Thanks to the lovely new Civil Partnership Act gay couples can now legally get all loved up! So, to mark the start of the new queer ‘wedding’ ceremonies we thought we’d take a look at a few our favourite records to get all smooched up with on the sofa. Yes, love is most definitely in the air, all around, and lifting us up where we belong.

So, to go with the red-hot theme, we've devised a list of gay-friendly love songs that you can track down, turn into a compilation CD and give to your new husbear or dykewife – we won't tell them you copied it from here! Now that's what I call the best gay love songs album - ever.

And remember, if used with candles, flowers, champers, chocolates, massage oil and a personalised cover, you're going to score loads of points in the love stakes and get a night to remember. You go girl! 

If music be the food of love, then play on…

Track One: Elton John - ‘Your Song’
We were temped to go for ‘Nikita’, after discovering that it’s actually a boy's name - which massively changes the meaning of this cold war love song if you ignore the woman in the video! However, the song is a huge cheese-fest, even by 80s standards. So, instead, we had to open the compilation with one of the best love songs ever and a favourite at every gay karaoke night or piano bar we've visited. “I hope you don't mind that I put down in words / How wonderful life is now you're in the world.” Simple, yet pure genius.

Buy Elton John's Greatest Hits: 1970-2002


Track Two: Pet Shop Boys – ‘Always On My Mind’
In a year that has seen Elvis make yet another comeback and get a 100th number one, dig out this brilliant cover by the PSB's which they originally performed as part of an Elvis tribute show. Tenant's vocals sit perfectly with this song that makes amends for a lack of communication between two lovers. "And I guess I never told you, I'm so happy that you're mine." Take the hint and tell your lover how much they mean to you - you might even get a shag out of it!

Buy Pop Art: Pet Shop Boys - The Hits 

Track Three: kd Lang – ‘Constant Craving’
In 1992 not only did kd Lang come out as a lesbian, but she also released the album Ingénue - a departure from her country music origins that would go double platinum and win her a Grammy for this signature song, 'Constant Craving’. Her achingly beautiful voice and intensely romantic singing style still make her a massively popular artist, while her tendency to sing torch songs insures she remains a gay icon.

Buy Ingénue by kd Lang

Track Four: Magnetic Fields – ‘Sweet-Lovin' Man’
We went for this track in particular, but could have chosen pretty much any of the gay-themed tracks on Stephin Merrit's 1999 three-CD album, 69 Love Songs. The openly gay artist writes all the music, plays all the instruments and sings most of the vocals too. In this poignant offering he sings, “Some have broken down and cried / Some have turned to dust inside / But I'll stay right here and hide / In the arms of my sweet-lovin' man.”

Buy the 69 Love Songs box set  


Track Five: The Mamas And The Pappas – ‘Make Your own Kind Of Music’
We had to include a song from Jonathan Harvey's 1996 film, Beautiful Thing, to remind us of the story of Ste and Jamie, falling in love on that Thamesmead housing estate. Not only was this one of the first gay-themed films to have a happy ending - and not finish with a tragic climax - but this urban fairytale also has a wonderfully positive soundtrack from The Mamas And The Papas. This song plays while the boys’ chase each other round a Greenwich park before falling into each other’s arms for a passionate kiss.

Buy The Best Of The Mamas And The Papas and the DVD of Beautiful Thing
 

Track Six: Michael Stipe and Natalie Merchant – ‘To Sir With Love’
The front man of REM completely reinvented this Lulu song (taken from the film of the same name). Changing the gender of the singer added a new gay dimension to this ode to a teacher from a student. Natalie Merchant, from 10,000 Maniacs, adds even more class to the song, while which gay boy or girl didn't have a crush on a teacher? “If you wanted the world I'd surround it with a wall / I'd scrawl these words with letters ten feet tall / 'To Sir, With Love'.”

Buy In Time: The Best of REM 1988 - 2003
 

Track Seven: Culture Club – ‘Victims’
We had to slip in a track from Boy George and it was a toss-up between this one and his sultry torch-song cover of 'The Crying Game.' Neither are traditional love songs as they’re both twinged with sadness, but, for the soundtrack to your romantic evening, this one wins hands down on snog factor. “And I keep on loving you / It's the only thing to do / When the angel sings / There are greater things / Can I give them all to you?” Ah, the 80s, we're going all nostalgic and might need to dig out The Wedding Singer.

Buy Best of Culture Club 

Track Eight: Frankie Goes To Hollywood – ‘The Power of Love’
A song that will unfortunately always be associated with Christmas, thanks to the parody of the nativity used in the video. But we think that love is for life and not just for Christmas. The song definitely allowed the band to show their sensitive sound, while the relatively wacky lyrics work well with Holly Johnson's aching beautiful vocals. “I'll protect you from the hooded claw /  Keep the vampires from your door / When the chips are down I'll be around / With my undying, death-defying love for you.”

Buy Welcome to the Pleasure Dome, by Frankie Goes To Hollywood

Track Nine: Moulin Rouge Soundtrack – ‘Elephant Love Medley’
Without doubt one of the campest films ever, this stunning movie captured the hearts of gay men still in love with the genre of musicals. This song cleverly combines ten of the best love songs ever written, including 'All You Need Is Love,' 'Don't Leave Me This Way' and 'Your Song' to create an inspired duet between Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor. In fact, why not just grab the Bailey's Hargen Daz, cuddle on the sofa and watch the DVD.

Buy the DVD or CD soundtrack of Moulin Rouge.
 

Track Ten: Dusty Springfield – ‘You Don't Have To Say You Love Me’
We could have picked her first solo hit, 'I Only Want To Be With You,' or indeed just about any of her other emotionally overwrought ballads (many of them translated Italian hits), but this track is perfect for your slow smooch around the living room. It also marks Dusty’s transition stage from the queen of Mods to a female drag artist - she even admitted she learnt her make-up techniques from drag queens! Dusty also came out as bisexual, although many books suggest she was 100% lesbian.

Buy Dusty: The Very Best Of Dusty Springfield

Track Eleven: David Bowie – ‘Let's Dance’
As we're picking up the pace toward the end of the album, we've included this track from the patron saint of disenfranchised teenagers. Bowie met his former wife after they had both slept with the same man, while his early glam-rock alter egos made him a hit with the gay boys and girls too. This 1983 hit remains a timeless classic from an artist who has rendered himself a genre unto himself. “Let's sway while colour lights up your face / Let's sway through the crowd to an empty space.”

Buy The Best of Bowie

Track Twelve: Franz Ferdinand – ‘Michael’
Let's go out with a bang – which, when you give your partner this compilation, should be exactly what you'll be getting! This upbeat indie track seems to be about a 'straight' lad in a club, possible on ecstasy, getting all loved up over another man called Michael. It’s breathlessly lustful and we just wish someone would write a song about us when we’re laughing, instead of just pointing and laughing. “Michael you're the only one I'd ever want.”

What tracks would you put on your gay love album? Leave your romantic suggestions on the message boards.

Buy the DVD of Summer Storm online and save yourself some money to put towards the excellent Latter Days, Le Clan, Regular Guys, Cowboys & Angels and Edge Of Seventeen.