Song of the Year 1972

American Pie by Don McLean a folk ballad soon become a classic sing-a-long. It is now considered one of he top five songs of the 20th Century. It tells the story of the 1959 Iowa plane crash that killed Rock and Roll stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper which Mclean refers to as The Day the Music Died. More on Don Mclean and American Pie

Billboard Top 40 of 1972

1. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, Roberta Flack
2. Alone Again (Naturally), Gilbert O'Sullivan
3. American Pie, Don McLean
4. Without You, Nilsson
5. Candy Man, Sammy Davis Jr.
6. I Gotcha, Joe Tex
7. Lean On Me, Bill Withers
8. Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me, Mac Davis
9. Brand New Key, Melanie
10. Daddy Dont You Walk So Fast, Wayne Newton
11. Let's Stay Together, Al Green
12. Brandy (You're A Fine Girl), Looking Glass
13. Oh Girl, Chi-Lites
14. Nice To Be With You, Gallery
15. My Ding-A-Ling, Chuck Berry
16. If Loving You Is Wrong I Don't Want To Be Right, Luther Ingram
17. Heart Of Gold, Neil Young
18. Betcha By Golly, Wow, Stylistics
19. I'll Take You There, Staple Singers
20. Ben, Michael Jackson
21. The Lion Sleeps Tonight, Robert John
22. Outa-space, Billy Preston
23. Slippin' Into Darkness, War
24. Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress), Hollies
25. How Do You Do, Mouth and MacNeal
27. Song Sung Blue, Neil Diamond
28. A Horse With No Name, America
28. Popcorn, Hot Butter
29. Everybody Plays The Fool, Main Ingredient
30. Precious And Few, Climax
31. Last Night I Didn't Get To Sleep At All, 5th Dimension
32. Nights In White Satin, Moody Blues
33. Go All The Way, Raspberries
34. Too Late To Turn Back Now, Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose
35. Back Stabbers, O'Jays
36. Down By The Lazy River, Osmonds
37. Sunshine, Jonathan Edwards
38. Starting All Over Again, Mel and Tim
39. Day Atter Day, Badfinger
40. Rocket Man, Elton John

Top Albums of 1972

Music News 1972

Comedian George Carlin was arrested in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for public obscenity when he recited his infamous “Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television”. This editor was there that night.

After Carlin was carted off the stage by police in front of more than 10,000 beer drinking rock fans, Quicksilver Messenger Service managed to move the angry crowd back to the music with their guitar heavy rendition of Who Do You Love. Not long after that evenings' headliner, The Doors, took the stage Green Bay Packer linebacker Henry Jordan (who was the public face of Summerfest at the time) walked out and took the microphone from the band to say it was late (it was a little after 11pm) and he pulled the plug on the music and the stage lights. As the stage went soundless and dark and people began throwing empty paper cups of beer, a gate adjacent to the stage opened and hundreds of Milwaukee police in full battle gear charged into the crowd beating people with clubs and hauling them off. They had been there all night waiting for an excuse to beat up some long haired hippies.

Far to the rear in a beer tent leaning against a tent pole, I watched it all go down sure I was far enough back to not have to make a run for it. I soon noticed one of Milwaukee's Finest skirting the crowd and running directly toward me. He was so intent upon my direction that I turned around to see what it was he was after, there was nothing there and before I made it back around it was too late. That cop clubbed me unconscious from behind. I woke while being dragged from a van into the jail down on State Street. I get a room next to George Calin who I joked around with! I was relased with many others early the next morning with no charges. More on George Carlin's arrest at Milwaukee Summerfest

Rock & Roll 1972

Elton John has a string of hits for the year with Tiny Dancer, Rocket Man and Bennie and the Jets. He soon becomes the world's piano man. Elton John Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

The Rolling Stones add their long awaited double album to the mix with Exile on Main Street. Mix of Rock and Blues it's chock full of hits with Tumblin' Dice hitting the top of the charts. Rolling Stone Magazine gives Exile #7 album of all time

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Heavy Metal 1972

Alice Cooper comes into his own with Schools Out and Eighteen. The father of creating what is called Rock and Roll Theater, creating the impetus for bands as KISS, Marilyn Manson, Nine Inch Nails, Motley Crue, and even David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust. Also a voice in American conservative politics .Alice Cooper Fan Site

Rhythm & Blues 1972

The Temptations have a #1 hit with Papa Was a Rollin' Stone was written and the funk style music preformed by Norman Whitfield. The Temptations here unusually take turns with the lyrics. It was also unusual for a 6 minute song to get enough airplay to sent it to the top of the charts. Rolling Stone gives it #168 of best songs of all time. Papa was a Rollin' Stone at Wiki

Folk Rock 1972

The album Harvest with the hit Heart Of Gold by Neil Young begins a long career of an artist able to work his way through most every genre of music whether it be folk, country, rock, blues, or that garage band sound he fathered. All with something worthwhile to say. More on Neil Young's Harvest Album

Country & Western 1972

Happiest Girl in the Whole USA - Donna Fargo