1970 Innuendo-Laced Soft Rock No. 1 Ranks Among the ‘70s Greatest Love Songs
One of the early 1970s' most beloved soft rock hits has earned a lasting place among the decade's greatest love songs, thanks in part to its smooth sound and subtly suggestive lyrics.
In June 1970, Bread released "Make It With You." The song quickly shot to the top of the charts, reaching the No. 1 position on the Billboard Top 100 on August 22 and staying steady for an astonishing 17 weeks on the chart.
Gold Radio placed the song at No. 22 on its list of the 25 Best Love Songs of the 1970s. It was ranked between "Love Will Keep Us Together" by Captain & Tennille and "Lovely Day" by Bill Withers.
The song, written by David Gates, was a collaborative effort between Gates and drummer Mike Botts reported Rhino. Gates sang lead and harmonies, including acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, and strings.
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"Make It With You" hails from Bread's second release, On the Waters. The song was the LP's biggest hit and would propel the album to No. 12 on the Billboard charts reported American Songwriter.
In a hilarious twist, the success of "Make It With You" was remarkable even to Gates' mother, reports Rhino.
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The website wrote, "When the press got in touch with Gates's mother and asked her about her son's success, she acknowledged her pride in her boy, but she admitted that she didn't understand why he had to go and title his band's new single 'Naked with You.'"
"Make It With You" has all the elements of a great soft rock song. It's lyrics carry a subtle sense of innuendo that helped define its lasting appeal.
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Gates' lyrics share his want of letting a new relationship unfold naturally. He suggests he and his new love build something meaningful together. "Make It With You" could refer to a physical relationship or a lasting bond, such as making it through life's challenges together.
David Gates retired from the music industry in the early 2000s. He is the last surviving member of Bread's principal lineup, which included Jimmy Griffin and Mike Botts (d. 2005), and Larry Knechtel (d. 2009) reported Pacific Coast Radio.
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This story was originally published May 8, 2026 at 7:50 AM.