100 Essential Love Songs

~ Release by Various Artists (see all versions of this release, 6 available)

Annotation

Also released (with identical cat# and barcode) as "100 Essential Love Songs on 5 CDs" and "100 Most Beautiful Love Songs on 5 CDs".

Annotation last modified on 2026-01-26 17:00 UTC.

Tracklist

1▶CD
2▶CD
3▶CD
4▶CD
5▼CD
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1I’m Not in Love
recording engineer:
10cc (in 1974)
engineer and mixer:
Eric Stewart
producer:
10cc
bass and guitar:
Graham Gouldman (in 1974)
effects [musical effects], electric piano and lead vocals:
Eric Stewart (in 1974)
Moog:
Kevin (in 1974)
piano:
Lol (in 1974)
synclavier [control desk]:
Graham Gouldman (in 1974), Kevin (in 1974), Lol (in 1974) and Eric Stewart (in 1974)
background vocals:
Graham Gouldman (in 1974), Kevin (in 1974) and Lol (in 1974)
other vocals [whisper vocals]:
Kathy Redfern (in 1974)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Mercury Records Limited (not for release label use!) (in 1975), Mercury Records Ltd. (London) (for copyrights use only) (in 1975), Phonogram, Inc. (in 1975), Phonogram Ltd. (not for release label use!) (in 1979) and Mercury Records Ltd. (not for release label use!) (in 1996)
recorded by:
Phonogram Ltd. (London) (company name, NOT a label!)
recorded at:
Strawberry Studios in Stockport, Stockport, Greater Manchester, England, United Kingdom (in 1974)
music videos:
I’m Not in Love by 10cc
part of:
Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 319)
recording of:
I’m Not in Love (in 1974)
writer:
Graham Gouldman and Eric Stewart
publisher:
EMI Blackwood Music Inc., EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!), EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated), Man-Ken Music Ltd. (, in 1975), Schubert Music Publishing, St. Anne's Music and St. Anne’s Music Ltd.
sub-publisher:
イーエムアイ音楽出版 ソニー事業部 (EMI Music Publishing Japan Ltd., Sony Division) (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング EMI外国事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., EMI Overseas Division, sub‐publisher for non‐Japanese works) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
10cc3.856:02
2The Look of Love (Part 1)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Mercury Records Ltd. (not for release label use!) (in 1982)
partial recording of:
The Look of Love
writer:
Martin Fry, David Palmer (drummer (ABC/The The)), Stephen Singleton and Mark White (ABC/Vice Versa)
publisher:
10 Music Ltd., Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships), Neutron Music, Neutron Music Ltd., Virgin Music (Publishers) Ltd. and Virgin Music, Inc. (US arm of Virgin’s publishing company)
part of:
Mantrap (ABC long-form film)
ABC3:31
3Lessons in Love
engineer and mixer:
Julian Mendelsohn (Australian record producer and engineer)
assistant producer:
Julian Mendelsohn (Australian record producer and engineer)
producer:
Wally Badarou and Level 42
guest saxophone:
Gary Barnacle
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Polydor Ltd. (aka Polydor Ltée, Canadian manufacturer and distributor from 1966–1978, may show maple-leaf logo) (in 1986) and Polydor Ltd. (UK) (not for release label use; fka Polydor Records Ltd.) (in 1986)
recording of:
Lessons in Love
lyricist:
Boon Gould
writer:
Wally Badarou and Mark King (bass guitarist and vocalist)
publisher:
BMG Music Publishing Ltd., Chappell Music Ltd., Findhaven Ltd., Hornall Brothers Music Ltd. (limited company), Island Visual Arts Ltd., Level 42 Music Ltd., Ruby Ruby Ltd. and Warner/Chappell Music Ltd. (1996–2019)
Level 423.64:07
4Love and Affection
engineer and producer:
Glyn Johns
12 string guitar:
Jerry Donahue
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
Joan Armatrading
bass guitar:
Dave Markee
drums (drum set):
Dave Mattacks
saxophone:
Jimmy Jewell
background vocals:
Joan Armatrading, Leroy Champaign and Pete Clarke (US actor/singer)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
A&M Records, Inc. (in 1976)
recorded at:
Olympic Studios (1966–2009) in Barnes, Richmond upon Thames, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom
recording of:
Love and Affection
lyricist and composer:
Joan Armatrading
publisher:
Irving Music (BMI)
Joan Armatrading44:26
5Wild World
producer:
Paul Samwell-Smith
bass guitar:
John Ryan (producer a/k/a “The Chicago Kid”) (in 1970-07)
drums (drum set):
Harvey Burns (in 1970-07)
guitar and keyboard:
Cat Stevens (now known as Yusuf Islam) (in 1970-07)
guitar [2nd]:
Alun Davies (in 1970-07)
solo violin:
John Rostein (in 1970-07)
vocals:
Cat Stevens (now known as Yusuf Islam) (in 1970-07)
strings arranger:
Del Newman (British conductor, orchestrator, arranger)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Island Records (NOT for release label use! A division of UMG Recordings, Inc.) (in 1970), Island Records Ltd. (not for release label use! company known by this name from 1962‐05‐08 to 1999‐03‐29, and since 2014‐06‐25) (in 1970) and Universal Island Records Ltd. (not for release label use! company known by this name from 1999-03-29 to 2014-06-25) (in 1970)
recording of:
Wild World (in 1970-07)
lyricist and composer:
Cat Stevens (now known as Yusuf Islam)
publisher:
Sony Tunes, Inc. (ended), Island Music Ltd., Island Music, Inc. (work publisher – NOT related to the Island imprint now owned by UMG), Salafa Ltd., Freshwater Music Ltd. (from 1970 to present) and Irving Music, Inc. (from 1970 to present)
Cat Stevens3.93:21
6I Love Your Smile
producer:
Narada Michael Walden
arranger:
Narada Michael Walden
produced for:
Perfection Light Productions
recording of:
I Love Your Smile
writer:
Jarvis Baker, Sylvester Jackson, Shanice Lorraine Wilson-Knox and Narada Michael Walden
publisher:
Carlin Music Corporation, EMI April Music Inc., EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated), Gratitude Sky Music, Inc., Shanice 4 U Music and WB Music Corp. (1929–2019)
Shanice44:21
7Your Lies
recording of:
Your Lies
writer:
Bill Bottrell and Shelby Lynne
Shelby Lynne42:57
8Martha’s Harbour
engineer:
Tony Phillips (engineer, mix, remix credits)
producer:
Paul Samwell-Smith
guitar:
Tim Bricheno (in 1987)
vocals:
Julianne Regan (in 1987)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Phonogram Ltd. (London) (company name, NOT a label!) (in 1988)
recorded at:
Ridge Farm in Dorking, Surrey, England, United Kingdom (in 1987) and The Manor in Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom (in 1987)
part of:
The Downloader’s Music Source Book (number: 369)
recording of:
Martha’s Harbour (in 1987)
writer:
Tim Bricheno, Andy Cousin and Julianne Regan
publisher:
BMG Music Publishing Ltd.
All About Eve3.53:05
9There She Goes
engineer:
Dave Charles (British drummer as well as producer & engineer)
producer:
Bob Andrews (keyboardist and producer)
mixer:
Steve Lillywhite
bass guitar and background vocals:
John Power (of The La’s and Cast)
drums (drum set):
Chris Sharrock
electric guitar:
John Byrne (John 'Boo' Byrne, electric guitarist)
lead vocals:
Lee Mavers
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Go! Discs Ltd. (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1988)
part of:
NME: Greatest “Indie” Anthems Ever: 2007 (number: 45), TV Cream: Real 100 Best Singles Ever (number: 62) and Indie 88: Top 500 Indie Rock Songs (number: 418)
recording of:
There She Goes (The La’s)
lyricist and composer:
Lee Mavers
publisher:
Go! Discs Music Ltd. (publisher) and Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd. (UK)
sub-publisher:
Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc. (song publisher, never a release label) and ヤマハミュージックEH(CM) (Yamaha Music EH(CM))
The La’s42:43
10Love Me for a Reason
cover recording of:
Love Me for a Reason
writer:
Johnny Bristol, Wade Brown Jr. and David Henry Jones
publisher:
Jobete Music (UK) Ltd. and Jobete Music Ltd (in 1974)
recording of:
Love Me for a Reason
writer:
Johnny Bristol, Wade Brown Jr. and David Henry Jones
publisher:
Jobete Music (UK) Ltd. and Jobete Music Ltd (in 1974)
The Osmonds4:03
11Achy Breaky Heart
producer:
Jim Cotton and Joe Scaife
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Mercury Records (or just “Mercury”; a UMG imprint, do not use it for ©/℗ credits) (in 2011)
music videos:
Achy Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus
part of:
Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 464)
cover recording of:
Achy Breaky Heart
lyricist and composer:
Donald L. Tress
Billy Ray Cyrus2.53:26
12Kiss Me Honey Honey Kiss Me
vocals:
Shirley Bassey (Welsh singer) (in 1958)
orchestra:
Wally Stott & His Orchestra & Chorus (in 1958)
recording of:
Kiss Me, Honey Honey, Kiss Me (in 1958)
writer:
Michael Julien (British songwriter) and Albon Timothy (jazz and calypso musician and songwriter)
Shirley Bassey2:28
13If I Could Turn Back Time
recording engineer and mixer:
Frank Wolf (engineer at Skyline Recording)
additional engineer:
Guy Roche
assistant engineer:
Ken Allardyce, Mario Luccy, Craig Porteils (producer, engineer) and Duane Seykora
producer:
Guy Roche and Diane Warren (US songwriter)
additional guitar:
Gene Black and Glenn Sciurba
bass guitar:
John Pierce (US session bassist)
drums (drum set) and tambourine:
Mark T. Williams
guitar:
Steve Lukather (guitarist, vocalist, composer, producer and arranger)
keyboard:
Alan Pasqua and Guy Roche
background vocals:
Michael Anthony (US bassist, formerly of Van Halen), Robin Beck, Desmond Child, Jimmy Demers, Jean McClain and Maria Vidal (American singer-songwriter)
lead vocals:
Cher
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Geffen Records (in 1989), The David Geffen Company (legal rights relating to Geffen Records) (in 1989), Union Square Music Ltd. (for copyright use only, holding company of Union Square Music) (in 2018) and Universal Music Operations Limited (not for release label use! UK&IE subsidiary of UMG, legal name of Universal Music UK) (in 2018)
recorded at:
Bill Schnee Studios in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States and Criterion Studios in Los Angeles, California, United States
mixed at:
The Complex Studios in Los Angeles, California, United States
part of:
Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 386)
recording of:
If I Could Turn Back Time
lyricist and composer:
Diane Warren (US songwriter)
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!) and Realsongs (in 1989)
Cher3.754:02
14Sea of Love
cover recording of:
Sea of Love
publisher:
Fort Knox Music Co and Tek Publishing
recording of:
Sea of Love
publisher:
Fort Knox Music Co and Tek Publishing
Marty Wilde2:26
15You’re the Best Thing
drums (drum set) [drums] programming:
Peter Wilson (UK Producer)
producer:
Paul Weller (English singer‐songwriter and musician) and Peter Wilson (UK Producer)
additional keyboard [keyboards] and bass synthesizer [bass synth]:
Mick Talbot (from 1983-10 until 1984-01)
guitar [guitars] and synthesizer [synths]:
Paul Weller (English singer‐songwriter and musician) (from 1983-10 until 1984-01)
vocals:
Mick Talbot (from 1983-10 until 1984-01) and Paul Weller (English singer‐songwriter and musician) (from 1983-10 until 1984-01)
additionally recorded at:
CBS Studios (London, 1972–1989) in London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (from 1983-10 until 1984-01)
recorded at:
Solid Bond Studio in London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (from 1983-10 until 1984-01)
recording of:
You’re the Best Thing (from 1983-10 until 1984-01)
lyricist and composer:
Paul Weller (English singer‐songwriter and musician)
publisher:
BMG Music Publishing Ltd., EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!) and Universal Music Publishing MGB Australia
The Style Council25:41
16I’ll Be There
producer:
Nickolas Ashford, Hal Davis and Valerie Simpson
arranger:
Bob West (US session bassist, producer & songwriter)
recording of:
I’ll Be There (in 1970-06)
writer:
Bob West (US session bassist, producer & songwriter), Hal Davis, Berry Gordy and Willie Hutch
publisher:
EMI April Music Inc., EMI Songs Australia, Jobete Music Co., Inc. and Stone Diamond Music Corporation
part of:
MJ: The Musical
The Jackson 54.353:57
17Unchained Melody
engineer:
Larry Levine
producer:
Phil Spector
solo lead vocals:
Bobby Hatfield (in 1965-03)
arranger:
Jack Nitzsche (American musician and score composer)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Spectrum Music (Universal Music Group budget label), PolyGram Records, Inc. (not for release label use! US division of PolyGram) (in 1965, in 1968) and Universal Records (UMG subsidiary, “RECORDS” must be a part of the logo; read annotation) (in 1966)
recorded at:
Radio Recorders Studios (Santa Monica Blvd. location since 1949) in West Hollywood, California, United States (in 1965-03)
part of:
The Co-Op: Top 10 British Funeral Songs (number: 8), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 269) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 366)
cover recording of:
Unchained Melody (in 1965-03)
publisher:
Hy Zaret
lyricist:
Hy Zaret
composer:
Alex North (US composer)
publisher:
Frank Music Corp. (ended), HZUM Publishing, MPL Communication Ltd. (not for release label use! Paul McCartney-related, London-based company), MPL Communications Australia, MPL Musik Verlags GmbH (do not use as a release label! this is a music publisher), North Melody Publishing and Unchained Melody Publishing, LLC
sub-publisher:
日音 Synch事業部 (NICHION, INC. Synch Division)
part of:
The 28th Academy Award for Best Original Song (number: 2)
The Righteous Brothers33:38
18More Than Words
recording of:
More Than Words
writer:
Nuno Bettencourt and Gary Cherone
publisher:
Almo Music Corp. (USA, affiliated with ASCAP) and Funky Metal Publishing
Extreme5:36
19Say You Say Me
producer:
James Anthony Carmichael and Lionel Richie
brass [horn] arranger and strings [string] arranger:
James Anthony Carmichael
arranger:
James Anthony Carmichael and Lionel Richie
vocals arranger:
Lionel Richie
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1985), Universal Motown Records (not for release label use; use “Universal Motown” instead) (in 2003) and Motown Records (not for label use; use “Motown” instead) (in 2015)
recording of:
Say You, Say Me
lyricist and composer:
Lionel Richie
publisher:
Brockman Music
part of:
The 58th Academy Award for Best Original Song (number: 1) and Academy Award for Best Original Song (number: 1985 winner)
Lionel Richie4.154:02
20All Night Long
Mary Jane Girls4:07

Credits

Release

manufactured in:Singapore
printed in:Singapore
copyrighted (©) by and phonographic copyright (℗) by:Universal Music International Ltd. (not for release label use! copyrights only)

Release group

part of:100 Classics (order: 2)