I mean squishy love songs are great too, like When You love A Woman and Faithfully and a lot of the 80s power ballad ilk. But I also like the "darker, regretful" ballads
First, from the great Frankie Valli:
My Eyes Adored You -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GukDGcDl ... re=related - Pretty touching song, and the way the vocals fit together rhythmically would please even the most constipated Poetry 101 teacher
The Guess Who - These Eyes -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mra9aUOwwfA - One of Burton's toughest vocals, and that's saying a lot. He's still in great voice today, but this one is tough for him nowadays. Great song, plenty of emotion
Todd Rundgren - It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ED8I3ekuujQ - More great harmonies on a darker ballad. Todd is god.
and of course just to work some MR in:
Toto - Out of Love - Great lyrics, a gospelesque chorus, and Luke playing restrained but very emotional -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUx_FpJ55EM
Toto - I'll Be Over You - Same description as above, plus a little Michael McDonald added for taste -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgIvXE3TCiA
Then a nice squishier ballad from Steve Perry's friend, David Pack:
Ambrosia - You're The Only Woman -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdfYninTutY - Great harmony, great falsetto, great groove, great song
And of course:
Beach Boys - God Only Knows - R.I.P Carl Wilson...

-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cb9u0DHuFdQ
Hmm, I could go on forever... I'm pretty partial to the 60s and 70s when it comes to these kinda songs, the whole power ballad thing aside.