Gavin Vondercrone
Sports Editor
For the longest time, love and music have gone hand in hand with one another.
Many people have that one special love ballad that speaks to them. The kind of song you hear and want to be played at your wedding. Love and music have such a strong relationship that has resulted in some of the greatest albums in music history containing the word “love” in their titles.
You can probably see where this is going now. In belated celebration of Valentine’s Day, here are 10 of the greatest love-titled albums of all time.
1. “Love Deluxe,” by Sade.
Arguably the closest anyone has come to sounding like an angel, “Love Deluxe” would be a great album even if it only contained a cappella from Sade. Her incredible singing and songwriting on this project is matched up perfectly with simplistic, spacial production that allows every lyric to pierce like an arrow through a bullseye. Did I mention how good her singing is?
2. “A Love Supreme,” by John Coltrane.
An inarguable classic. “A Love Supreme” contains some of the richest jazz music the genre has ever seen. Four excellent sessions construct what is an introspective masterpiece of an album. Jazz perfection? Absolutely.
3. “Hounds of Love,” by Kate Bush.
An album that saw a rise in popularity back in 2022 when its big single “Running Up That Hill” made an appearance in the hit show “Stranger Things,” “Hounds of Love” was bound to leave any interested listeners in shock. Bush differentiates herself from other pop stars with her off-the-wall vocal inflections and otherworldly production style. This record is easily one of the most unique pop albums of all time.
4. “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below,” by Outkast.
This 2003 Grammy-award-winning album is home to some of Outkasts biggest hits. From the iconic “Hey Ya!” to the forever-catchy “The Way You Move,” this lengthy double-album is full of fun moments from both members of the iconic southern hip-hop duo.
5. “‘Awaken, My Love!'” by Childish Gambino.
Childish Gambino’s decision to dive into the world of soul music in 2016 led to arguably the most refined project of his career. “‘Awaken, My Love!'” showcases Gambino’s ability to blend a multitude of different genres, as well as his insane vocal range. This combination of unique instrumentals and dynamic vocals contributed to two of the biggest singles of his career in “Me and Your Mama” and “Redbone.”
6. “The Love Movement,” by A Tribe Called Quest.
Originally the group’s final project before their brief reformation in 2016, “The Love Movement” sees Tribe doing what Tribe does best; Q-Tip and the gang spitting slick flows over smoothy, jazzy instrumentals. The album’s second track “Find A Way” perfectly illustrates the vibe it brings to the table. While it may not be their best, it is certainly a worthy addition to the group’s impressive discography.
7. “Axis: Bold as Love,” by the Jimi Hendrix Experience.
Despite often being overshadowed due to its placement between two of the most highly regarded rock albums of all time, “Axis: Bold as Love” is spectacular in its own right. The album is littered with groovy, hypnotic guitar riffs and smooth, soulful vocals from Hendrix. Songs such as “Little Wing” and “If 6 were 9” truly demonstrate the incredible melodic and psychedelic aspects this project brings to the table.
8. “Midnight Love,” by Marvin Gaye.
This 1982 album showcases some of the most sensual work of Marvin Gaye’s career. Each track contains a multi-layered, groovy instrumental along with very solid singing from Gaye. Are the lyrics a bit cheesy at times? Yes, but the overall atmosphere of this project makes up for a cheesiness.
9. “FutureSex/LoveSounds,” by Justin Timberlake.
Justin Timberlake at his “coolest.” What makes this 2006 pop album stand out is its lengthy, ambitious interludes as well as some genre-bending production from the likes of Timbaland. It is on this record where Timberlake masters the cool guy persona that many have come to know him for. Overall, this album will not ruin the world tour.
10. “LIVE.LOVE.A$AP,” by A$AP Rocky.
Cloud rap at its peak. Rocky’s debut mixtape from 2011 showcases just how smooth of a performer he can be. His silky smooth flows are complimented beautifully by exquisite production from producer Clams Casino. Some of the most dreamlike and ethereal beats in the history of hip-hop can be found on this record.