1972 in music

Events

*January 17 - Highway 51 South in Memphis, Tennessee is renamed "Elvis Presley Blvd"
*January 20 - Pink Floyd debuts "Dark Side of the Moon" during a performance at The Dome, in Brighton, but due to technical difficulties, is halted during the song 'Money'. "Dark Side of the Moon" would be played in its entirety the next night. It would be a full year before the album was released.
*January 26 - First Sunbury Music Festival held in Sunbury, Victoria
*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 8 - Frank Zappa's concert at London's Royal Albert Hall is canceled because of Zappa's obscene lyrics
*February 9 - Paul McCartney's new band, Wings, make their live debut at the University of Nottingham in England
*February 13 - Led Zeppelin's concert in Singapore is canceled when government officials won't let them off the airplane because of their long hair
*February 14 - "Steppenwolf Day" is declared in Los Angeles, California
*Mid February - John Lennon and Yoko Ono cohost an entire week on "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" (which was 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 - L.A. disc jockey Robert W. Morgan played Donny Osmond's "Puppy Love" non-stop for 90 minutes. The cops were called, but no arrests were made.
*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 of the US Immigration Department's decision to deport John
*April 16 - Electric Light Orchestra make their live debut at the Fox and Greyhound pub in Park Lane, Croydon, England
*April 28 - Wishbone Ash release their third album, "Argus" which is named album of the year by readers of "Sounds" and "Melody Maker", ahead of albums by more widely-known artists such as David Bowie and Deep Purple.
*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 after touching a poorly connected microphone. Harvey died in a hospital a few hours later. The band's lead singer, Maggie Bell, who had been Harvey's longtime girlfriend, was also hospitalized. Bell 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
*June 3
** The Opryland USA country music theme park opens in Nashville, Tennessee.
** The Rolling Stones open their North American tour in Vancouver, Canada.
*June 10 - Elvis does the first of four concerts in the Madison Square Garden. He sells out all the shows in one day.
*July 22 - The Eagles release their self-titled debut album.
*July 24 - Bobby Ramirez, the drummer for Edgar Winter's White Trash, is beaten to death in a Chicago bar fight, reportedly because his hair was too long.
*August 5 - Clive Davis signs Aerosmith to Columbia Records at Max's Kansas City in New York, NY.
*October 12 - Diana Ross has her acting debut in the wildly successful film "Lady Sings the Blues" and garners her first Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
*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.

Also in 1972

*June - Simon and Garfunkel reunite briefly to perform live at Madison Square Garden in New York City for a campaign benefit for Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern.
*June - Founding member Roy Wood exits the Electric Light Orchestra line-up just as the band scores its first hit single.
*Sammy Davis Jr. makes a guest appearance on the television show "All in the Family"
*Billy Ray Hearn founds Myrrh Records.
*Joseph Hoo Kim founds Channel One Studios in Kingston, Jamaica

Albums released

*"#1 Record" - Big Star
*"A Good Feelin' to Know" - Poco
*"A Little Bit of Paul Davis" - Paul Davis
*"A Song for You" - The Carpenters
*"A Thing Called Love" - Johnny Cash
*"The Academy in Peril" - John Cale
*"Ace" - Bob Weir
*"Aerie" - John Denver
*"Album III" - Loudon Wainwright III
*"All Directions" - The Temptations
*"All the Young Dudes" - Mott the Hoople
*"All Together Now" - Argent
*"Amazing Grace" - Aretha Franklin
*"A Meeting of the Times" - Rahsaan Roland Kirk
*"America" - America (debut)
*"" - Johnny Cash
*"America Eats Its Young"-Funkadelic
*"American Pie" - Don McLean
*"An Anthology" - Duane Allman
*"Argus" - Wishbone Ash
*"Attica Blues" - Archie Shepp
*"Aztec Two-Step" - Aztec Two-Step
*"Back To Front" - Gilbert O'Sullivan
*"The Ballad of Calico" - Kenny Rogers and the First Edition
*"Bandstand" - Family
*"Barbara Joan Streisand" - Barbara Streisand
*"Bare Trees" - Fleetwood Mac
*"BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert" - Nazareth
*"Bealtitude:Respect Yourself" - The Staple Singers
*"The Best of Top of the Pops '72" - Top of the Poppers
*"Birds of Fire" - Mahavishnu Orchestra
*"Black Sabbath, Vol. 4" - Black Sabbath
*"Bolan Boogie" - T. Rex
*"Boot Power" - Mungo Jerry
*"Burgers" - Hot Tuna
*"Burning Love" - Elvis Presley
*"Bustin' Out" - Pure Prairie League
*"Can't Buy a Thrill" - Steely Dan
*"Captain Beyond" - Captain Beyond
*"Caravanserai" - Santana
*"Carl and the Passions - "So Tough"" - The Beach Boys
*"Carney" - Leon Russell
*"Carnival in Babylon" - Amon Düül II
*"Carry It On" - Joan Baez
*"Catch Bull at Four" - Cat Stevens
*"Cherish" - David Cassidy
*"Chicago V" - Chicago
*"Close to the Edge" - Yes
*"Cluster II" - Cluster
*"Cold Blue Excursion" - Ray Dorset
*"Come from the Shadows" - Joan Baez
*"The Concert For Bangla Desh" - George Harrison
*"Crossings" - Herbie Hancock
*"Dingly Dell" - Lindisfarne
*"The Divine Miss M" - Bette Midler (debut)
*"Doremi Fasol Latido" - Hawkwind
*"Drama" - Maria Bethânia
*"Dr. John's Gumbo" - Dr. John
*"Eagles" - Eagles (debut)
*"Eat a Peach" - The Allman Brothers Band
*"Ege Bamyasi" - Can
*"Ella Loves Cole" - Ella Fitzgerald
*"" (live) - Elvis Presley
*"Elvis Now" - Elvis Presley
*"Emergency Ward" - Nina Simone
*"Europe '72 - The Grateful Dead
*"Everybody's in Show-Biz" - The Kinks
*"Exercises" - Nazareth
*"Exile on Main St." - The Rolling Stones
*"Expectations" - Keith Jarret
*"Faro Annie" - John Renbourn
*"Faust So Far" - Faust
*"First Take" - Roberta Flack
*"Floy Joy" - The Supremes
*"Focus III" - Focus
*"For the Roses" - Joni Mitchell
*"Foxtrot" - Genesis
*"Free to Be... You and Me" - Marlo Thomas & Friends
*"Free Will" - Gil Scott-Heron
*"Fresh" - The Raspberries
*"Full House" - J. Geils Band
*"Funny How Sweet Co-Co Can Be" - Sweet
*"Garcia" - Jerry Garcia
*"Genesis Live" – Genesis
*"Garden in the City" - Melanie
*"Get on the Good Foot" - James Brown
*"Give It Up" - Bonnie Raitt
*"Give Tomorrow's Children One More Chance" - Ocean
*"Go Away Little Girl" - The Lawrence Welk Orchestra
*"Got My Own Bag of Tricks" - Bo Diddley
*"Graham Nash David Crosby" - Crosby & Nash
*"The Grand Wazoo" - Frank Zappa
*"Greetings From L.A." - Tim Buckley
*"The Harder They Come" - Jimmy Cliff
*"Harvest" - Neil Young
*"He Touched Me" - Elvis Presley
*"Heads and Tales" - Harry Chapin
*"Heavy Cream" - Cream
*"Hendrix in the West" - Jimi Hendrix
*"Hobo's Lullaby" - Arlo Guthrie
*"Hogwash" - The Groundhogs
*"Homecoming" - America
*"Home Free" - Dan Fogelberg
*"Honky Chateau" - Elton John
*"Hot August Night" - Neil Diamond
*"I Am" - Pete Townshend
*"IF 4" (aka "Waterfall") - If
*"I Can See Clearly Now" - Johnny Nash
*"I Miss You" - Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes
*"I'm Still in Love with You" - Al Green
*"In Concert" - Janis Joplin
*"Infinite" - Kazumi Watanabe
*"International Superstar" - Johnny Cash
*"Into the Purple Valley" - Ry Cooder
*"I Sing the Body Electric" - Weather Report
*"Jackson Browne" - Jackson Browne
*"Jazz at Santa Monica Civic '72" - Ella Fitzgerald
*"Jeff Beck Group" - Jeff Beck
*"John Renbourn" - John Renbourn
*"The Johnny Cash Family Christmas" - Johnny Cash
*"Journey Through the Past" - Neil Young
*"Just Another Band From L.A." - Frank Zappa and the Mothers
*"Kapt. Kopter and the (Fabulous Twirly-birds)" - Randy California
*"Keeper of the Castle" - Four Tops
*"The "Killer" Rocks On" - Jerry Lee Lewis
*"The Kink Kronikles"- The Kinks
*"La Población" - Víctor Jara
*"Lady Sings the Blues" - Diana Ross
*"Last Autumn's Dream" - Jade Warrior
*"Last of the Red Hot Burritos" - The Flying Burrito Brothers
*"Let My Children Hear Music" - Charles Mingus
*"Let's Stay Together" - Al Green
*"Light as a Feather" - Return to Forever
*"Live at Max's Kansas City" - The Velvet Underground
*"Live at the Paramount" - The Guess Who
*"Live in Japan" - Chicago
*"Live in Tokyo" - Weather Report
*"Live Cream Volume II" - Cream
*"Living" - Judy Collins
*"Living in the Past" - Jethro Tull
*"Loggins and Messina" - Loggins and Messina
*"The London Chuck Berry Sessions" - Chuck Berry
*"Lonesome Crow" - Scorpions
*"Long John Silver" - Jefferson Airplane
*"Lou Reed" - Lou Reed
*"Machine Head" - Deep Purple
*"Made In Japan" - Deep Purple
*"Madman Across the Water" - Elton John
*"The Magician's Birthday" - Uriah Heep
*"Mardi Gras" - Creedence Clearwater Revival
*"Mark, Don and Mel,1969-1971" - Grand Funk Railroad
*"Manassas" - Stephen Stills and Manassas
*"Mandrill Is" - Mandrill
*"Moods" - Neil Diamond
*"More Hot Rocks" - The Rolling Stones
*"The Moviegoer - Scott Walker
*"Moving Waves - Focus
*"Music of My Mind" - Stevie Wonder
*"Neither One of Us" - Gladys Knight and The Pips
*"Nervous on the Road" - Brinsley Schwarz
*"Neu!" - Neu!
*"Never a Dull Moment" - Rod Stewart
*"No Answer" - Electric Light Orchestra
*"No Secrets" - Carly Simon
*"'Ot 'N' Sweaty" - Cactus
*"Obscured by Clouds" - Pink Floyd
*"Olympia 71" - Dalida
*"One Man Dog" - James Taylor
*"On Record" - April Wine
*"On The Corner" - Miles Davis
*"Paul Simon" - Paul Simon
*"Phoenix" - Grand Funk Railroad
*"Pictures at an Exhibition" - Emerson, Lake & Palmer
*"Piledriver" - Status Quo
*"Pink Moon" - Nick Drake
*"Procol Harum Live With The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra" - Procol Harum
*"Prologue" - Renaissance
*"Pure Prairie League" - Pure Prairie League
*"Raspberries" - The Raspberries
*"The Real Thing" - Taj Mahal
*"Really" - J. J. Cale
*"Recall the Beginning...A Journey from Eden" - The Steve Miller Band
*"Return to Forever" - Return to Forever
*"Rhymes and Reasons" - Carole King
*"Rio Grande Mud" - ZZ Top
*"The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars" - David Bowie
*"Roadwork" - Edgar Winter's White Trash
*"Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway" -Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway
*"Rock of Ages" - The Band
*"Rock Me Baby" - David Cassidy
*"Rockin'" - The Guess Who
*"Rockpile" - Dave Edmunds
*"Rocky Mountain High" - John Denver
*"Round 2" - The Stylistics
*"Roy Orbison Sings" - Roy Orbison
*"Roxy Music" - Roxy Music
*"Sail Away" - Randy Newman
*"Sailin' Shoes" - Little Feat
*"Saint Dominic's Preview" - Van Morrison
*"Sanctuary" - Dion DiMucci
*"Sandy" - Sandy Denny
*"School's Out" - Alice Cooper
*"Scraps" - NRBQ
*"Screaming Target" - Big Youth
*"Separate Ways" - Elvis Presley
*"Seven Separate Fools" - Three Dog Night
*"Seventh Sojourn" - The Moody Blues
*"Simon & Garfunkel's Greatest Hits" - Simon & Garfunkel
*"Sittin' In" - Loggins and Messina
*"Skies of America" - Ornette Coleman
*"Slade Alive!" - Slade
*"Slayed?" - Slade
*"The Slider" - T. Rex
*"Sloppy Seconds" - Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show
*"Small Talk At 125th and Lenox" - Gil Scott-Heron
*"Smokin' O.P.'s" - Bob Seger
*"Sniper and Other Love Songs" - Harry Chapin
*"Solomon's Seal" - Pentangle
*"Something/Anything?" - Todd Rundgren
*"Some Time In New York City" - John Lennon
*"Son of Schmilsson" - Harry Nilsson
*"Sort Of" - Slapp Happy
*"Space Is the Place" - Sun Ra
*"Spinners" - The Spinners
*"Squawk" - Budgie
*"Standing Ovation - Gladys Knight and The Pips
*"Starring As Henry The Human Fly!" - Richard Thompson
*"Still Bill" - Bill Withers
*"Stoneground Words" - Melanie
*"Strike It Rich" - Dan Hicks and his Hot Licks
*"Suit For Late Summer" - Dion DiMucci
*"Summer Breeze" - Seals and Crofts
*"Sunday Morning Coming Down" - Johnny Cash
*"Super Fly" (soundtrack) - Curtis Mayfield
*"The Sweet's Biggest Hits" - The Sweet
*"Talking Book" - Stevie Wonder
*"There It Is" - James Brown
*"They Only Come Out at Night" - The Edgar Winter Group
*"Thick as a Brick" - Jethro Tull
*"A Thing Called Love" - Johnny Cash
*"Together" - Jesse Colin Young
*"Toulouse Street" - The Doobie Brothers
*"To Whom It May Concern" - The Bee Gees
*"Transformer" - Lou Reed
*"Trilogy" - Emerson, Lake & Palmer
*"Trouble At Mill" - King Earl Boogie Band
*"Trouble Man" - Marvin Gaye
*"Understanding" - Bobby Womack
*"The Unnamables" - Magma
*"Vol. 4" - Black Sabbath
*"Waka/Jawaka" - Frank Zappa"
*"War Heroes" - Jimi Hendrix
*"Waterloo Lily" - Caravan
*"What You See Is What You Get" - The Dramatics
*"Who Came First" - Pete Townshend
*"Who Will Save the World? The Mighty Groundhogs" - The Groundhogs
*"Weird Scenes Inside the Gold Mine" - The Doors
*"Where It All Began" - Bo Diddley
*"Wild One" - The Guess Who
*"Will the Circle Be Unbroken" - The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
*"Wind of Change" - Peter Frampton
*"Wolf City" - Amon Düül II
*"The World Is a Ghetto" - War
*"Young, Gifted and Black" - Aretha Franklin

Biggest hit singles

The following songs achieved the highest [http://tsort.info/music/yr1972.htm chart positions] in the charts of 1972.

American and/or British hit singles

*"10538 Overture" - Electric Light Orchestra
*"A Cowboy's Work Is Never Done" - Sonny and Cher
*"A Horse With No Name" - America
*"All the Young Dudes" - Mott the Hoople
*"Alone Again (Naturally)" - Gilbert O'Sullivan
*"America" - Simon and Garfunkel
*"American Pie" - Don McLean
*"Anticipation" - Carly Simon
*"Baby Blue" - Badfinger
*"Baby, Don't Get Hooked on Me" - Mac Davis
*"Back Off Boogaloo" - Ringo Starr
*"Back Stabbers" - The O'Jays
*"Bang a Gong" - T. Rex
*"Beautiful Sunday" - Daniel Boone
*"Been to Canaan" - Carole King
*"Ben"- Michael Jackson
*"Best Thing" - Styx
*"Betcha By Golly, Wow" - The Stylistics
*"Black and White" - Three Dog Night
*"Black Dog"- Led Zeppelin
*"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.
*"Children of the Revolution" - T. Rex
*"Cisco Kid" - War
*"The City Of New Orleans" - Arlo Guthrie
*"Clair" - Gilbert O'Sullivan
*"Clean Up Woman" - Betty Wright
*"Coconut" - Harry Nilsson
*"Conquistador" - Procol Harum
*"The Cover of the "Rolling Stone" - Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show
*"Crocodile Rock" - Elton John
*"Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast" - Wayne Newton
*"Day After Day" - Badfinger
*"Day by Day" - Godspell
*"The Day I Found Myself" - Honey Cone
*"Day Dreaming" - Aretha Franklin
*"Diary" - Bread
*"Doctor My Eyes" - Jackson Browne
*"Do it Again" - Steely Dan
*"Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" - James Taylor
*"Don't Say You Don't Remember" - Beverly Bremers
*"Everybody Plays the Fool" - The Main Ingredient
*"Everything I Own" - Bread
*"Eye Level" - Simon Park Orchestra
*"Family Affair" - Sly and The Family Stone
*"The Family of Man" - Three Dog Night
*"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" - Roberta Flack
*"Freddie's Dead (Theme From Superfly)" - Curtis Mayfield
*"Garden Party" - Ricky Nelson
*"Geronimo's Cadillac" - Michael Murphy
*"Get on the Good Foot pt.1" - James Brown
*"Give Ireland Back to the Irish" - Paul McCartney
*"Go All the Way" - The Raspberries
*"Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues" - Danny O'Keefe
*"Goodbye Farewell" - Abraham's Children
*"Goodbye to Love" - The Carpenters
*"Guitar Man" - Bread
*"The Happiest Girl In the Whole USA" - Donna Fargo
*"Happy" - Rolling Stones
*"Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" - John Lennon
*"Have You Seen Her" - The Chi-Lites
*"Heart of Gold" - Neil Young
*"HI,HI,HI" - Paul McCartney
*"Hold Your Head Up" - Argent
*"Honky Cat" - Elton John
*"Hot Rod Lincoln" - Commander Cody
*"How Do You Do" - Mouth & MacNeal
*"Hurting Each Other" - The Carpenters
*"I Am Woman" - Helen Reddy
*"I Can See Clearly Now" - Johnny Nash
*"I Gotcha" - Joe Tex
*"I Need You" - America
*"I Saw The Light" - Todd Rundgren
*"I Wanna Be Where You Are" - Michael Jackson
*"I Want To Be With You" - The Raspberries
*"I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing" - The New Seekers
*"I'd Love You to Want Me" - Lobo
*"(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right" - Luther Ingram
*"If You Don't Know Me By Now" - Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes
*"I'll Be Around" - The Spinners
*"I'll Take You There" - The Staple Singers
*"Immigration Man" - Crosby & Nash
*"I'm Still in Love with You" - Al Green
*"I'm Stone in Love With You" - The Stylistics
*"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
*"Too Late to Turn Back Now" - Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose
*"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 Klywger under an assumed group name)
*"(Last Night) I Didn't Get to Sleep At All" - The Fifth Dimension
*"Layla" - Derek & the Dominoes
*"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
*"Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress)" - Hollies
*"Look What You Done For Me" - Al Green
*"Love Theme From "The Godfather" - Andy Williams
*"Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" - Paul Simon
*"Me and Mrs. Jones" - Billy Paul
*"Metal Guru" - T. Rex
*"Mother and Child Reunion" - Paul Simon
*"Motorcycle Mama" - Sailcat
*"My Ding-A-Ling" - Chuck Berry
*"Never Been to Spain" - Three Dog Night
*"Nice to Be With You" - Gallery
*"No One to Depend On" - Santana
*"Oh Girl" - The Chi-lites
*"Old Man" - Neil Young
*"One Monkee Don't Stop No Show" - Honey Cone
*"Operator" - Jim Croce
*"Outta-Space" - Billy Preston
*"Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" - The Temptations
*"People Need Love" - ABBA "(in Japan)"
*"Pieces of April" - Three Dog Night
*"Precious and Few" - Climax
*"Puppy Love" - Donny Osmond
*"Respect Yourself" - The Staple Singers
*"Rock and Roll Part 1 + 2" - Gary Glitter
*"Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu" - Johnny Rivers
*"Rockin' Robin" - Michael Jackson
*"Rock Me Baby" - Sacha Distel (dubbed)
*"Rocket Man" - Elton John
*"Roundabout" - Yes
*"Run to Me" - Bee Gees
*"Saturday In the Park" - Chicago
*"School's Out" - Alice Cooper
*"Scorpio" - Dennis Coffey & The Detroit Guitar Band
*"Signs" - The Drifters
*"Solid Gold Easy Action" - T. Rex (band)
*"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
*"Stay with Me" - The Faces
*"Suavecito" - Malo
*"Sugar Daddy" - The Jackson 5
*"Summer Breeze" - Seals & 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" - The Eagles
*"Taxi" - Harry Chapin
*"Telegram Sam" - T. Rex (band)
*"Thunder And Lightning" - Chi Coltrane
*"Tightrope" - Leon Russell
*"Tiny Dancer" - Elton John
*"Top of the World" - The Carpenters "(in Japan; it became a hit in the U.S. and the UK the following year)
*"Troglodyte" - Jimmy Castor Bunch
*"Trouble Man" - Marvin Gaye
*"Tumbling Dice" - Rolling Stones
*"Two Divided By Love" - The Grass Roots
*"Use Me" - Bill Withers
*"Ventura Highway" - America
*"Vincent" - Don McLean
*"Virginia Plain" - Roxy Music
*"Walking in the Rain With the One I Love" - Love Unlimited
*"The Way of Love" - Cher
*"Where Is the Love?" - Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway
*"Without You" - Harry Nilsson
*"Witchy Woman" - The 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 Wear It Well" - Rod Stewart
*"Your Mama Don't Dance" - Loggins and Messina
*"You're So Vain" - Carly Simon "See also: Hot 100 No. 1 Hits of 1972"

Published popular music

* "Alone Again" 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 and 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"
* "There Are Worse Things I Could Do" w.m. Warren Casey & Jim Jacobs from the musical "Grease"
* "Tie A Yellow Ribbon 'Round The Old 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

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"
*Dmitri Kabalevsky - "A Letter to the 30th Century" (oratorio)
*György Ligeti - "Double Concerto" for Flute, Oboe and Orchestra
*Theo Loevendie - "Horn Concerto, "Orbits"
*George Rochberg - "Recordanza" (Soliloquy for Cello and Piano)

Opera

*Peter Maxwell Davies - "Taverner"
*Thomas Pasatieri - "Black Widow"

Musical theater

* "Beggar's Opera" Broadway production
* "Berlin to Broadway with Kurt Weill" 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
* "Curly McDimple" Broadway revival
* "Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope" Broadway revue 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
* "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
* "Rebbitzen from Israel" Broadway production
* "Sugar" Broadway production
* "The Sunshine Train" Broadway production

Musical films

* "Cabaret"
* "Man of La Mancha"

Musical television productions

* "Liza With A Z"

Births

*January 17 - Aqualung, singer-songwriter
*January 27 - Mark Owen, Take That
*February 2 - Dana International, Eurovision-winning singer
*February 11 - Craig Jones, sampler/keyboardist for Slipknot
*February 14 - Rob Thomas, Matchbox Twenty
*February 17 - Billie Joe Armstrong, Green Day
*February 20 - K-os, rapper/musician
*February 24 - Chris Fehn, percussionist/backing vocalist for Slipknot
*March 9 - AZ, rapper
*March 10 - Douglas Ardito, Puddle of Mudd
*March 11 - UA, singer
*March 15 - Mark Hoppus, Blink-182
*March 17 - Melissa Auf der Maur, Hole
*April 8 - Paul Gray, bassist for Slipknot
*April 20 - Stephen Marley, reggae musician
*May 4 - Mike Dirnt, Green Day
*May 19 - Jenny Berggren, Ace of Base
*May 21
**Adriano Cintra, Cansei de Ser Sexy
**The Notorious B.I.G.
*May 27 - Ivete Sangalo, Brazilian female singer
*June 12 - Bounty Killer, reggae/dancehall singer
*June 26 - Garou, singer
*June 27 - Edward Royster, vocalist for Four Sick Cats, Blowfex, and Backwoods Warriors
*July 4 - Rogue, lead singer of The Crüxshadows
*July 4 - Brett Reed, Rancid
*July 26 - Wayne Wonder, reggae singer
*August 6 - Geri Halliwell
*August 8 - Lüpüs Thünder, The Bloodhound Gang
*August 9 - A-Mei, singer
*August 15 - Mikey Graham, Boyzone
*September 4 - Carlos Ponce, singer and composer
*September 21 - Liam Gallagher, Oasis
*September 23 - Jermaine Dupri, rapper
*September 26 - Shawn Stockman, Boyz II Men
*October 17
**Wyclef Jean, The Fugees
**Eminem
*October 19 - Pras Michel, The Fugees
*December 1 - Greg Upchurch, Puddle of Mudd
*December 9 - Tré Cool, Green Day
*December 10 - Scot Alexander, Dishwalla
*December 16 - Michael McCary, Boyz II Men
*December 22 - Vanessa Paradis, singer and actress
*December 27 - Matt Slocum, Sixpence None the Richer
*December 31 - Joe McIntyre, New Kids on the Block

Deaths

*January 1 - Maurice Chevalier, French singer and actor
*January 16 - David Seville, voice of the Chipmunks
*January 19 - Michael Rabin
*January 24 - Gene Austin, singer-songwriter
*January 27 - Mahalia Jackson, gospel singer
*February 21 – Marie Dubas, French music-hall singer
*March 27 - Sharkey Bonano
*April 4 - Stefan Wolpe, composer
*May 2 - Les Harvey, Stone the Crows, electrocuted, 25 years old
*July 3 - "Mississippi" Fred McDowell, blues musician
*July 16 - Thomas Eboli, American Gangster
*July 24 - Bobby Ramirez, drummer Edgar Winter's White Trash
*August 2 - Brian Cole, bass player The Association
*August 14 - Oscar Levant
*August 29 - Lale Andersen, Danish singer
*November 3 - Harry Richman, US singer, actor and composer
*November 6 - Billy Murcia, drummer New York Dolls
*November 11 - Berry Oakley, bass player Allman Brothers Band
*November 12 - Rudolf Friml "Rose Marie" composer
*November 18 - Danny Whitten, guitarist Crazy Horse
*November 28 - Havergal Brian, composer

Awards

Grammy Awards

*Grammy Awards of 1972
**Grammy Album of the Year: The Concert for Bangla Desh
**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 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

Country Music Association Awards

Eurovision Song Contest

*Eurovision Song Contest 1972

=Leeds Piano Competition=

*Murray Perahia