Ever hear a great love song and wonder if it’s been missed by the masses? I was listening to Beloved Wife by Natalie Merchant today and realized I had never heard it on the radio. She’s not some obscure artist, but it’s such an incredibly beautiful song and I don’t know anyone (other than the person who introduced me to it) who knows it.
Other examples?
Prince has some great love songs that have been missed by people that are only familiar with his radio-played music; he has an incredibly extensive catalogue that most people will never hear. * Adore*, Damn U, The Most Beautiful Girl In The World, just off the top of my head.
Quite a few German marches actually. Some highlights:
Erika: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fc-DgRO1SrQ
Hannelore: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsZaKZtgSow
Lebe’wohl Du Kleine Monika: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcH5gtHrXHc
Rosemarie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBj1HTeAso0&bpctr=1361050617
Cheryl Wheeler “Arrow”. My eyes get wet every time I hear it.
If I ever get married, the song that I want played for me is “Forever Is As far As I’ll Go” from Alabama. 
God bless you and the guys of the legendary act always!!!
Holly
“No Fair At All” by the Association. Never a big hit for them compared to say, Cherish or Never My Love, but in my opinion one of the best love songs ever.
From a few different genres:
Indie/Folk Pop - “Simply” by Sara Hickman
80s Alternative - “Somebody” by Depeche Mode
Lost 70s Acoustic - “Sille Veb” by Pete Ham
Ke$ha doesn’t have a whole lot of love songs, but here are some:
“Lucky”
“This Love”
“Wherever You Are”
Stan Rogers’s Lies is one of my favorite favorites and is at least indirectly a love song.
“Is this the face that won for her the man/whose amazed and clumsy fingers put that ring upon her hand”
“Friday will be fine/she’ll look up in that weathered face that loves hers line for line”
And his **Louise’s Song **is very beautiful.
All those shadows on your face,
They look so out of place, they should be sunlight.
I want to take you when the smile returns
And keep you from the night
And wake up to see me in your eyes.
Oh boy, now I am all verklempt thinking about Stan Rogers!
Well, Sailboat, got my favorite.
There’s one I remember from my college days. It’s maudlin and Fogelberg-ish, but dammit, every time I listen to it, I about break down crying.
Where Have Your Been? sung by Kathy Mattea.
Another great one is Lyle Lovett’s Flyswatter Icewater Blues. I can’t seem to find a YouTube link, but it’s worth tracking down.
Volverás, by Ricky Martin. And he really co-wrote the song. The music and the lyrics are terrific. Was a mid-90s semi-hit in some of Latin America, but not in the US, and may be largely forgotten now even in Latin America. The title means “You’ll Come Back.”
Good call, OP, with Natalie Merchant’s Beloved Wife. Unusual in that the protagonist is an elderly man.
“The Rest Of Mine” from country singer Trace Adkins is another good one.
God bless you and him always!!!
Holly (a day one fan of Trace)
P.S. Trace actually sang this song at his own wedding.
I’m not sure if Bright Eyes qualifies as lesser known anymore, but ‘First Day of My Life’ is one of the best love songs ever written:
http://youtu.be/zwFS69nA-1w
“Hold That Tiger! Hold that Tiger!”
“That’s not a love song!”
“It is to another tiger!”
Joan Armatrading’s Love and Affection.
“Sun Comes 'Round Again” from my most favorite singer James Otto is another good one. 
God bless you and him always!!!
Holly
P.S. The link above will take you to a clip of him singing the song in front of a crowd that I got to be a part of on January 31, 2011.