Marc Spitz

Valentine’s Day special: My top 10 love songs.

Love songs, nothing but love songs, the old radio ads used to promise. I never listened to that station, I was too busy dyeing a platinum streak in my jet black hair and finding the perfect old man’s raincoat to skulk around Long Island in. But I’ve always had a secret weakness for them and if I’ve ever made you a mix tape (you know who you are) you know that’s true. Love songs have informed my personality irreversibly. I remember hearing “The Metro” by Berlin when I was like, just starting to want a girlfriend and when Terry Nunn sang “I remember hating you for loving me,” that set me back about two years. “Can that happen? Can a girl hate you for loving her? What is this shit called love?” Anyway, I decided this morning to celebrate Valentine’s Day with a top 10 list (in order) of the best love songs (in my opinion) since the year I was born (‘’69 annee erotique). It’s not a perfect list. It’s just what I’m feeling today. For the record, I disqualified songs that would otherwise be here if they weren’t associated with movies (Hall and Oates’ “You Make My Dreams Come True” or U2’s “All I Want Is You” and I have a planet of regret on my shoulder that I can’t include them). I also think a love song has to season and grow with age so I omitted some current favorites (“Firework”?). Also out are worthy songs like “Cactus” by Pixies or Elvis C.’s “I Want You” cause let’s face it, those songs ain’t about love.

10.
“Valerie Loves Me” – Material Issue – 1991
It was a choice between this and “No Matter What” by Badfinger and I chose this. Kind of gives you a little insight into my unhealthy take on romance since like three of these dudes killed themselves (two in Badfinger and Material’s Jim Ellison who is really the American Ian Curtis). But before he did, he gave us this, which insures immortality. I once knew and worked (in the theater) with a girl named Valerie. She didn’t love me but I think we all have that one “Valerie” in our lives – where if nothing is going right and the bills are due and your band never became Weezer even though they should have – she would be standing by you as the crowds thinned and the hope faded. Hole used to cover this too.

9. “Could It Be I’m Falling In Love” – The Spinners – 1973
I remember a much more lush version that I was basically raised on in the 70s. Shag carpet. An 8 track player shaped like an astronaut helmet and all these thick, dreamy love songs out of Philly. Gamble and Huff, etc. The one thing mom and dad agreed on before she kicked him out was Philly-style Soul – Teddy, Stylistics, O’Jays, and the Spinners who were from Detroit, I believe but count. This version is actually kind of folky and loungy and makes me think someone should cover it but not in a cheeky, ironic, avant garde way like Bill Callahan or too sincere either. A difficult balance but a good challenge, I think. Kind of like love itself.

8. Big Star – “I’m In Love With A Girl” – 1972
Probably the most predictable (and definitely the shortest) entry here. I mean every time Alex Chilton opened his mouth it was Valentine’s Day (maybe not when he sang “Bangkok”). This was the song you’d use to fill the last like less than two minutes of your mix tape. This or “Minimum Wage” by They Might Be Giants (if you were me that is… and be happy you aren’t). I’m going to put “Johnsburg, Illinois” by Tom Waits here – another tiny song that shouts from the hilltop with the bursting heart. Call it a tie.

7. Blondie – “(I’m Always Touched By Your) Presence Dear” – 1977
“Aright you monkeys…” I put this one on the mix CD I made for the jukebox at WXOU bar in the West Village so that in case I ever meet someone there and fall in love (which will never, ever, ever happen) it would be handy. There are verses where I have no idea what Deb is talking about (“When we play at cards you use an extra set?”) but she rhymes “I don’t know yet,” with “could it be Kismet,” so she wins. It’s got that weathered but still fresh intimacy/familiarity thing, like “Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)” by Cockney Rebel, “The Lady Don’t Mind” by Talking Heads or “Radar Love”… yes, “Radar Love.”

6. The Jesus and Mary Chain – “Head On” – 1989
I once interviewed the Mary Chain in the children’s room of the Paramount Hotel in Midtown Manhattan. They were surrounded by stuffed animals, black clad, sullen and probably already drunk even though it was noon. I told them they were the coolest band that ever lived. And this is the coolest love song ever written. “I get an electric charge from you…” Uh huh!

5. Neil Sedaka – “Laughter in the Rain” – 1975
“Bad Blood” was the first Neil Sedaka song I ever heard. This was the second. Polar opposites, emotionally. I prefer this one (even though the former features Elton). It’s not a song about fucking in the rain like that scene in Match Point. It’s no Afternoon Delight perv thing, it’s pure. And few songs capture that feeling where you don’t care if you get wet or ever see your front door again. This one and the Mary Chain above it def. do.

4. The Whispers – “It’s A Love Thing” – The Whispers – 1981
I learned about love in a roller rink. Couples-only skates and… sitting out couples only skates until “Hungry Heart” or “The Tide Is High” came on again. Not the best of the lot probably but high up because of its era and because falling in love is how it feels to be platinum…

3. The Spiral Staircase – “More Today Than Yesterday” – 1969
I first heard this song on an episode of Ally McBeal (I had a lot of free time in the mid 90s before getting hired by Spin) and became obsessed with it. In the days when you couldn’t just click on something, I had to track it down (House of Oldies in the West Village) and DJ’d it almost every night. Scott from Pavement took his stage name from these guys, I believe. In case you’re complaining that it’s too “pop.”

2. ABC – “Be Near Me” – 1985
If “Poison Arrow” off their still amazing debut The Lexicon of Love is the ultimate love gone wrong song, this is its flip side. Martin Fry, your reputation is ecstasy indeed.

1. Echo and the Bunnymen – “Silver” – 1984
David Cassidy woke up in love this morning, but I woke up this Valentine’s Day singing, “T-t-t-t-tips.” Ocean Rain, is the best sex album ever made. This is the best love song of my lifetime. Period.