Back in the days of cassette tapes I created a special tape of love songs. I played it on my first date with Shelly. With Valentines Day approaching and many groups holding “Sweethearts Dances” this weekend or next, why not share some (most) of my fave “Songs of Love” and invite your suggestions.

Inspired by Friday blogger Fred Klein I previously compiled Songs To Ring In The New Year and Happy Holidays in Songs. I also created playlists for both you may consider on my YouTube Channel. And of course there’s one of each in my iTunes. In both of these cases, I added suggestions by others.

With the love songs list and another, Inspiration, also posted to YouTube, I view the selections more personal.

Nonetheless, please view my setlist and share the tunes that work for you, preferably with links to the song(s).

Some songs you may recall such as Happy Together (The Turtles) for which I still have the 45. Indeed most of my setlist comes from the 60’s and 70’s; though three were recorded and released in this millenium, one released less than two years ago. The songs represent most of my fave performers; and you’ll find The Beatles (twice) and Beach Boys (three times) represented, including Wouldn't It Be Nice.

The songwriter most represented, no surprise to anyone who knows this correspondent well – Richie Furay who wrote and sang songs as a solo artist, member of the David Geffen created “supergroup” Souther Hillman Furay Band modeled after Crosby Still Nash and Young, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Buffalo Springfield and Poco which also belongs in that hall. Richie still performs Kind Woman, first released in 1968 on Springfield’s Last Time Around LP and often considered the first Poco tune. The six Poco tunes of course includes my all-time fave, A Good Feelin' To Know and the less well known Make Me A Smile (with really great lyrics including “You make it so hard for me not to stare.”). Richie sings on 17 songs in all, 16 his compositions, and one Neil Young Springfield tune (and B side to the hit single “For What It’s Worth”), “Do I Have To Come Right Out And Say It.”

Only one Rolling Stones selection (and Mick Jagger does not sing lead) appears but their guitarist Ronnie Wood appears four times for his solo work. Peter Frampton appears six times, five tunes you may know from his double live LP. The sixth song inexplicably in my view got left off the live Album but made the 40^th Anniversary set. Eric Clapton appears three time, two as part of Derek and the Dominos but not the song that titles that band’s lone studio LP. Other artists include Roger McGuinn, Genesis, Traffic, Dave Mason, Elton John, Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship, Moody Blues, Elton John, Loggins and Messina, Badfinger, the New Riders of the Purple Sage and Emerson Lake & Palmer.

One song you’d know only if you follow the country charts: It Must Be Love; but the version include is performed by its songwriters Craig Bickhardt and Jack Sundrud who plays bass in the last three (and current) iterations of Poco.

So check out the setlist, and if you have time, sample the youtube playlist.

And please share what song(s) work for you (links preferred).