January 17 – 12 miles of U.S. Highway 51 in Memphis, Tennessee, from South Parkway East to the Tennessee/Mississippi state line, is renamed "Elvis Presley Boulevard."
January 20 – The first live performance of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon at The Dome, Brighton, is halted by technical problems. Dark Side of the Moon would be played in its entirety the following night, but it would be a full year before the album was released.
January 21 – Keith Richards jumps on stage to jam with Chuck Berry at the Hollywood Palladium, but is ordered off for playing too loud. Berry later claims that he did not recognize Keith and would not have removed him if he had.
January 29–31 – The first Sunbury Music Festival is held in Sunbury, Victoria. Performers include Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs, Wendy Saddington, Chain and the La De Da's.
January 31 – Over 40,000 mourners file past Mahalia Jackson's open casket to pay their respects in Chicago's Great Salem Baptist Church.
February 9 – Paul McCartney's new band, Wings, make their live debut at the University of Nottingham in England. This is McCartney's first public concert since The Beatles' 1966 US tour.
February 10 – David Bowie introduces his Ziggy Stardust persona at the second show of the 1972–73 Ziggy Stardust Tour, at The Toby Jug pub, Tolworth, Surrey (England).
February 13 – Led Zeppelin's concert in Singapore is canceled when government officials will not let them off the airplane because of their long hair.
February 14–18 – John Lennon and Yoko Ono co-host an entire week of The Mike Douglas Show.
February 15 – The United States gives federal copyright protection to sound recordings. Prior to this, phonograph records were only protected at state level, and not in all states.
February 19 – Paul McCartney's single "Give Ireland Back to the Irish" (inspired by the "Bloody Sunday" massacre in Ireland on January 30, 1972) is banned by the BBC. The controversy caused by the banning only increases the song's popularity and it ends up in the Top 20 in England.
February 23 – Elvis and Priscilla Presley separate.
February 29 – John Lennon's U.S. immigration visa expires, beginning his three-and-a-half-year fight to remain in the country.
March 15 – At the 14th Annual Grammy Awards, hosted by Andy Williams, winners include Carole King, Kris Kristofferson, Colin Davis, Michel LeGrand, Isaac Hayes, Julian Bream, Vladimir Horowitz, the Juilliard String Quartet and Bill Withers. King wins Album of the Year (for Tapestry), Record of the Year (for "It's Too Late") and Song of the Year (for "You've Got a Friend"), while Carly Simon wins Best New Artist.
March 21 – Terry Knight announces he is launching a $5 million lawsuit against Grand Funk's new manager John Eastman, one week after being fired as the band's manager himself. It triggers a series of suits and counter-suits between Knight and the band throughout the coming months.
March 25 – The 17th Eurovision Song Contest, held in the Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Scotland, is won by German-based Greek singer Vicky Leandros, representing Luxembourg with the song "Après Toi". The song is subsequently released around Europe, having been recorded in several languages, including in English as Come What May.
March 31 – Official Beatles fan club closes down.
April 2 – John Lennon and Yoko Ono hold a press conference in New York. The Lennons discuss their appeal against the US Immigration Department's decision to deport John.
April 9 – First solo concert of Valery Leontiev.
April 29 – New York City mayor John Lindsay announces that he is supporting John Lennon and Yoko Ono in their fight to remain in the United States.
May 2 – Stone the Crows lead guitarist Les Harvey is electrocuted on stage during a show in Swansea, Wales, by touching a poorly connected microphone. Harvey dies in a hospital a few hours later. The band's lead singer, Maggie Bell, Harvey's longtime girlfriend, is also hospitalized, having collapsed on stage after the incident.
May 8 – Billy Preston becomes the first rock performer to headline at New York's Radio City Music Hall
May 27 – The Opryland USA country music theme park opens in Nashville, Tennessee.
June – Founding member Roy Wood leaves the Electric Light Orchestra line-up just as the band scores its first hit single..
June 10 – Elvis Presley does the first of four concerts at the Madison Square Garden in New York City. He sells out all the shows in one day.
June 14 – Simon & Garfunkel reunite briefly to perform live at Madison Square Garden at a campaign benefit for Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern. Other performers include Peter, Paul and Mary and Dionne Warwick.
July 24 – Bobby Ramirez, drummer for Edgar Winter's White Trash, is beaten to death in a Chicago bar fight, reportedly because his hair is too long.
August 5 – Clive Davis signs Aerosmith to Columbia Records at Max's Kansas City in New York City.
August 30 – John Lennon and Yoko Ono headline the "One To One Concert" at Madison Square Garden to benefit mentally handicapped children. Elephant's Memory, Roberta Flack, Stevie Wonder and Sha Na Na also perform.
September 1–7 – Karlheinz Stockhausen directs performances of his works at the Shiraz Arts Festival, including Mantra, Hymnen, an all-day performance of Aus den sieben Tagen, and world premieres of two compositions from Für kommende Zeiten
September 21 – ABC premieres the new TV series In Concert. The first episode features Alice Cooper.
September 29 – Miles Davis unveils his new nine-piece band at the Lincoln Center Philharmonic Hall.
October 12 – Diana Ross makes her acting debut in the successful film Lady Sings the Blues, winning her first Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
November 3 – James Taylor and Carly Simon are married in a tiny ceremony in Simon's Manhattan apartment.
November 12 – 51,778 fans pack San Diego Stadium for a concert promoted by KGB-AM to see J. Geils Band, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Foghat and Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show.
November 25 – The 1st OTI Festival, held at the Palacio de Exposiciones y Congresos, in Madrid, Spain, is won by the song "Diálogo", written by Paulo César Pinheiro and Baden Powell, and performed by Tobias and Claudia Regina representing Brazil.
November 26 – Family, touring North America as the warmup act for Elton John, play their last concert on U.S. soil in St. Petersburg, Florida.
December 23 – Grand Funk Railroad, completing its 1972 Tour, with a sold-out concert at NYC's Madison Square Garden, with the proceeds from the concert benefiting the Phoenix House Drug Rehabilitation Program, and with the show being filmed for ABC-TV's "In Concert" Series, the band is met by a lawsuit taken out by their former manager, Terry Knight, who attempts to block the show from going on, attempting to seize their equipment. A court injunction is given later in the day, allowing the concert to take place.
December 31 – The first New Year's Rockin' Eve, with host Dick Clark, airs on NBC (before moving to ABC) with Three Dog Night as the featured act. Blood, Sweat & Tears, Helen Reddy and Al Green also perform.
unknown date
Herbert Howells becomes a Companion of Honour.
Billy Ray Hearn founds Myrrh Records.
Joseph Hoo Kim founds Channel One Studios in Kingston, Jamaica.
Numa Labinsky (bass singer) and the brothers Michael and Gerald Reynolds found Nimbus Records, a specialist classical music recording company at Wyastone Leys in Herefordshire, England.
Heisei College of Music is established in Mifune, Kumamoto, Japan.
Bands formed
See Musical groups established in 1972
Bands disbanded
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Jefferson Airplane
Martha and the Vandellas
MC5
Them
The Velvet Underground
Albums released
January
Day
Album
Artist
Notes
3
*The Right Combination / Burning the Midnight Oil*
Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton
-
7
*Jamming with Edward!*
The Rolling Stones, Nicky Hopkins, Ry Cooder
-
16
*Blue Öyster Cult*
Blue Öyster Cult
Debut
17
*Linda Ronstadt*
Linda Ronstadt
-
20
*Garcia*
Jerry Garcia
-
24
*Cass Elliot*
Cass Elliot
-
*Got to Be There*
Michael Jackson
-
*Paul Simon*
Paul Simon
-
*Young, Gifted and Black*
Aretha Franklin
-
31
*Let's Stay Together*
Al Green
-
-
*[1+1](1-1-grin-album)*
Grin
-
*All the Good Times*
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
-
*America*
America
Debut
*Baby I'm-a Want You*
Bread
-
*Flash*
Flash
-
*Greenhouse*
Leo Kottke
-
*Halfnelson*
Sparks
as Halfnelson
*Hendrix in the West*
Jimi Hendrix
Live 1969–70
*I'm the One*
Annette Peacock
-
*I've Found Someone of My Own*
The Free Movement
-
*Into the Purple Valley*
Ry Cooder
-
*Jackson Browne*
Jackson Browne
-
*Keep the Faith*
Black Oak Arkansas
-
*Kraftwerk 2*
Kraftwerk
-
*Loose*
Crazy Horse
-
*Malo*
Malo
-
*Phase III*
The Osmonds
-
*Rockpile*
Dave Edmunds
-
*Sex, Dope, Rock'n'Roll: Teenage Heaven*
Daddy Cool
Australia
*Solid Rock*
The Temptations
-
*The Spotlight Kid*
Captain Beefheart
-
*The Unnamables*
Magma
as Univeria Zekt
*Weird Scenes Inside the Gold Mine*
The Doors
Compilation
February
Day
Album
Artist
Notes
1
*Something/Anything?*
Todd Rundgren
-
*Harvest*
Neil Young
-
8
*Root Down*
Jimmy Smith
-
12
*Eat a Peach*
The Allman Brothers Band
-
18
*Manfred Mann's Earth Band*
Manfred Mann's Earth Band
-
20
*Elvis Now*
Elvis Presley
-
25
*Pink Moon*
Nick Drake
-
29
*Lonesome Crow*
Scorpions
-
-
*All I Ever Need Is You*
Sonny & Cher
-
*Blue River*
Eric Andersen
-
*Border Lord*
Kris Kristofferson
-
*Burgers*
Hot Tuna
-
*Cherish*
David Cassidy
-
*Dinnertime*
Alex Taylor
-
*Don Quixote*
Gordon Lightfoot
-
*Fanny Hill*
Fanny
-
*Forgotten Songs and Unsung Heroes*
John Kay
-
*Good Hearted Woman*
Waylon Jennings
-
*Grave New World*
Strawbs
-
*Greatest Hits*
Blood, Sweat & Tears
Compilation
*Headkeeper*
Dave Mason
-
*Hellbound Train*
Savoy Brown
-
*Oh How We Danced*
Jim Capaldi
-
*Pain*
Ohio Players
-
*Rockin'*
The Guess Who
-
*Silver Pistol*
Brinsley Schwarz
-
*Tantamount to Treason Vol. 1*
Michael Nesmith
-
March
Day
Album
Artist
Notes
3
*Black Magic*
Martha Reeves and the Vandellas
-
*Glitter*
Gary Glitter
-
*Thick as a Brick*
Jethro Tull
-
*Music of My Mind*
Stevie Wonder
-
6
*Bare Trees*
Fleetwood Mac
-
10
*Shades of a Blue Orphanage*
Thin Lizzy
-
*Touch Your Woman*
Dolly Parton
-
21
*Love Theme from "The Godfather"*
Andy Williams
-
24
*Slade Alive!*
Slade
Live
*Coming Together*
New Birth
-
30
*Machine Head*
Deep Purple
-
-
*Alvin Lee and Company*
Ten Years After
Compilation
*The Ballad of Calico*
Kenny Rogers and the First Edition
-
*Bobby Whitlock*
Bobby Whitlock
Solo Debut
*Clube da Esquina*
Milton Nascimento and Lo Borges
-
*Cold Blue Excursion*
Ray Dorset
-
*D&B Together*
Delaney and Bonnie
-
*Drowning in the Sea of Love*
Joe Simon
*Ennea*
Chase
-
*Feedback*
Spirit
-
*Heads & Tales*
Harry Chapin
Debut
*Just Another Band from L.A.*
Frank Zappa and The Mothers
Live
*The Killer Rocks On*
Jerry Lee Lewis
-
*The Kink Kronikles*
The Kinks
US; Compilation
*Live Cream Volume II*
Cream
Live 1968
*Powerglide*
New Riders of the Purple Sage
-
*Pure Prairie League*
Pure Prairie League
-
*Recall the Beginning...A Journey from Eden*
Steve Miller Band
-
*Roadwork*
Edgar Winter's White Trash
-
*Shopping Bag*
The Partridge Family
-
*Smokin'*
Humble Pie
-
*Space and First Takes*
Lee Michaels
-
*Stories We Could Tell*
The Everly Brothers
-
*You Are the Music...We're Just the Band*
Trapeze
-
April
Day
Album
Artist
Notes
4
*Rio Grande Mud*
ZZ Top
-
5
*Graham Nash David Crosby*
Crosby & Nash
-
10
*Raspberries*
Raspberries
-
11
*Mardi Gras*
Creedence Clearwater Revival
-
12
*Manassas*
Stephen Stills and Manassas
-
14
*Three Friends*
Gentle Giant
UK
20
*Dr. John's Gumbo*
Dr. John
-
24
*Number 1 Record*
Big Star
-
28
*Argus*
Wishbone Ash
-
-
*Matching Mole*
Matching Mole
*Annie*
Anne Murray
-
*Arthur Alexander*
Arthur Alexander
-
*Bolan Boogie*
T. Rex
Compilation
*Comin' Thru*
Quicksilver Messenger Service
-
*He Touched Me*
Elvis Presley
-
*Henry the Human Fly*
Richard Thompson
-
*Hobo's Lullaby*
Arlo Guthrie
-
*The Island of Real*
The Rascals
-
*Kossoff, Kirke, Tetsu and Rabbit*
Kossoff, Kirke, Tetsu and Rabbit
-
*A Lonely Man*
The Chi-Lites
-
*Merrimack County*
Tom Rush
-
*Moonshot*
Buffy Sainte-Marie
-
*Mountain Live: The Road Goes Ever On*
Mountain
Live
*On Record*
April Wine
-
*Phantasmagoria*
Curved Air
-
*A Possible Projection of the Future / Childhood's End*
Al Kooper
-
*Procol Harum Live: In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra*
Procol Harum
Live
*Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway*
Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway
-
*A Thing Called Love*
Johnny Cash
-
*You Don't Mess Around with Jim*
Jim Croce
-
May
Day
Album
Artist
Notes
1
*Jeff Beck Group*
Jeff Beck
US
2
*Brother, Brother, Brother*
The Isley Brothers
-
11
*Cabbage Alley*
The Meters
-
15
*Carl and the Passions – "So Tough"*
The Beach Boys
-
17
*Lookin' Through the Windows*
The Jackson 5
-
19
*Demons and Wizards*
Uriah Heep
-
*Honky Château*
Elton John
-
*Waterloo Lily*
Caravan
-
22
*America Eats Its Young*
Funkadelic
-
26
*Exile on Main St.*
The Rolling Stones
-
*I Sing the Body Electric*
Weather Report
-
*Wind of Change*
Peter Frampton
-
30
*Live at Max's Kansas City*
The Velvet Underground
Live 1970
*Understanding*
Bobby Womack
-
-
*Live in Europe*
Rory Gallagher
*Lou Reed*
Lou Reed
Solo debut
*Ace*
Bob Weir
-
*Bloodrock Live*
Bloodrock
Live
*Chameleon*
The Four Seasons
-
*Colors of the Day*
Judy Collins
Compilation
*Come from the Shadows*
Joan Baez
-
*Floy Joy*
The Supremes
-
*In Concert*
Janis Joplin
Live 1968 and 1970
*Last of the Red Hot Burritos*
The Flying Burrito Brothers
Live
*People ... Hold On*
Eddie Kendricks
-
*Roy Orbison Sings*
Roy Orbison
-
*Sail Away*
Randy Newman
-
*Sailin' Shoes*
Little Feat
-
*Skies of America*
Ornette Coleman
-
*Still Bill*
Bill Withers
-
*Tell Me This Is a Dream*
The Delfonics
-
June
Day
Album
Artist
Notes
1
*Amazing Grace*
Aretha Franklin
Live
*Eagles*
Eagles
-
2
*Obscured by Clouds*
Pink Floyd
-
5
*The Osmonds Live*
The Osmonds
Live
6
*Looking Glass*
Looking Glass
-
9
*Earthbound*
King Crimson
Live
*There It Is*
James Brown
-
10
*Moon Shadow*
LaBelle
-
12
*Some Time in New York City*
John Lennon and Yoko Ono
US
13
*School's Out*
Alice Cooper
-
*A Song for You*
Carpenters
-
14
*Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits*
Simon & Garfunkel
Compilation
15
*Album III*
Loudon Wainwright III
-
16
*Roxy Music*
Roxy Music
-
*The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars*
David Bowie
-
*Together*
Golden Earring
-
20
*Syreeta*
Syreeta
-
23
*Trilogy*
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
-
*Living in the Past*
Jethro Tull
Compilation
26
*Carney*
Leon Russell
-
-
*As Recorded at Madison Square Garden*
Elvis Presley
Live
*[666](666-aphrodite-s-child-album)*
Aphrodite's Child
-
*Blues Roots*
Ike Turner
-
*Free at Last*
Free
-
*If an Angel Came to See You, Would You Make Her Feel at Home?*
Black Oak Arkansas
-
*Let Me Tell You About a Song*
Merle Haggard
-
July
Day
Album
Artist
Notes
1
*All the King's Horses*
Grover Washington Jr.
-
4
*American Gothic*
David Ackles
-
5
*Waka/Jawaka*
Frank Zappa
-
7
*The Harder They Come*
Jimmy Cliff
Soundtrack
10
*Chicago V*
Chicago
-
*Son of Schmilsson*
Harry Nilsson
-
11
*Super Fly*
Curtis Mayfield
Soundtrack
20
*Long John Silver*
Jefferson Airplane
-
*Straight Shooter*
James Gang
-
21
*I Can See Clearly Now*
Johnny Nash
-
*Never a Dull Moment*
Rod Stewart
-
*The Slider*
T. Rex
-
27
*All Directions*
The Temptations
-
*Flying High Together*
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
-
–
*Seven Separate Fools*
Three Dog Night
-
*Toulouse Street*
The Doobie Brothers
-
*The Academy in Peril*
John Cale
-
*Captain Beyond*
Captain Beyond
-
*Feel Good*
Ike & Tina Turner
-
*Exercises*
Nazareth
-
*Foghat*
Foghat
-
*Music Is the Message*
Kool & the Gang
-
*Saint Dominic's Preview*
Van Morrison
-
*Moods*
Neil Diamond
-
*Someplace Else Now*
Lesley Gore
-
*Sparks*
Sparks
Debut under final name
August
Day
Album
Artist
Notes
1
*Back Stabbers*
The O'Jays
-
*Elf*
Elf
-
2
*Jazz at Santa Monica Civic '72*
Ella Fitzgerald
Live
4
*Ben*
Michael Jackson
-
7
*America: A 200-Year Salute in Story and Song*
Johnny Cash
-
15
*Full Circle*
The Doors
-
*Rock of Ages*
The Band
Live
25
*Everybody's in Show-Biz*
The Kinks
Double LP; one studio, one live
*Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes*
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
-
28
*'Ot 'n' Sweaty*
Cactus
-
31
*Styx*
Styx
-
-
*And the Hits Just Keep on Comin'*
Michael Nesmith
-
*Free Will*
Gil Scott-Heron
-
*Irrlicht*
Klaus Schulze
-
*Live at the Paramount*
The Guess Who
Live
*Roy Buchanan*
Roy Buchanan
-
*Smokin' O.P.'s*
Bob Seger
-
*Zeit*
Tangerine Dream
-
September
Day
Album
Artist
Notes
8
*Close to the Edge*
Yes
*All the Young Dudes*
Mott the Hoople
-
9
*Summer Breeze*
Seals and Crofts
-
11
*Together Always*
Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton
-
15
*Foxtrot*
Genesis
-
*Below the Salt*
Steeleye Span
-
*Phoenix*
Grand Funk Railroad
-
*Rocky Mountain High*
John Denver
-
26
*Live Full House*
The J. Geils Band
Live
27
*Catch Bull at Four*
Cat Stevens
-
29
*Glorified Magnified*
Manfred Mann's Earth Band
-
-
*Vol. 4*
Black Sabbath
-
*At Home with Their Greatest Hits*
The Partridge Family
Compilation
*Bandstand*
Family
-
* Bright Phoebus*
Lal and Mike Waterson
-
*Give It Up*
Bonnie Raitt
-
*Ladies Love Outlaws*
Waylon Jennings
-
*My Time*
Boz Scaggs
-
*Nervous on the Road*
Brinsley Schwarz
-
*Rolling Thunder*
Mickey Hart
-
*Sandy*
Sandy Denny
-
*Solomon's Seal*
Pentangle
-
*Squawk*
Budgie
-
*Tequila Sunrise*
David Clayton-Thomas
-
October
Day
Album
Artist
Notes
2
*My Favorite Songwriter: Porter Wagoner*
Dolly Parton
-
4
*Willie Remembers*
Rare Earth
-
9
*Heavy Cream*
Cream
Compilation
11
*Caravanserai*
Santana
-
*On the Corner*
Miles Davis
-
23
*I'm Still in Love with You*
Al Green
-
25
*A Good Feelin' to Know*
Poco
-
27
*Talking Book*
Stevie Wonder
-
-
*Matching Mole's Little Red Record*
Matching Mole
*War Heroes*
Jimi Hendrix
-
*At Crooked Lake*
Crazy Horse
-
*Back to Front*
Gilbert O'Sullivan
-
*Barnstorm*
Joe Walsh
Debut
*Music Is My Life*
Billy Preston
-
*Crazy Horses*
The Osmonds
-
*Bustin' Out*
Pure Prairie League
-
*Clear Spot*
Captain Beefheart
-
*Expectations*
Keith Jarrett
-
*Glen Travis Campbell*
Glen Campbell
-
*Greetings from L.A.*
Tim Buckley
-
*Guitar Man*
Bread
-
*Lady Sings the Blues*
Diana Ross
Soundtrack
*The Lady's Not for Sale*
Rita Coolidge
-
*Last Days and Time*
Earth, Wind & Fire
-
*Live Concert at the Forum*
Barbra Streisand
Live
*Loggins and Messina*
Loggins and Messina
-
*The London Chuck Berry Sessions*
Chuck Berry
-
*Made in England*
Atomic Rooster
-
*The Moviegoer*
Scott Walker
-
*New Blood*
Blood, Sweat & Tears
-
*Passin' Thru*
James Gang
-
*Rhymes & Reasons*
Carole King
-
*Rock & Roll Music to the World*
Ten Years After
-
*Round 2*
The Stylistics
-
*Sniper and Other Love Songs*
Harry Chapin
-
*Stealers Wheel*
Stealers Wheel
-
*To Whom It May Concern*
Bee Gees
-
*Who Came First*
Pete Townshend
-
*A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing*
Sparks
US
November
Day
Album
Artist
Notes
1
*Burning Love and Hits from His Movies, Volume 2*
Elvis Presley
Compilation
*One Man Dog*
James Taylor
-
3
*Whistle Rymes*
John Entwistle
-
5
*Europe '72*
Grateful Dead
Live
7
*The Divine Miss M*
Bette Midler
-
*Journey Through the Past*
Neil Young
Soundtrack
8
*Transformer*
Lou Reed
-
10
*Baby James Harvest*
Barclay James Harvest
-
*The Best of The Byrds: Greatest Hits, Volume II*
The Byrds
Compilation
*See All Her Faces*
Dusty Springfield
-
13
*Fresh*
Raspberries
-
15
*Homecoming*
America
-
17
*Seventh Sojourn*
The Moody Blues
-
20
*Get on the Good Foot*
James Brown
-
24
*Doremi Fasol Latido*
Hawkwind
-
27
*Garden Party*
Ricky Nelson
-
-
*Slayed?*
Slade
-
*Boomer's Story*
Ry Cooder
-
*Can't Buy a Thrill*
Steely Dan
-
*Don McLean*
Don McLean
-
*Ege Bamyasi*
Can
-
*Focus 3*
Focus
-
*Romany*
The Hollies
-
*Ennismore*
Colin Blunstone
-
*For the Roses*
Joni Mitchell
-
*Free to Be... You and Me*
Marlo Thomas & Friends
-
*Good Times*
Kool & the Gang
-
*International Superstar*
Johnny Cash
Compilation
*Jesus Was a Capricorn*
Kris Kristofferson
-
*Joe Cocker*
Joe Cocker
-
*The Johnny Cash Family Christmas*
Johnny Cash
Christmas
*Killer Joe*
Little Jimmy Osmond
-
*Life Goes On*
Paul Williams
-
*The Magician's Birthday*
Uriah Heep
-
*No Secrets*
Carly Simon
-
*Not till Tomorrow*
Ralph McTell
-
*Old Dan's Records*
Gordon Lightfoot
-
*Passage*
Bloodrock
-
*The Partridge Family Notebook*
The Partridge Family
-
*Smokestack Lightning*
Mike Harrison
-
*The Supremes Produced and Arranged by Jimmy Webb*
The Award Winning Country Gentlemen - The Country Gentlemen
Azteca - Azteca
Baby Won't You Change Your Mind - Black Ivory
Back Door - Back Door
Banco del Mutuo Soccorso – Banco del Mutuo Soccorso
Be Altitude: Respect Yourself – The Staple Singers
Be Good to Yourself at Least Once a Day - Man
Bitter Sweet - The Main Ingredient
Black Heat - Black Heat
Blacknuss – Rahsaan Roland Kirk
Bloodstone - Bloodstone
Blue Moses - Randy Weston
Bluesmith - Jimmy Smith
The Bridge in Blue – The Brooklyn Bridge (as The Bridge)
Bugger Off! - Stack Waddy
Bulletproof - Hard Stuff
Bump City - Tower of Power
Carnival in Babylon – Amon Düül II
Changes - Catapilla
Cherry - Stanley Turrentine
Cluster II – Cluster
Coming Together - New Birth
Cosmo - Doug Clifford
Crossings – Herbie Hancock
Cymande - Cymande
Dark Round the Edges – Dark
Dead Forever... - Buffalo
Demolition Derby – Sandy Bull
Demon in Disguise – David Bromberg
Diamonds in the Rough - John Prine
Dig This! - Bobbi Humphrey
Dingly Dell – Lindisfarne
Discover America - Van Dyke Parks
Don't It Drag On - Chris Smither
Double Dubliners – The Dubliners
Duane & Greg Allman - Duane and Gregg Allman
Earthspan – Incredible String Band
Elis – Elis Regina
Ella Loves Cole – Ella Fitzgerald
Emergency Ward – Nina Simone
Ethiopian Knights - Donald Byrd
Everything Stops for Tea - Long John Baldry
Face to Face with the Truth - The Undisputed Truth
Faust So Far – Faust
Fifth - Soft Machine
Filthy! - Papa John Creach
First Base - Babe Ruth
First Taste of Sin – Cold Blood
Fly Dude - Jimmy McGriff
Foursider - The Sérgio Mendes and Brasil '66
Foxy Lady - Cher
Framed – The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
"Freakin' at the Freaker's Ball" - Shel Silverstein
Freeway Madness - Pretty Things
Friendliness - Stackridge
Garden in the City – Melanie
The Gentle Giant - Yusef Lateef
Geronimo's Cadillac - Michael Martin Murphey
Goin' Down Slow - Sonny Stitt
Hard Attack - Dust
Heads – Osibisa
The Heatin' System - Jimmy McGriff
Help Me Make It Through the Night - Hank Crawford
High, Low and In Between – Townes van Zandt
Hogwash – The Groundhogs
Home - Home
Home Free – Dan Fogelberg
Home Is Where the Music Is - Hugh Masekela
Hometown! – The Dubliners (live)
Honky-Tonk Stardust Cowboy - Jonathan Edwards
Hot Licks, Cold Steel & Truckers Favorites - Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen
Howard Tate - Howard Tate
Hush 'N' Thunder - Yusef Lateef
I Am – Pete Townshend
I Am Woman - Helen Reddy
I Love the Way You Love - Betty Wright
I'll Play the Blues for You - Albert King
If 4 (a.k.a. Waterfall) – If
I'll Make You Music – Beverly Bremers
Imagination Lady – Chicken Shack
In Search of Amelia Earhart - Plainsong
...In Spite of Harry's Toenail - Gnidrolog
Instant Death - Eddie Harris
Intensity - Charles Earland
It Never Rains in Southern California – Albert Hammond
It's Just Begun - Jimmy Castor
Jackie - Jackie DeShannon
Jerry Jeff Walker - Jerry Jeff Walker
Jermaine - Jermaine Jackson
Jo Jo Gunne – Jo Jo Gunne
John David Souther - JD Souther
Kapt. Kopter and the (Fabulous) Twirly Birds – Randy California
Keeper of the Castle – Four Tops
La Población – Víctor Jara
Lark - Linda Lewis
Last Autumn's Dream – Jade Warrior
The Late Great Townes Van Zandt - Townes Van Zandt
Let's Make Up and Be Friendly – Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band
Let My Children Hear Music – Charles Mingus
Letters - Jimmy Webb
Live – Donny Hathaway – Live
Live in Tokyo – Weather Report – Live
The London Muddy Waters Sessions – Muddy Waters
Love Unlimited - Love Unlimited
Mark, Don & Mel: 1969–71 – Grand Funk Railroad – Compilation
Marlena (Marlena Shaw album) - Marlena Shaw
Mandrill Is – Mandrill
Maxoom - Mahogany Rush
Me & Chet - Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed
Mediterranean Tales - Triumvirat
A Meeting of the Times – Rahsaan Roland Kirk
A Message from the People – Ray Charles
Millie Jackson - Millie Jackson
Mississippi Gambler – Herbie Mann
Mournin' – Night Sun
Morning Bugle - John Hartford
Morning Star - Hubert Laws
Move Along - The Grass Roots
Myrrh - Robin Williamson
Neu! – Neu!
Never Get Out of These Blues Alive – John Lee Hooker
Next Album - Sonny Rollins
O'Keefe - Danny O'Keefe
Of Rivers and Religion - John Fahey
Offering - Larry Coryell
Olympia 71 – Dalida – Live
Orange - Al Stewart
The Osmonds Live – The Osmonds – Live
Painted Head – Tim Hardin
Piano Improvisations Vol. 2 – Chick Corea
Portrait of Donny – Donny Osmond
Pancho and Lefty – Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson
Prologue – Renaissance
Prosperous – Christy Moore
Raw Velvet - Bobby Whitlock
Recycling The Blues & Other Related Stuff - Taj Mahal
Red Sea - Warhorse
Return to Forever – Return to Forever
Reunion Blues – Oscar Peterson and Milt Jackson
Road - Road
The Road Is No Place for a Lady - Cass Elliot
Rock Me Baby – David Cassidy
Roforofo Fight - Fela Kuti
Sahara - McCoy Tyner
Science Fiction - Ornette Coleman
Scraps – NRBQ
Screaming Target – Big Youth
Seven Bridges Road - Steve Young
Seventy-Second Brave - Keef Hartley
Shades of Green – Grant Green
Shakara – Fela Kuti
Shearwater - Martin Carthy
Sloppy Seconds – Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show
Sonic Seasonings - Wendy Carlos
Sort Of – Slapp Happy
Soul Is... Pretty Purdie - Bernard Purdie
Space Shanty - Khan
Speech - Steamhammer
Spring - American Spring
Stardancer - Tom Rapp
Stoneground Words – Melanie
Stratavarious - Ginger Baker
Suite for Late Summer – Dion DiMucci
Sunday Morning Coming Down – Johnny Cash
The Sweet Life - Reuben Wilson
Sweet Revival - Ronnie Foster
The Sylvers - The Sylvers
A Tab in the Ocean – Nektar
Talk to the People - Les McCann
Te John, Grease, & Wolfman - Charlie Daniels
Tell Me This Is a Dream - The Delfonics
Texas Cannonball - Freddie King
Think (About It) - Lyn Collins
Tibetan Bells – Henry Wolff and Nancy Hennings
Too Young – Donny Osmond
The Train I'm On - Tony Joe White
Understanding - Bobby Womack
Uomo di pezza – Le Orme
Vindicator - Arthur Lee
The Voice of the Eagle - Robbie Basho
Walking the Blues - Otis Spann
Warpig – Warpig
We Got a Good Thing Going - Hank Crawford
We the People - The Soul Searchers
What a Bunch of Sweeties - Pink Fairies
Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get – The Dramatics
Who Will Save the World? – The Groundhogs
Where It All Began – Bo Diddley
...Where the Groupies Killed the Blues - Lucifer's Friend
White Rabbit - George Benson
Whole Oats - Hall & Oates
Wild Flower - Hubert Laws
Wild Horses Rock Steady - Johnny "Hammond" Smith
Wild One – The Guess Who
Will the Circle Be Unbroken – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
The Willie Way - Willie Nelson
Wolf City – Amon Düül II
World Galaxy – Alice Coltrane
You Want It, You Got It – The Detroit Emeralds
Biggest hit singles
The following songs achieved the highest chart positions
in the charts of 1972.
#
Artist
Title
Year
Country
Chart Entries
1
Don McLean
"American Pie"
1972
US
US *Billboard* 1 for 19 weeks, Canada *RPM* 1 for 5 weeks, New Zealand 1 for 3 weeks, Australia 1 for 5 weeks, UK 2 for 16 weeks
2
Harry Nilsson
"Without You"
1972
US
UK 1 for 20 weeks, Australia 1 for 5 weeks, US *Billboard* 1 for 19 weeks, New Zealand 1 for 2 weeks
3
Hot Butter
"Popcorn"
1972
US
Holland 1 for 15 weeks, France 1 for 5 weeks, Switzerland 1 for 17 weeks, Norway 1 for 20 weeks, Germany 1 for 5 months, UK 5 for 19 weeks, US *Billboard* 9 for 18 weeks
4
Neil Young
"Heart of Gold"
1972
Canada
US *Billboard* 1 for 14 weeks, Canada 1 for 12 weeks, France 2 for 8 weeks, Norway 4 for 11 weeks, Germany 4 for 4 months,
5
The Moody Blues
"Nights in White Satin"
1972
US
US *Billboard* 2 for 18 weeks, Canada 2 for 12 weeks, France 1 for 9 weeks, Holland 2 for 14 weeks,
Top 40 Chart hit singles
Song title
Artist(s)
Release date(s)
US
UK
Highest chart position
Other Chart Performance(s)
"[10538 Overture](10538-overture)"
Electric Light Orchestra
June 1972
n/a
9
9 (United Kingdom)
24 (Netherlands [Dutch Top 40])
"A Cowboy's Work Is Never Done"
Sonny & Cher
February 1972
8
n/a
3 (Canada)
See chart entry performance
"A Horse with No Name"
America
January 1972
1
3
1 (Canada, Finland, United States)
See chart performance entry
"Ain't Understanding Mellow"
Jerry Butler and Brenda Lee Eager
January 1970
21
n/a
21 (United States)
3 (U.S. Billboard Best Selling Soul Singles)
"All the Young Dudes"
Mott the Hoople
July 1972
37
3
3 (United Kingdom)
4 (Ireland) - 13 (New Zealand) - 31 (Canada) - 32 (U.S. Record World) - 34 (U.S. Cash Box Top 100)
"Alone Again (Naturally)"
Gilbert O'Sullivan
February 1972
1
3
1 (Canada, France, United States)
See chart performance entry
"Amazing Grace"
Pipes and Drums and Military Band of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
April 1972
n/a
1
1 (Australia, Canada, Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom)
n/a
"America"
Simon & Garfunkel
July 1972
97
25
25 (United Kingdom)
n/a
"American Pie"
Don McLean
January 1972
1
2
1 (Australia, Canada, New Zealand)
[See chart performance entry *[1971 single release overlapped into 1972]*](american-pie-song-charts)
"Anticipation"
Carly Simon
January 1972
13
n/a
9 (Canada)
3 (U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary) - 10 (U.S. Cash Box Top 100) - 64 (Australia)
"Baby Blue"
Badfinger
March 1972
14
n/a
3 (Malaysia)
7 (Canada) - 9 (New Zealand, U.S. Cash Box Top 100) - 12 (U.S. Record World Top 100) - 14 (Sweden) - 16 (Australia) - 18 (South Africa) - 30 (West Germany)
Other Chart hit singles
"Apache" – The Shadows (reissue)
"Baby, Don't Get Hooked on Me" – Mac Davis
"Baby Let Me Take You (In My Arms)" – The Detroit Emeralds
"Back Off Boogaloo" – Ringo Starr
"Back Stabbers" – The O'Jays
"Bang a Gong (Get It On)" – T. Rex
"Beautiful Sunday" – Daniel Boone
"Been to Canaan" – Carole King
"Beg, Steal or Borrow" – The New Seekers
"Ben" – Michael Jackson
"Best Thing" – Styx
"Betcha by Golly, Wow" – The Stylistics
"Black and White" – Three Dog Night
"Black Dog"- Led Zeppelin
"Blockbuster!"- Sweet
"A Brand New Song" – Cliff Richard
"Brand New Key" – Melanie
"Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)" – Looking Glass
"Burning Love" – Elvis Presley
"California Man" – The Move
"The Candy Man" – Sammy Davis Jr.
"Can't You Hear the Song?" – Wayne Newton
"Children of the Revolution" – T.Rex
"Circles" – The New Seekers
"The Cisco Kid" – War
"City of New Orleans" – Arlo Guthrie
"Clair" – Gilbert O'Sullivan
"Clean Up Woman" – Betty Wright
"Coconut" – Harry Nilsson
"Changes" – David Bowie
"Come What May (Après Toi)" – Vicky Leandros
"Conquistador" – Procol Harum
"Cotton Jenny" – Anne Murray
"The Cover of the Rolling Stone" – Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show
"Crazy Horses" – The Osmonds
"Crocodile Rock" – Elton John
"Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast" – Wayne Newton
"Danny's Song" – Anne Murray
"Day After Day" – Badfinger
"Day by Day" – Godspell
"The Day I Found Myself" – Honey Cone
"Day Dreaming" – Aretha Franklin
"Diary" – Bread
"Do It Again" – Steely Dan
"Doctor My Eyes" – Jackson Browne
"Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" – James Taylor
"Don't Say You Don't Remember" – Beverly Bremers
"Drowning in the Sea of Love" – Joe Simon
"Down by the Lazy River" – The Osmonds
"Easy Livin'" – Uriah Heep
"Elected" – Alice Cooper
"Everybody Plays the Fool" – The Main Ingredient
"Ev'ry Day of My Life" – Bobby Vinton
"Everything I Own" – Bread
"Eye Level" – Simon Park Orchestra
"Family Affair" – Sly & the Family Stone
"The Family of Man" – Three Dog Night
"Feel the Need in Me" – The Detroit Emeralds
"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" – Roberta Flack
"Floy Joy" – Supremes
"Footstompin' Music" – Grand Funk Railroad
"Forever Autumn" – Vigrass & Osborne
"Freddie's Dead (Theme From Superfly)" – Curtis Mayfield
"Garden Party" – Rick Nelson
"Geronimo's Cadillac" – Michael Martin Murphey
"Get on the Good Foot pt.1" – James Brown
"Give Ireland Back to the Irish" – Wings
"Go All the Way" – Raspberries
"Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues" – Danny O'Keefe
"Goodbye to Love" – The Carpenters
"Got to Be There" – Michael Jackson
"Gudbuy T'Jane" – Slade
"The Guitar Man" – Bread
"The Happiest Girl in the Whole USA" – Donna Fargo
"Happy" – The Rolling Stones
"Happy the Man" – Genesis
"Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" – John Lennon & Yoko Ono, the Plastic Ono Band with the Harlem Community Choir
"He Is Your Brother" – ABBA
"Heart of Gold" – Neil Young
"Hi, Hi, Hi"/"C Moon" – Wings
"Highway Star" – Deep Purple
"Hold Her Tight" – The Osmonds
"Hold Your Head Up" – Argent
"Honky Cat" – Elton John
"Hot Rod Lincoln" – Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen
"How Do You Do" – Mouth & MacNeal
"Hurting Each Other" – The Carpenters
"I Am Woman" – Helen Reddy
"I Believe in Music" – Gallery
"I Can See Clearly Now" – Johnny Nash
"I Get the Sweetest Feeling" – Jackie Wilson
"I Gotcha" – Joe Tex
"I Need You" – America
"I Saw The Light" – Todd Rundgren
"I Wanna Be Where You Are" – Michael Jackson
"I Wanna Be With You" – Raspberries
"I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing" – The New Seekers
"I'd Love You to Want Me" – Lobo
"I'll Be Around" – The Spinners
"I'll Take You There" – The Staple Singers
"I'm Still in Love with You" – Al Green
"I'm Stone in Love with You" – The Stylistics
"I've Been Lonely for So Long" – Frederick Knight
"(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right" – Luther Ingram
"If You Don't Know Me by Now" – Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
"I'll Make You Music" – Beverly Bremers
"Immigration Man" – Crosby & Nash
"In the Rain" – The Dramatics
"Isn't Life Strange" – The Moody Blues
"It Never Rains in Southern California" – Albert Hammond
"It's Going to Take Some Time" – The Carpenters
"Jesus" – Cliff Richard
"Jesus Is Just Alright" – The Doobie Brothers
"John, I'm Only Dancing" – David Bowie
"Join Together" – The Who
"Joy" – Apollo 100
"Jump into the Fire" – Harry Nilsson
"Jungle Fever" – The Chakachas (Roland Kluger under an assumed group name)
"(Last Night) I Didn't Get to Sleep at All" – The 5th Dimension
"Layla" – Derek and the Dominos
"Lean on Me" – Bill Withers
"Legend in Your Own Time" – Carly Simon
"Let's Stay Together" – Al Green
"The Lion Sleeps Tonight" – Robert John
"Listen to the Music" – The Doobie Brothers
"Living in Harmony" – Cliff Richard
"Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress)" – The Hollies
"Look What You Done for Me" – Al Green
"Looking Through the Eyes of Love" – The Partridge Family
"Loop di Love" – Shag [Jonathan King under a pseudonym]
"Speak Softly Love (Love Theme from The Godfather)" – Andy Williams
"Mama Weer All Crazee Now" – Slade
"Mary Had a Little Lamb" – Wings
"Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" – Paul Simon
"Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu" – Johnny Rivers
"Rockin' Robin" – Michael Jackson
"Rock & Roll Soul" – Grand Funk Railroad
"Rolling Stone" - Suzi Quatro
"Roundabout" – Yes
"Run Run Run" – Jo Jo Gunne
"Run to Me" – Bee Gees
"Saturday in the Park" – Chicago
"School's Out" – Alice Cooper
"Scorpio" – Dennis Coffey & The Detroit Guitar Band
"Sealed With A Kiss" – Bobby Vinton
"Seaside Shuffle" – Terry Dactyl & the Dinosaurs
"She is Just Kind of a Girl" – Byorn&Benny
"Signs" – The Drifters
"Silver Machine" – Hawkwind
"Simone" – England Dan & John Ford Coley
"Slippin' into Darkness" – War
"Small Beginnings" – Flash
"Solid Gold Easy Action" – T.Rex
"Someday Never Comes" – Creedence Clearwater Revival
"Something's Wrong with Me" – Austin Roberts
"Song Sung Blue" – Neil Diamond
"Spaceman" – Harry Nilsson
"Speak to the Sky" – Rick Springfield
"Starman" – David Bowie
"Starting All Over Again" – Mel & Tim
"Stay with Me" – Faces
"Suavecito" – Malo
"Sugar Daddy" – The Jackson 5
"Summer Breeze" – Seals and Crofts
"Sunshine" – Jonathan Edwards
"Superstition" – Stevie Wonder
"Sweet Seasons" – Carole King
"Sweet Surrender" – Bread
"Sylvia's Mother" – Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show
"Take It Easy" – Eagles
"Take Me Bak 'Ome" – Slade
"Taxi" – Harry Chapin
"Telegram Sam" – T.Rex
"That's When the Music Takes Me – Neil Sedaka
"Thunder and Lightning" – Chi Coltrane
"Tight Rope" – Leon Russell
"Tiny Dancer" – Elton John
"Together Let's Find Love" – The 5th Dimension
"Too Late to Turn Back Now" – Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose
"Top of the World" – The Carpenters (in Japan; it became a hit in the U.S. and the UK the following year)
"Traveling in the Dark" – Mountain
"The Jean Genie" – David Bowie
"Troglodyte (Cave Man)" – Jimmy Castor Bunch
"Trouble Man" – Marvin Gaye
"Tumbling Dice" – The Rolling Stones
"Two Divided by Love" – The Grass Roots
"Use Me" – Bill Withers
"Ventura Highway" – America
"Vincent" – Don McLean
"Virginia Plain" – Roxy Music
"Walkin' in the Rain With the One I Love" – Love Unlimited
"The Way of Love" – Cher
"We Can Make it Together" – Steve and Eydie featuring The Osmonds
"We're Free" – Beverly Bremers
"Where Is the Love?" – Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway
"Without You" – Harry Nilsson
"Witchy Woman" – Eagles
"Woman Is the Nigger of the World" – John Lennon
"You Are Everything" – The Stylistics
"You Don't Mess Around with Jim" – Jim Croce
"You Ought to be With Me" – Al Green
"You Turn Me On I'm a Radio" – Joni Mitchell
"You Want It, You Got It" – The Detroit Emeralds
"You Wear It Well" – Rod Stewart
"You're So Vain" – Carly Simon
"Your Mama Don't Dance" – Loggins and Messina
Notable singles
Song title
Artist(s)
Release date(s)
Other Chart Performance(s)
"Starman"
David Bowie
April 1972
See chart performance entry
Other Notable singles
"Hoochie Koochie Lady" b/w "First Avenue" - Elf
"When You Say Love" - Sonny & Cher
Published popular music
"Alone Again (Naturally)" w.m. Raymond O'Sullivan
"Alone at a Drive-In Movie" w.m. Jim Jacobs & Warren Casey
"American Pie" w.m. Don McLean
"Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" w.m. Jim Croce
"Beautiful Through and Through" w. Bob Merrill m. Jule Styne from the musical Sugar
"Beauty School Dropout" w.m. Warren Casey & Jim Jacobs from the musical Grease
"The Beauty That Drives Men Mad" w. Bob Merrill m. Jule Styne from the musical Sugar
"Bein' Green" w.m. Joe Raposo from the television series Sesame Street.
"Blues for Newport" m. Dave Brubeck
"Born to Hand Jive" w.m. Warren Casey & Jim Jacobs from the musical Grease
"Burning Love" w.m. Dennis Linde
"C is for Cookie" w.m. Joe Raposo
"Clair" w.m. Raymond O'Sullivan
"Come Dream With Me" w. Sammy Cahn m. Jimmy Van Heusen
"Corner of the Sky" w.m. Stephen Schwartz from the musical Pippin
"For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her" – Simon & Garfunkel
"Greased Lightning" w.m. Warren Casey & Jim Jacobs from the musical Grease
"I Can See Clearly Now" w.m. Johnny Nash
"Killing Me Softly with His Song" w. Norman Gimbel m. Charles Fox
"Liza with a Z" w. Fred Ebb m. John Kander from the television production Liza with a Z
"Magic To Do" w.m. Stephen Schwartz. Introduced by Ben Vereen in the musical Pippin
"Maybe This Time" w. Fred Ebb m. John Kander from the musical film Cabaret
"Mooning" w.m. Warren Casey & Jim Jacobs from the musical Grease
"The Morning After" w.m. Joel Hirschhorn & Al Kasha from the film The Poseidon Adventure
"No Time at All" w.m. Stephen Schwartz from the musical Pippin
"The Old Fashioned Way" w. Charles Aznavour, Joel Hirschhorn & Al Kasha m. George Garvarentz
"Ring Them Bells" w. Fred Ebb m. John Kander from the television production Liza with a Z
"Rock and Roll" – Led Zeppelin
"Shakin' at the High School Hop" w.m. Jim Jacobs & Warren Casey
"Sing" w.m. Joe Raposo. Introduced by Bob McGrath on Sesame Street
"Speak Softly, Love" w. Larry Kusik m. Nino Rota from the film The Godfather
"Summer Nights" w.m. Warren Casey & Jim Jacobs from the musical Grease
"Taxi (song)" — Harry Chapin
"There Are Worse Things I Could Do" w.m. Warren Casey & Jim Jacobs from the musical Grease
"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" w.m. L. Russell Brown & Irwin Levine
"Vincent" w.m. Don McLean
"You Are the Sunshine of My Life" w.m. Stevie Wonder
Other notable songs (world)
"Caro Mozart" – Sylvie Vartan (France)
"Holidays" – Michel Polnareff (France)
Classical music
Arthur Bliss – Metamorphic Variations
Friedrich Cerha – Spiegel
George Crumb – Makrokosmos, Volume I for amplified piano
Mario Davidovsky – Transientes for orchestra
Paul Le Flem – Symphony No. 4
Karel Goeyvaerts
Bélise dans un jardin
Nachklänge aus dem Theater I–II, for tape
Piano Quartet
Hans Werner Henze – Heliogabalus imperator
Klaus Huber
...Ausgespannt..., sacred music for baritone, five instrumental groups, loudspeakers, two two-track tapes, and organ
Ein Hauch von Unzeit I: Plainte sur la perte de la réflexion musicale – quelques madrigaux pour flûte seule ou flûte avec quelques instruments quelquonques...
*Ein Hauch von Unzeit II: Plainte sur la perte de la réflexion musicale pour piano à une main et demie... *, for piano
Ein Hauch von Unzeit III, for 2–7 players (variable instrumentation)
Dmitri Kabalevsky – A Letter to the 30th Century (oratorio)
Wojciech Kilar – Prelude and Carol for 4 oboes and strings
György Ligeti – Double Concerto for flute, oboe and orchestra
Theo Loevendie – Horn Concerto, "Orbits"
Yves Prin – Actions-Simultanées II, for orchestra
Einojuhani Rautavaara
Cantus Arcticus, for orchestra
Canto III – A Portrait of the Artist at a Certain Moment, for string orchestra
Credo, for mixed chorus
Book of Life (Elämän kirja), choral suite
Steve Reich – Clapping Music
George Rochberg – Recordanza (Soliloquy for Cello and Piano)
Peter Ruzicka – Bewegung
Karlheinz Stockhausen –
Alphabet für Liège, for soloists and duos, Nr. 36
Ylem, for variable ensemble of 19 or more players, Nr. 37
Toru Takemitsu – Distance
Veljo Tormis – Curse Upon Iron (Raua needmine)
Opera
Peter Maxwell Davies – Taverner (12 July, Covent Garden, London)
Berlin to Broadway with Kurt Weill – Off-Broadway revue opened at the Theatre de Lys on October 1 and ran for 152 performances
Company (Stephen Sondheim) – London production opened at Her Majesty's Theatre on January 18 and ran for 344 performances
Cowardy Custard – London production opened at the Mermaid Theatre on July 10 and ran for 405 performances
Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope – London production opened at the Playhouse Theatre on April 19 and ran for 914 performances
Don't Play Us Cheap – Broadway production opened at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on May 16 and ran for 164 performances
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Stephen Sondheim) – Broadway revival
The Good Old, Bad Old Days (Music, Lyrics & Book: Anthony Newley & Leslie Bricusse) London production opened at the Prince of Wales Theatre on December 20 and ran for 309 performances
Jesus Christ Superstar (Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice) – London production opened at the Palace Theatre on August 9 and ran for 3358 performances
Grease – Broadway production ran for 3388 performances, the longest run ever at that time
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Lloyd Webber & Rice) – London production opened at The Roundhouse on November 8 and ran for 43 performances
Man of La Mancha Broadway revival
Pippin – Broadway production opened at the Imperial Theatre on October 23 and ran for 1944 performances
Sugar – Broadway production opened at the Kajestic Theatre and ran for 505 performances
Musical films
Baharo Phool Barsao
Cabaret
Fillmore (musical documentary)
Jawani Diwani
Lady Sings the Blues
Man of La Mancha
Propala Hramota
Elvis on Tour starring Elvis Presley
Journey Back to Oz, with music by Walter Scharf, and songs by Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn
Seeta Aur Geeta (music by R. D. Burman)
Musical television productions
Liza with a Z
Births
January 1
Yoon Chan, South Korean actor
Imaani, Jamaican-English singer
January 3 – Nichole Nordeman, American singer
January 5
Jang Seo-hee, South Korean actress
Sakis Rouvas, Greek singer, actor and businessman
January 15
Chung Il-mi, South Korean goffer
Yang Yong-eun, South Korean goffer
January 17 – Aqualung, English songwriter, musician and record producer
January 19 – Angham, Egyptian singer, record producer and actress
January 20 – So Chan-whee, South Korean singer
January 21
Cat Power, American singer-songwriter and musician
Jesse van Ruller, Dutch jazz guitarist and composer
January 24 - Beth Hart, American singer, songwriter and musician
January 25 – Kim Jong-nam, South Korean rapper and dancer (Turbo)
January 26 – Christopher Boykin, American rapper
January 27
Wynne Evans, Welsh tenor
Mark Owen, British singer (Take That)
Bibi Gaytán, Mexican singer
January 29 – Coumba Gawlo, Senegalese singer
February 1 – Tego Calderón, Puerto Rican rapper and singer
February 2 - Zoë Keating, Canadian-American cellist and composer
February 10 – Mr. Scruff, English record producer and DJ
February 11 – Craig Jones, American heavy metal sampler/keyboardist (Slipknot)
February 14 – Rob Thomas, American singer-songwriter, musician, multi instrumentalist and advocate (Matchbox Twenty)
February 15 – Michelle, German singer
February 16 – Taylor Hawkins, American rock drummer (Foo Fighters) (d. 2022)
February 17
Billie Joe Armstrong, American rock musician, playwright, activist, advocate, actor and singer-songwriter (Green Day)
Yuki Isoya, Japanese singer
February 20
K-os, Canadian alternative rapper, singer-songwriter and record producer
Neil Primrose, Scottish drummer (Travis)
February 21 – Seo Taiji, South Korean singer (Seo Taiji and Boys)
February 24
Teodor Currentzis, Greek orchestral conductor
March 4
Alison Wheeler, British singer (The Beautiful South)
Ivy Queen, Puerto Rican singer, rapper and songwriter
March 5 – Adam Zindani (Stereophonics)
March 6 – Jaret Reddick, American musician (Bowling for Soup)
March 6 – Shaquille O'Neal, American basketball player and rapper
March 7 – Jang Dong-gun, South Korean actor
March 8
Angie Hart, Australian pop singer
Jakob Sveistrup, Danish singer
March 9 – AZ, American rapper
March 10 – Timbaland, American record producer, rapper, singer-songwriter and DJ (Ginuwine, Aaliyah, Justin Timberlake)
March 11 – UA, Japanese singer-songwriter
March 13 – Common, American rapper and actor
March 15 – Mark Hoppus, American rock musician (blink-182)
March 16 – Andy Dunlop, Scottish musician (Travis)
March 17 – Melissa Auf der Maur (Hole)
March 20
Alex Kapranos, British rock singer and guitarist (Franz Ferdinand)
Shelly Poole, English singer (Alisha's Attic)
March 21 – Large Professor, American rapper and music producer
March 29 – Hera Björk, Icelandic singer
April 1 – Sukshinder Shinda, British bhangra singer-songwriter and record producer
April 4
Vladimir Jurowski, Russian conductor
Jill Scott, American soul singer and songwriter
Magnus Sveningsson, Swedish bassist (The Cardigans)
April 5 – Pat Green, American country singer-songwriter
April 8 – Paul Gray, American heavy metal bass guitarist (Slipknot)
April 10 – Sami Yli-Sirniö, Finnish rock and metal guitarist
April 12 – Şebnem Ferah, Turkish singer-songwriter
April 13 – Aaron Lewis, American nu metal musician (Staind)
April 15 – Aleksey Potekhin, Russian pop DJ (Ruki Vverh!)
April 18 – Kim Sung-jae, South Korean singer, rapper, dancer and model (Deux) (d. 1995)
April 20
Željko Joksimović, Serbian singer, composer songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer
Marko Kon, Serbian composer, producer and singer
Stephen Marley, Jamaican-American musician
April 21 – Severina (singer), Croatian singer
April 23 – Amira Medunjanin, singer from Bosnia and Herzegovina
April 24 – Corey Cerovsek, Canadian violinist and pianist
April 27 – Rob Coombes, English musician and composer (Supergrass)
April 28 – Violent J, American rapper
April 29 – Fredrik Kempe, Swedish songwriter and opera and pop singer
May 3 – Mark Morrison, British R&B singer
May 4
Mike Dirnt American musician, songwriter and composer. (Green Day)
Chris Tomlin, American contemporary Christian musician (CCM)
May 7 – Felix da Housecat, American house music DJ and record producer
May 8
Dino Bardot, British guitarist (Franz Ferdinand, The Yummy Fur)
Darren Hayes, Australian singer (Savage Garden)
May 14 – Salaam Remi, American record producer
May 16 – Hideki Naganuma, Japanese DJ and video game composer
May 19
Jenny Berggren, Swedish singer (Ace of Base)
Rohan Marley, Jamaican businessman and footballer
May 20
Busta Rhymes, American hip hop recording artist, actor, record producer and record executive
Andreas Lundstedt, Swedish singer (Alcazar)
May 21
The Notorious B.I.G., American rapper (d. 1997)
Mitch Allan, American record producer, songwriter and musician.
May 22 – Alison Eastwood, American actress
May 26
Ahmad Dhani, Indonesian rock musician, songwriter, arranger, producer and politician
Alan White, English drummer (Oasis)
May 27 – Ivete Sangalo, Brazilian female singer
May 29 – Stanislas, French singer
May 31 - Christian McBride, American jazz bassist, composer, artistic director
June 4
Stoja, Serbian pop-folk singer
Nikka Costa, American singer-songwriter
June 5
Paweł Kotla, Polish conductor
Toni Pearen, Australian singer-songwriter, TV host, dancer and actor
June 6 – Cristina Scabbia, Italian singer
June 12 – Bounty Killer, reggae/dancehall singer
June 13 – Natalie MacMaster, Canadian fiddler
June 15 – Carl Thomas, American R&B singer
June 16 – John Cho, South Korean actor
June 17 – Rik Rok, Jamaican singer
June 23 – Fredwreck, Palestinian American music artist and record producer
June 25 – Mike Kroeger, Canadian rock bass guitarist (Nickelback)
June 26 – Garou, French Canadian singer
June 29 – DJ Shadow, American DJ and record producer
July 1
Sunshine Becker, American backing singer (Furthur)
Alex Machacek, Austrian guitarist (BPM and CAB)
July 4
Rogue, American dark wave lead singer (The Crüxshadows)
William Goldsmith (Sunny Day Real Estate, Foo Fighters)
July 6 – D-Styles, American record producer and DJ
July 9 – Simon Tong, English guitarist and keyboardist
July 10 – Tilo Wolff, German musician
July 12 – Brett Reed, drummer (Rancid)
July 14 – Ill Bill, American rapper (La Coka Nostra)
July 15 – John Dolmayan, Armenian-American drummer (System of a Down)
July 17
Elizabeth Cook, American singer and guitarist
Jason Rullo, American drummer (Symphony X and Redemption)
July 20
Vitamin C, American singer-songwriter, dancer and actress (Eve's Plum)
Jenny B, Italian singer
July 26 – Wayne Wonder, reggae singer
July 28 – Yum Jung-ah, South Korean actress
July 29 – Simon Jones, English bassist (The Verve)
July 29 – Anssi Kela, Finnish rock musician
August 2 – Justyna Steczkowska, Polish singer and songwriter
August 4 - John Paul White, is an American singer-songwriter, and was a member of the Grammy Award-winning duo The Civil Wars.
August 6 – Geri Halliwell, British singer, clothes designer, author and actress (Spice Girls)
August 8 – Lüpüs Thünder (Bloodhound Gang)
August 9 – A-mei, Taiwanese Puyuma singer-songwriter
August 10 – Devon Allman, American guitarist, singer, songwriter and record producer (The Allman Betts Band)
August 12
Del tha Funky Homosapien, American hip-hop artist
Demir Demirkan, Turkish rock musician and songwriter
August 15 – Yoo Jae-suk, South Korean comedian and television personality
August 15 – Mikey Graham, Irish singer (Boyzone)
August 16
Emily Robison, American country music performer (Dixie Chicks)
Kim Ji-hyun, South Korean singer and actress (Roo'ra)
August 18
Leo Ku, Hong Kong actor and singer
Keiko Yamada, Japanese singer (Globe)
Malice, American rapper (Clipse)
August 19 – Sammi Cheng, Hong Kong singer and actress
August 26 – Kim Burrell, American singer, songwriter and pastor
August 27 – Jimmy Pop, American musician (Bloodhound Gang)
August 29
Amanda Marshall, Canadian singer-songwriter
Bae Yong-joon, South Korean actor and businessman
September 4 – Carlos Ponce, Puerto Rican actor, singer, composer
September 6
Idris Elba, English actor, producer, musician and DJ
Oh Yong-ran, South Korean handball player
September 9 – Roots Manuva, English rapper and producer
September 13 – Kelly Chen, Hong Kong singer and actress
September 21
Liam Gallagher, British singer (Oasis)
David Silveria, American musician (Korn)
September 23 – Sam Bettens, Belgian musician (K's Choice)
September 23 – Jermaine Dupri, American rapper, record producer, musician
September 24 – Queen Pen, American rapper
September 27 – Lhasa de Sela, American-Canadian singer-songwriter (d. 2010)
September 26 – Shawn Stockman, American singer (Boyz II Men)
September 28
Dita Von Teese, American vedette, burlesque dancer, model, businesswoman and singer (worked with Sebastien Tellier)
Kevin MacLeod, American composer and music producer
September 30 – Shaan, Indian singer
October 3
G. Love, American musician (G. Love and Special Sauce)
Josie d'Arby, Welsh television presenter and painter
October 6 – Ko So-young, South Korean actress and model
October 8
Kim Myung-min, South Korean actor
Terry Balsamo, American guitarist (Evanescence, Cold, Limp Bizkit)
October 10 – Tor Erik Hermansen, American record producer and songwriter of the team Stargate (music producers)
October 14 – Nick Fyffe, English bassist (Jamiroquai)
October 15 – Sandra Kim, Belgian singer
October 17
Eminem, American rapper, producer, record producer, musician, business man (D12 and Soul Intent (group))
Tarkan, Turkish singer
October 6 – Anders Iwers, Swedish heavy metal guitarist
October 19 – Pras (Michél), American rapper, hip hop musician, record producer, songwriter and actor (Fugees)
October 20
Stephan Moccio, Canadian pianist, composer, producer, arranger and conductor
Solarstone, English trance DJ and producer
October 21 – Matthew Friedberger, American singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist (The Fiery Furnaces)
October 27 – Brad Radke, American baseball pitcher
October 28 – Brad Paisley, American country music performer
October 29 – Tracee Ellis Ross, American actress
November 1 – Samantha Womack, English singer, actress, model and director
November 9 – Christian Scharnweber, German trance disc jockey
November 10 – Justin Trosper, American musician, songwriter, and record producer (Unwound)
November 14
Dougie Payne, Scottish bassist (Travis)
Edyta Górniak, Polish pop singer
November 17 – Kimya Dawson, American singer/songwriter
November 25 – Mark Morton, American heavy metal guitarist (Lamb of God)
November 28 – Jesper Strömblad, Swedish death metal guitarist
December 1 – Greg Upchurch, American rock drummer (Puddle of Mudd, 3 Doors Down)
December 4 – Justin Welch, English drummer (The Jesus and Mary Chain, Elastica, Suede, Lush)
December 9 – Tré Cool, German-born American musician, drummer and composer (Green Day)
December 10
Scot Alexander, American alternative rock bass guitarist (Dishwalla)
Brian Molko, British rock singer (Placebo)
Mikkel Storleer Eriksen, American songwriter and producer of the team Stargate (music producers)
December 11 – Easther Bennett, British singer (Eternal)
December 12 – Kevin Parent, Canadian singer-songwriter and actor
December 13 – Niki Evans, English actress and singer
December 15, Jason Nevins, American songwriter, record producer and remixer
December 16 – Ben Kowalewicz, Canadian rock lead singer (Billy Talent)
December 18
DJ Lethal, Latvian-born rock musician (Limp Bizkit, House of Pain)
Eimear Quinn, Irish singer and composer
December 19 – Alyssa Milano, American activist, advocate, producer, singer and actress
December 22 – Vanessa Paradis, French singer and actress
December 23 - Morgan (singer), Italian musician and singer
December 25 - Josh Freese, American rock drummer
December 27 – Matt Slocum, American pop guitarist-composer and multi-instrumentalist (Sixpence None the Richer)
December 31 – Joey McIntyre, American singer (New Kids on the Block)
Deaths
January 1 – Maurice Chevalier, 83, French singer and actor
January 16 – David Seville, 52, voice of the Chipmunks
January 19 – Michael Rabin, 35, violinist (fell downstairs)
January 20 – Jean Casadesus, 44, French pianist (car accident)
January 23 – Big Maybelle, 47, singer and pianist
January 24 – Gene Austin, 69, singer-songwriter
January 27 – Mahalia Jackson, 61, gospel singer
January 29 – Margherita Grandi, 77, operatic soprano
February 8 – Markos Vamvakaris, 66, Greek composer
February 11 – Rudi Gfaller, Austrian operetta singer and composer (b. 1882)
February 19 – Lee Morgan, 33, hard bop trumpeter
February 21 – Marie Dubas, 77, French music-hall singer
March 2 – Erna Sack, 74, coloratura soprano (cancer)
March 17 – Linda Jones, 27, soul singer (diabetic coma)
March 27 – Sharkey Bonano, 67, jazz musician and bandleader
April 3 – Ferde Grofé, 80, composer, arranger, and pianist
April 4 – Stefan Wolpe, 69, composer
May 2 – Les Harvey, 27, guitarist (Stone the Crows) (electrocuted on stage)
May 5 – Reverend Gary Davis, 76, blues and gospel singer and guitarist
May 12 – David Hughes, 43, operatic tenor (heart failure)
June 8 – Jimmy Rushing, 70, blues and jazz singer
June 13 – Clyde McPhatter, 39, R&B singer
July 3 – "Mississippi" Fred McDowell, 68, blues musician
July 9 – Robert Weede, 69, operatic baritone
July 10 – Lovie Austin, 84, American pianist, composer, and bandleader
July 15 –Francisco González Gamarra, 82, composer and painter
July 24 – Bobby Ramirez, drummer (Edgar Winter's White Trash)
July 28 – Helen Traubel, 73, operatic soprano
August 2
Brian Cole, 29, bass player in The Association (drug overdose)
Rudolph Ganz, 95, Swiss pianist, conductor and composer
August 14 – Oscar Levant, 65, pianist and composer
August 21 – Yvonne Gall, 87, operatic soprano
August 29 – Lale Andersen, 67, Danish singer
August 31 – Dalva de Oliveira, 55, Brazilian singer (internal bleeding)
September 19 – Robert Casadesus, French pianist and composer, 73
September 24 – Alfred Kalmus, music publisher, 93
September 28 – Rory Storm, 33, English singer (appendicitis)
September 30 – Grigore Cugler, 69, Romanian riter, artist, composer and violinist
October 3 – Kari Aarvold Glaser, 71, Norwegian pianist and music teacher
October 24 – Thelma Votipka, 67, operatic mezzo-soprano
November 3 – Harry Richman, 77, US singer, actor and composer
November 6 – Billy Murcia, 21, drummer of New York Dolls (suffocation)
November 11 – Berry Oakley, 24, bass player (The Allman Brothers Band) (motorcycle accident)
November 12 – Rudolf Friml, 92, Rose-Marie composer
November 18 – Danny Whitten, 29, guitarist (Crazy Horse) (drug overdose)
November 28 – Havergal Brian, 96, English classical composer
November 30 – Hans Erich Apostel, 71, Austrian composer
December 3 – Bill Johnson, 100, African American Dixieland jazz double-bassist
Awards
Grammy Awards
Grammy Awards of 1972
Grammy Album of the Year: The Concert for Bangladesh
Grammy Best New Artist: America
Grammy Best Album Design: "School's Out" – Alice Cooper
Grammy Best Pop Duo or Group: "Where Is the Love" – Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway
Grammy Best Pop Female Vocal: "I Am Woman" – Helen Reddy
Grammy Best Pop Male Vocal: "Without You" – Harry Nilsson
Grammy Best R&B Duo or Group: "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" – The Temptations
Grammy Best R&B Female Vocal: "Young, Gifted And Black" – Aretha Franklin
Grammy Best R&B Male Vocal: "Me And Mrs. Jones" – Billy Paul
Grammy Record of the Year: "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" – Roberta Flack
Grammy Song of the Year: "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" – Roberta Flack
Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest 1972
[[Leeds International Pianoforte Competition|Leeds Piano Competition]]
Murray Perahia
References
References
Woodmansey, Mick. (2016). "Spider from Mars: My Life with Bowie". Pan Macmillan.
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