The 1970s are often the decade remembered for glam rock, but there was so much more to it! Funk, R&B, hard rock, soft rock and disco also carved out a place in the music world during the ’70s. And let’s not forget the sultry ballads and the raunchy rock ‘n’ roll hits that had the single purpose of getting listeners in the mood for that sweet, sweet lovemaking.
Starts at 60 has put together a list of some of the sexiest songs of the ’70s, and we want you to tell us about the ones we’re forgetting!
Marvin Gaye’s ‘Let’s Get It On’ made it to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1973. It became the singer’s most successful single for Motown Records and is one of Marvin Gaye’s most well-known songs. Thanks to the song’s sexually explicit content, it also gave Gaye a reputation as something of a sex symbol when it first hit the charts.
“Gonna find my baby, gonna hold her tight
Gonna grab some afternoon delight
My motto’s always been ‘when it’s right, it’s right’
Why wait until the middle of a cold dark night?”
You really can’t ignore those lyrics, can you? Bill Danoff, one of the band’s members, is responsible for the sexually suggestive words.
Donna Summer’s sexy song from the 1970s was perhaps one of the first to include sex sounds. Maybe avoid playing this one with little ears nearby otherwise who knows how you’re going to explain that explicit moaning and groaning.
The way Rod Stewart lines up his lady love in this film clip could come across as a bit creepy by today’s standard, but back in 1976, his approach was considered pretty sexy. Not only was he presenting as rather dapper with a bit of a cool edge (we cannot ignore that hair), the lyrics are something else. We’ve included just a taste of them below to refresh your memory …
“Kick off your shoes and sit right down
Loosen off that pretty French gown
Let me pour you a good long drink
Ooh baby don’t you hesitate cause …”
This theme song was for the James Bond movie The Spy Who Loved Me, but aside from the first verse: “Like heaven above me, the spy who loved me is keepin’ all my secrets safe tonight” there is no mention of the film. Simon didn’t write the song, Marvin Hamlisch composed it as a lust-drunk anthem about James Bond’s sexual prowess and Carole Bayer Sager came up with the lyrics.
Would it even be a sexy-song list without an appearance by Mr Barry White? Arguably his most well-known song would be ‘Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Baby’ but ‘I’m Gonna Love You Just A Little Bit More, Baby’ was where the world was introduced to the voice. The way he effortlessly seemed to turn melodies into mating calls is unparalleled by other singers, evidenced in this song that is full of sexiness and sensuality.
A number one smash for country-rock band Exile, ‘Kiss You All Over’ has three lines that leave no doubt as to what this song’s all about. “When you’re laying in my arms, you do the things you do”, “So show me, show me everything you do”, “I want to kiss you all over, ’till the night closes in”.
Another sexy soft rock hit from the vault, and while eye patches don’t do it for everyone there was a certain popularity to this song in 1976.
American singer-songwriter Sylvia found a hit with this raunchy song, on high rotation in 1973, making it to number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Just like Donna Summer’s sexy ‘Love To Love You, Baby’, Sylvia infuses the lyrics with her heavy breathing, moaning and a little bit of Latina love language.
There is no escaping the lyrics of Teddy Pendergrass’s song ‘Turn Off The Lights’. His first hit was ‘Close The Door’, but once that door closed he went straight and turned off the lights and when he starts talking about taking showers together and rubbing each other with hot oil, is it any wonder why? Phwoar!