim
78. "On The Street Where You Live" - Lerner and Lowe
79. "Saving All My Love For You" - Whitney Houston
80. "Always On My Mind" - Willie Nelson
81. "Crazy" - Patsy Cline
82. "Sexual Healing" - Marvin Gaye
83. "Do You Wanna Dance" - Bette Midler
84. "Fever" - Peggy Lee
85. "Last Dance" - Donna Summer
86. "Just The Way You Are" - Billy Joel
87. "Songbird" - Fleetwood Mac
88. "You Make Lovin' Fun" - Fleetwood Mac
89. "At Last" - Etta James
90. "All I Really Want" - Joni Mitchell
91. "Natural Woman" - Aretha Franklin
92. "Theme Song From A Man and A Woman" - Anita Kerr Singers
93. "Someone To Watch Over Me" - Linda Ronstadt
94. "Some Enchanted Evening" - From "South Pacific"
95. "Do You Love Me?" - from Fiddler On The Roof
96. "Alison" - Elvis Costello
97. "How Can I Tell You" - Cat Stevens
98. "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You" - Van Morrison
99. "When I Fall In Love" - Nat King Cole
100. "Oh Girl" - The Chi-Lites