100 Greatest Albums of 1972

1972 record album covers for Exile On Main Street, The Rise And Fall of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars, Talking Book, and Machine Head
Criteria: These albums were chosen for their initial and lasting popularity and their influence and impact on rock music in general. Also considered is critical acclaim. The list includes rock and roll and related genres that were influential on rock music.

Note: Yearly album lists go by earliest 'release date'.
Not necessarily the year an album peaked in the U.S. charts.
  1. Exile On Main Street - The Rolling Stones
  2. The Rise And Fall of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars - David Bowie
  3. Talking Book - Stevie Wonder
  4. Machine Head - Deep Purple
  5. Harvest - Neil Young
  6. Superfly - Curtis Mayfield
  7. Something/Anything - Todd Rundgren
  8. Eat A Peach - The Allman Brothers Band
  9. I'm Still in Love With You - Al Green
10. Honky Chateau - Elton John
11. The World Is a Ghetto - War
12. Close To The Edge - Yes
13. Thick As A Brick - Jethro Tull
14. Can't Buy a Thrill - Steely Dan
15. Made in Japan - Deep Purple
16. The Harder They Come - Jimmy Cliff (And Others)
17. Paul Simon - Paul Simon
18. Transformer - Lou Reed
19. Back Stabbers - The O'Jays
20. Let's Stay Together - Al Green
21. #1 Record - Big Star
22. Sail Away - Randy Newman
23. Roxy Music - Roxy Music
24. Saint Dominic's Preview - Van Morrison
25. School's Out - Alice Cooper
26. Pink Moon - Nick Drake
27. Black Sabbath, Vol. 4 - Black Sabbath
28. Live - Donny Hathaway
29. Music of My Mind - Stevie Wonder
30. Young, Gifted and Black - Aretha Franklin
31. Eagles - Eagles
32. The Slider - T. Rex
33. Still Bill - Bill Withers
34. Be Altitude: Respect Yourself - The Staple Singers
35. Rock of Ages - The Band
36. Ege Bamyasi - Can
37. Foxtrot - Genesis
38. Seventh Sojourn - The Moody Blues
39. All Directions - The Temptations
40. Never a Dull Moment - Rod Stewart
41. Manassas - Stephen Stills & Manassas
42. Argus - Wishbone Ash
43. Slayed? - Slade
44. It's Just Begun - The Jimmy Castor Bunch
45. From a Whisper to a Scream - Esther Phillips
46. Understanding - Bobby Womack
47. Catch Bull at Four - Cat Stevens
48. They Only Come Out at Night - The Edgar Winter Group
49. For the Roses - Joni Mitchell
50. You Don't Mess Around With Jim - Jim Croce
51. Chicago V - Chicago
52. A Lonely Man - The Chi-Lites
53. Caravanserai - Santana
54. Trilogy - Emerson, Lake & Palmer
55. Naturally - J.J. Cale
56. Europe '72 - Grateful Dead
57. Jackson Browne (Saturate Before Using) - Jackson Browne
58. All the Young Dudes - Mott the Hoople
59. Neu! - Neu!
60. Sailin' Shoes - Little Feat
61. Clear Spot - Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band
62. Blue Öyster Cult - Blue Öyster Cult
63. Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get - The Dramatics
64. Slade Alive! - Slade
65. Demons and Wizards - Uriah Heep
66. Brother, Brother, Brother - Isley Brothers
67. Octopus - Gentle Giant
68. Round 2: The Stylistics - The Stylistics
69. Dr. John's Gumbo - Dr. John
70. I Miss You/Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
71. Greetings from L.A. - Tim Buckley
72. What Color Is Love - Terry Callier
73. Doremi Fasol Latido - Hawkwind
74. So Far - Faust
75. Trouble Man - Marvin Gaye
76. Baby I'm-A Want You - Bread
77. No Secrets - Carly Simon
78. Women's Love Rights - Laura Lee
79. 666 - Aphrodite's Child
80. Cymande - Cymande
81. Live In Concert With The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra - Procol Harum
82. Wattstax: The Living Word - Various Artists
83. Get on the Good Foot - James Brown
84. Trapped by a Thing Called Love - Denise LaSalle
85. Manfred Mann's Earth Band - Manfred Mann's Earth Band
86. Matching Mole - Matching Mole
87. Toulouse Street - The Doobie Brothers
88. Give It Up - Bonnie Raitt
89. Screaming Target - Big Youth
90. Captain Beyond - Captain Beyond
91. Fresh - The Raspberries
92. The London Chuck Berry Sessions - Chuck Berry
93. You Want It, You Got It - The Detroit Emeralds
94. There It Is - James Brown
95. Drowning in the Sea of Love - Joe Simon
96. Bobby Charles - Bobby Charles
97. Swaddling Songs - Mellow Candle
98. Cigars, Acappella, Candy - The Belmonts
99. People...Hold On - Eddie Kendricks
100. Taylor Made - Ted Taylor

Exile On Main Street Rolling Stones album cover
The Rise And Fall of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars David Bowie album cover
Talking Book Stevie Wonder album cover
Machine Head Deep Purple album cover
Harvest Neil Young album cover
Superfly Curtis Mayfield album cover
Something/Anything Todd Rundgren album cover
 DigitalDreamDoor Editor Picks for 1972
  Bruce's choice - An unheralded great album from 1972
 •   Keeper Of The Castle - The Four Tops
  Adam's choice:
 •   More a Legend Than a Band - Flatlanders
  Lew's choice:
 •   Smokin' - Humble Pie


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