1972 in music

See also: 1971 in music, other events of 1972, 1973 in music and the list of 'years in music'.

Events

• January 17 - Highway 51 South in Memphis, Tennessee is renamed "Elvis Presley Blvd"
• 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, The Wings, make their live debut at Nottingham University in England
• February 13 - Led Zeppelin is cancels a concert in Singapore 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
• February 17 - Pink Floyd debuts "The Dark Side of the Moon" during a performance at London's Rainbow Theater. It would be a full year before the song was released.
• Mid February - John Lennon and Yoko Ono cohost an entire week on The Mike Douglas Show.
• 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 songs popularity and it ends up in the Top 20 in England.
• 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.
• The Sonny and Cher Show begins airing
• Sammy Davis Jr. makes a guest appearance on the television show All In The Family
• Billy Ray Hearn founds Myrrh Records.
• The Concert for Bangla-Desh

Albums Released

• Eat A Peach - The Allman Brothers Band
• America - America
• Black Sabbath, Vol. 4 - Black Sabbath
• Squawk - Budgie
• The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars - David Bowie
  • Included the American and British hit "Starman", an early glam rock album
• Ege Bamyasi - Can
• Chicago V - Chicago
• Live in Japan - Chicago
• Into the Purple Valley - Ry Cooder
• Machine Head - Deep Purple
  • This album contains the rock and roll staple "Smoke on the Water". The album is one of the first heavy metal records, as the style would come to be known.
• Pink Moon - Nick Drake
• Will the Circle Be Unbroken - The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
• The Eagles - The Eagles
• Pictures at an Exhibition - Emerson, Lake & Palmer
• Trilogy - Emerson, Lake & Palmer
• First Take - Roberta Flack
• Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway - Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway
• Thick as a Brick - Jethro Tull
• Living in the Past - Jethro Tull
• Dr. John's Gumbo - Dr. John
• Honky Chateau - Elton John
• Music - Carol King
• The soundtrack to Superfly - Curtis Mayfield
• American Pie - Don McLean
• The Divine Miss M. - Bette Midler
• For the Roses - Joni Mitchell
• All the Young Dudes - Mott the Hoople
• I Can See Clearly Now - Johnny Nash
• Sail Away - Randy Newman
• Obscured by Clouds - Pink Floyd
• Give It Up - Bonnie Raitt
• Transformer - Lou Reed
• Exile on Main Street - The Rolling Stones
• Something/Anything - Todd Rundgren
• No Secrets - Carly Simon
• Paul Simon - Paul Simon
• Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits - Simon and Garfunkel
• Can't Buy a Thrill - Steely Dan
• Catch the Bull at Four - Cat Stevens
• One Man Dog - James Taylor
• Free to Be... You and Me - Marlo Thomas & Friends
• Seven Separate Fools - Three Dog Night
• Album III - Loudon Wainwright III
• Music of My Mind - Stevie Wonder
• Talking Book - Stevie Wonder
• Fragile - Yes
• Harvest - Neil Young
  • The best selling album of the year in the United States. Features hits such as "Heart of Gold" and "Needle and the Damage Done". The album blends country music and rock and roll and a degree of experimentalism, all led by Young's guitar and songwriting talents.
• Grand Wazoo - Frank Zappa

Top Hits

• "Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard" - Paul Simon
• "Mother and Child Reunion" - Paul Simon
• "Duncan" - Paul Simon
• "America" - Simon and Garfunkel
• "For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her" - Simon and Garfunkel
• "American Pie" - Don McLean
• "Horse With No Name" - America
• "Ventura Highway" - America
• "Rocket Man" - Elton John
• "Layla" - Derek & the Dominoes
• "Rock & Roll Part 2" - Gary Glitter
• "You Don't Mess Around With Jim" - Jim Croce
• "The Candyman" - Sammy Davis Jr.
• "Lean on Me" - Bill Withers
• "Freddie's Dead (Theme From Superfly)" - Curtis Mayfield
• "If You Don't Know Me By Now" - Harold Melville & the Bluenotes
• "I Gotcha" - Joe Tex
• "Without You" - Nilsson
• "Let's Stay Together" - Al Green
• "Brand New Key" - Melanie
• "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" - The Temptations
• "My Ding-A-Ling" - Chuck Berry
• "Baby Don't Get Hooked on Me" - Mac Davis
• "I Can See Clearly Now" - Johnny Nash
• "The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face" - Roberta Flack
• "I'll Take You There" - The Staple Singers
• "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)" - Looking Glass
• "Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress)" - Hollies
• "Heart of Gold" - Neil Young
• "Alone Again (Naturally)" - Gilbert O'Sullivan
• "Nights in White Satin" - The Moody Blues
• "Back Stabbers" - The O'Jays
• "Baby Don't Get Hooked on Me" - Mac Davis
• "I Am Woman" - Helen Reddy
• "I Gotcha" - Joe Tex
• "Song Sung Blue" - Neil Diamond
• "The Candy Man" - Sammy Davis Jr.
• "Starman" - David Bowie
• "The Lion Sleeps Tonights" - Robert John

For a more complete list of hits by month, see here.

Births

• February 14 - Rob Thomas, Matchbox 20
• February 17 - Billie Joe Armstrong, Green Day
• March 15 - Mark Hoppus, Blink-182
• March 17 - Melissa Auf der Maur, Hole
• May 19 - Jenny Berggren, Ace Of Base
• May 21 - The Notorious BIG
• September 26 - Shawn Stockman, Boyz II Men
• October 17 - Clef Jean, The Fugees
• October 19 - Pras Michel, The Fugees
• October 20 - Snoop Doggy Dogg
• December 9 - Tre Cool, Green Day
• December 10 - Scot Alexander, Dishwalla
• December 16 - Michael McCary, Boyz II Men
• December 27 - Matt Slocum, Sixpence None The Richer
• December 31 - Joe McIntyre, New Kids On The Block

Deaths

• January 16 - David Seville, voice of the Chipmunks
• January 27 - Mahalia Jackson, gospel singer
• September 12 - Maurice Chevalier (b.1888)

Awards

Grammies

• Grammy Album of the Year: The Concert for Bangla Desh
• Grammy Best New Artist: America
• 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" - 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