The Top 10 Songs of 1972 (UK)

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The UK's Top 10 Best Selling Songs of 1972

The UK's Top 10 best selling songs of 1972 certainly made for strange companions considering what music was on offer during this particular year.

You probably could not create a list of ten songs as diverse as those that captured the attention of the record buying public during 1972. Who would have thought that Gary Glitter, Don McLean and The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards could end up appearing on the same countdown? But, that is exactly what happened.

Note that these songs have not been picked as my favourites of this year, but to show which records sold the most during 1972.

1. Amazing Grace

The Pipes and Drums and Military Band of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards

This hymn has been recorded by many artists over the last century. All Music Guide lists over 1800 recordings.

Two versions have made the UK Singles Chart: Between 1970 and 1972, a version by Judy Collins spent 67 weeks in the charts, a record for a female artist, and peaked at Number 5.

In 1972, an instrumental version by the Pipes and Drums and Military Band of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards spent five weeks at Number 1, also reaching the top spot in Australia.

Amazing Grace - Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
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1,564 ratings | 387,883 views
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Notable Musical Births of 1972

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 24 - Chris Fehn, percussionist/backing vocalist for Slipknot
March 10 - Douglas Ardito, Puddle of Mudd
March 15 - Mark Hoppus, Blink-182
March 17 - Melissa Auf der Maur, Hole
April 8 - Paul Gray, bassist for Slipknot
May 4 - Mike Dirnt, Green Day
May 19 - Jenny Berggren, Ace of Base
May 21 - The Notorious B.I.G.
August 6 - Geri Halliwell
September 21 - Liam Gallagher, Oasis
September 26 - Shawn Stockman, Boyz II Men
October 17
o Wyclef Jean, The Fugees
o 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

2. Mouldy Old Dough

Lieutenant Pigeon

Lieutenant Pigeon achieved two UK hits: Mouldy Old Dough, written by Rob Woodward and band mate Nigel Fletcher, which reached Number One, and Desperate Dan in 1973.

Strangely, the two best selling songs in the UK that year were both novelty instrumentals.

Lieutenant Pigeon - Mouldy Old Dough (HQ) |Christmas TOTP '72|
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803 ratings | 398,102 views
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3. Puppy Love

Donny Osmond

Puppy Love was written by Paul Anka in 1960 for Annette Funicello, and twelve years later it was revived by Donny Osmond, who took it to Number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Number 1 on the UK Singles Chart for five weeks in July 1972.

Donny Osmond - Puppy Love (HQ) |Christmas TOTP '72|
by nyrainbow4 | video info

114 ratings | 67,306 views
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1972's Best Selling Albums (UK)

The Number Two best selling album, 20 All Time Hits of the 50s by Various Artists, is currently unavailable.
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4. Without You

Nilsson

Originally recorded by Badfinger for their album No Dice in 1970, the song was written by Pete Ham and Tom Evans.

Badfinger's recording of the song, which is more brusque than its successors' versions, languished as an obscure album track until it was noticed a year later by Harry Nilsson. In an ironic twist to the lyrics, both Ham and Evans later committed suicide by hanging.

Without You became a hit single after being covered by Harry Nilsson for his album Nilsson Schmilsson in 1971. It stayed at Number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks and Number 1 on the British charts for five weeks.

- Nilsson -Without you -
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1,360 ratings | 732,112 views
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5. I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing

The New Seekers

This song began life as a collaboration by UK hit songwriters Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway. The melody was based on a Cook/Greenway jingle originally called Mom,True Love and Apple Pie. It was then rewritten by Cook, Greenaway, Coca-Cola account executive Bill Backer and Billy Davis and recorded as a Coca-Cola radio commercial, with the lyric I'd like to buy the world a Coke and keep it company.

It was first aired as an American radio commercial on February 12, 1971, sparking public demand for its release as a single. Reworked by Bill Backer and Billy Davis to remove the brand name references, the song climbed to UK Number One and US Number Seven in 1971 and 1972.

The song has since been recorded over 75 times.

New Seekers - I'd Like ToTeach The World To Sing
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1,513 ratings | 823,585 views
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Great Deals on Music From 1972

Find 1972 Music Bargains

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6. Son of My Father

Chicory Tip

Originally written by Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte in Italian as Tu sei mio padre, this song is notable as the first UK Number 1 single to prominently feature a synthesizer, in this case a Moog synthesizer played by Chris Thomas.

The song reached Number 1 for three weeks in February 1972. Moroder re-recorded his song in English shortly after, but it failed to chart in the UK, although it made the Top 50 in the United States.

Chicory Tip - Son of my Father 1972
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929 ratings | 499,017 views
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Notable Musical Deaths of 1972

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
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
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
November 18 - Danny Whitten, guitarist Crazy Horse
November 28 - Havergal Brian, composer

7. Rock & Roll Part 2

Gary Glitter

Rock and Roll (Parts 1 & 2), also known as The Hey Song, was featured on the album Glitter an co-written by Glitter and Mike Leander. The song is in two parts and both were popular, reaching Number 2 on the British charts.

In the US, the instrumental portion attracted most of the attention, hitting Number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. In the years since, Part 2 of the song has often been played at various sporting events in Canada and the United States.

*Top Of The Pops 70´s*-#14. Gary Glitter-Rock ´n´Roll
by Bluevelvetglove | video info

187 ratings | 161,642 views
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8. Metal Guru

T.Rex

Metal Guru was the fourth and final Number 1 on the UK Singles Chart for the British rock band T.Rex. It topped the chart for four weeks in May/June 1972. Despite coming only ten months after the success of Get It On, it failed to chart in the United States.

Metal Guru / Marc Bolan / T.REX [HQ]
by WeilderOfWords | video info

121 ratings | 54,838 views
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1972's Best Selling Albums (UK)

Number Seven Through Ten - Biggest Albums From 1972

The Number Nine best selling album, 25 Rockin' and Rollin' Greats by Various Artists, is currently unavailable.
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9. Mother of Mine

Neil Reid

Neil Reid was a former child singing star and winner of the talent show Opportunity Knocks in the UK. Reid won the show on 13 December 1971 singing his version of Mother of Mine, which when released went to Number 2 on the UK Singles Chart.

Reid's self-titled album also went to Number One in 1972, making Reid the holder of the title of the youngest person to reach Number 1 on the UK Albums Chart..

Neil Reid "Mother Of Mine"
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117 ratings | 99,646 views
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10. American Pie

Don McLean

American Pie, by singer-songwriter Don McLean is about his life from the mid-1950s up until he wrote the song in the late 1960s. Recorded and released on the American Pie album in 1971, the single was a Number 1 US hit for four weeks in 1972, but reached only Number 2 in the UK.

American Pie
by hollyfan28 | video info

1,885 ratings | 1,423,353 views
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The 1972 Top 10 Songs at iTunes

The Top 10 songs of 1972 can be directly downloaded from here to your favourite mp3 player!

Track Artist Album  
Amazing Grace The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Highland Cathedral
Mouldy Old Dough Lieutenant Pigeon The Best of Lieutenant Pigeon
Puppy Love Donny Osmond 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Donny Osmond
Without You Harry Nilsson Harry Nilsson: All Time Greatest Hits
I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony) The New Seekers The Best of the New Seekers
Son of My Father (Re-Recorded) Chicory Tip Supergroups of the 70s - 20 Sensational Pop Classics (Re-Recorded Versions)
Metal Guru T. Rex The Slider
Mother of Mine (In the Style of 'Neil Reid') Zoom Karaoke Zoom Karaoke - Pop Classics Collection, Vol. 92
American Pie (Re-Recorded) Don McLean Classics

PS: The Top Sellers in the USA

1972 American Hits

The US Top 10 Best Selling Singles for 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. The 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 Don't You Walk So Fast

Wayne Newton





AND:

1972's Grammy For Best New Artist: America

1972's Grammy for Record of the Year: The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Roberta Flack

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Your Thoughts on Music From 1972

Share Your Favourites From 1972

  • nancycarol Oct 11, 2011 @ 10:58 pm | delete
    I love Amazing Grace and IMO this is the most beautiful rendition of all. I also love Don McLean's American Pie. Thanks for sharing these memories. Blessed!
  • Helenee Jul 29, 2011 @ 5:24 am | delete
    1972 was the year I was born -- of course it would be unusual, even in terms of musical hits, lol -- Amazing Grace in scottish bagpipes was a lovely surprise, and Mouldy Old Dough too, I didn't know the song. And then comes Donny Osmond and things begin to degrade faaaaast, and not even T-Rex can save the day. Anyway -- one more informative lens, good job!
  • poddys Apr 13, 2011 @ 3:37 pm | delete
    1972 was definitely a year for some very unusual #1 hits in the UK, I remember them all, some more fondly than others though. I think with all the Coke adverts on tv, many people grew to loath "I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing": You did an excellent job on this, blessings coming your way.
  • outsource123 Jan 30, 2011 @ 5:45 am | delete
    Great lens. I love this very much.
  • PeteSchultz Jan 24, 2011 @ 1:09 pm | delete
    I enjoyed visiting this lens, and thought I had left a comment...but it didn't confirm, so if I left two, sorry. I;m familiar with all these tunes...I am class of '72 from Falls High School.
  • PeteSchultz Jan 24, 2011 @ 1:03 pm | delete
    this was my class year in high school, I know remember all of these songs, both UK and US. fun lens.
  • GiftsBonanza Dec 26, 2010 @ 7:16 pm | delete
    Thanks for the memories! Great lens :)
  • Tipi Aug 21, 2010 @ 3:06 pm | delete
    Wow, you sure must love music. This is awesome! Thumbs-UP!
  • FunGifts4All May 24, 2009 @ 4:28 pm | delete
    Great job. I loved 70s music myself.
  • AndyPo Jan 28, 2009 @ 9:44 am | delete
    I remember some of these. Great lens.
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Waxing-Lyrical

As a 70s music fan, I enjoy listening to the top 10 songs of 1972 in the UK.

Originally from the UK where I worked in banking for 25 years, I moved to...
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