100 Greatest Songs From 1972
Criteria: Songs listed are from Rock 'n' Roll and related sub-genres. Rankings are based on initial and lasting popularity and on acclaim received from critics and musicians.
Note: Yearly song lists go by earliest 'release date' (Single, Album, or Country of first release). Not necessarily the year a song peaked in the U.S. charts.
Note: Yearly song lists go by earliest 'release date' (Single, Album, or Country of first release). Not necessarily the year a song peaked in the U.S. charts.
1. Superstition
Stevie Wonder
2. Papa Was a Rollin' Stone
Temptations
3. Smoke on the Water
Deep Purple
4. Lean on Me
Bill Withers
5. Heart of Gold
Neil Young
6. Walk on the Wild Side
Lou Reed
7. You Are the Sunshine of My Life
Stevie Wonder
8. If You Don't Know Me by Now
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
9. I'll Take You There
Staple Singers
10. Tumbling Dice
Rolling Stones
11. Love Train
O'Jays
12. You're So Vain
Carly Simon
13. Oh Girl
Chi-Lites
14. Take It Easy
Eagles
15. I'll Be Around
Spinners
16. Reeling in the Years
Steely Dan
17. Rocket Man
Elton John
18. School's Out
Alice Cooper
19. All the Young Dudes
Mott the Hoople
20. The Harder They Come
Jimmy Cliff
21. Back Stabbers
O'Jays
22. I Can See Clearly Now
Johnny Nash
23. Burning Love
Elvis Presley
24. I'm Still in Love With You
Al Green
25. Listen to the Music
Doobie Brothers
Stevie Wonder
2. Papa Was a Rollin' Stone
Temptations
3. Smoke on the Water
Deep Purple
4. Lean on Me
Bill Withers
5. Heart of Gold
Neil Young
6. Walk on the Wild Side
Lou Reed
7. You Are the Sunshine of My Life
Stevie Wonder
8. If You Don't Know Me by Now
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
9. I'll Take You There
Staple Singers
10. Tumbling Dice
Rolling Stones
11. Love Train
O'Jays
12. You're So Vain
Carly Simon
13. Oh Girl
Chi-Lites
14. Take It Easy
Eagles
15. I'll Be Around
Spinners
16. Reeling in the Years
Steely Dan
17. Rocket Man
Elton John
18. School's Out
Alice Cooper
19. All the Young Dudes
Mott the Hoople
20. The Harder They Come
Jimmy Cliff
21. Back Stabbers
O'Jays
22. I Can See Clearly Now
Johnny Nash
23. Burning Love
Elvis Presley
24. I'm Still in Love With You
Al Green
25. Listen to the Music
Doobie Brothers
26. Alone Again (Naturally)
Gilbert O'Sullivan
27. Crocodile Rock
Elton John
28. Stuck in the Middle With You
Stealers Wheel
29. I Saw the Light
Todd Rundgren
30. Rock and Roll, Part 2
Gary Glitter
31. Me and Mrs. Jones
Billy Paul
32. Go All the Way
Raspberries
33. Do It Again
Steely Dan
34. Love and Happiness
Al Green
35. Ziggy Stardust
David Bowie
36. Superfly
Curtis Mayfield
37. Hello It's Me
Todd Rundgren
38. Time in a Bottle
Jim Croce
39. Could It Be I'm Falling in Love
Spinners
40. Starman
David Bowie
41. Use Me
Bill Withers
42. Summer Breeze
Seals and Crofts
43. Saturday in the Park
Chicago
44. Freddie's Dead
Curtis Mayfield
45. Old Man
Neil Young
46. Everything I Own
Bread
47. Ben
Michael Jackson
48. Frankenstein
Edgar Winter Group
49. Brandy
Looking Glass
50. (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Wanna Be Right
Luther Ingram
51. Why Can't We Live Together
Timmy Thomas
52. Rocky Mountain High
John Denver
53. Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard
Paul Simon
54. Highway Star
Deep Purple
55. Across 110th Street
Bobby Womack
56. Virginia Plain
Roxy Music
57. How Can You Mend a Broken Heart
Al Green
58. It Never Rains in Southern California
Albert Hammond
59. Suffragette City
David Bowie
60. Doctor My Eyes
Jackson Browne
61. You Wear It Well
Rod Stewart
62. Ventura Highway
America
63. Pusherman
Curtis Mayfield
64. Dancing in the Moonlight
King Harvest
65. The Cisco Kid
War
66. Neither One of Us
Gladys Knight and the Pips
67. Whiskey in the Jar
Thin Lizzy
68. Ain't No Woman
Four Tops
69. The Guitar Man
Bread
70. Garden Party
Rick Nelson
71. Break Up to Make Up
Stylistics
72. Peaceful Easy Feeling
Eagles
73. Mother and Child Reunion
Paul Simon
74. The Jean Genie
David Bowie
75. Too Late to Turn Back Now
Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose
Gilbert O'Sullivan
27. Crocodile Rock
Elton John
28. Stuck in the Middle With You
Stealers Wheel
29. I Saw the Light
Todd Rundgren
30. Rock and Roll, Part 2
Gary Glitter
31. Me and Mrs. Jones
Billy Paul
32. Go All the Way
Raspberries
33. Do It Again
Steely Dan
34. Love and Happiness
Al Green
35. Ziggy Stardust
David Bowie
36. Superfly
Curtis Mayfield
37. Hello It's Me
Todd Rundgren
38. Time in a Bottle
Jim Croce
39. Could It Be I'm Falling in Love
Spinners
40. Starman
David Bowie
41. Use Me
Bill Withers
42. Summer Breeze
Seals and Crofts
43. Saturday in the Park
Chicago
44. Freddie's Dead
Curtis Mayfield
45. Old Man
Neil Young
46. Everything I Own
Bread
47. Ben
Michael Jackson
48. Frankenstein
Edgar Winter Group
49. Brandy
Looking Glass
50. (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Wanna Be Right
Luther Ingram
51. Why Can't We Live Together
Timmy Thomas
52. Rocky Mountain High
John Denver
53. Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard
Paul Simon
54. Highway Star
Deep Purple
55. Across 110th Street
Bobby Womack
56. Virginia Plain
Roxy Music
57. How Can You Mend a Broken Heart
Al Green
58. It Never Rains in Southern California
Albert Hammond
59. Suffragette City
David Bowie
60. Doctor My Eyes
Jackson Browne
61. You Wear It Well
Rod Stewart
62. Ventura Highway
America
63. Pusherman
Curtis Mayfield
64. Dancing in the Moonlight
King Harvest
65. The Cisco Kid
War
66. Neither One of Us
Gladys Knight and the Pips
67. Whiskey in the Jar
Thin Lizzy
68. Ain't No Woman
Four Tops
69. The Guitar Man
Bread
70. Garden Party
Rick Nelson
71. Break Up to Make Up
Stylistics
72. Peaceful Easy Feeling
Eagles
73. Mother and Child Reunion
Paul Simon
74. The Jean Genie
David Bowie
75. Too Late to Turn Back Now
Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose
76. Suavecito
Malo
77. Free Ride
Edgar Winter Group
78. I Am Woman
Helen Reddy
79. Children of the Revolution
T. Rex
80. Amie
Pure Prairie League
81. Get on the Good Foot
James Brown
82. Easy Livin'
Uriah Heep
83. Look What You Done for Me
Al Green
84. Day Dreaming
Aretha Franklin
85. Everybody Plays the Fool
Main Ingredient
86. Always on My Mind
Elvis Presley
87. Happy
Rolling Stones
88. I'm Stone in Love With You
Stylistics
89. I'd Love You to Want Me
Lobo
90. Top of the World
Carpenters
91. The Needle and the Damage Done
Neil Young
92. Soul Makossa
Manu Dibango
93. Your Mama Don't Dance
Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina
94. Witchy Woman
Eagles
95. Song Sung Blue
Neil Diamond
96. The Cover of Rolling Stone
Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show
97. Sail Away
Randy Newman
98. The World Is a Ghetto
War
99. Operator
Jim Croce
100. You Ought to Be With Me
Al Green
Malo
77. Free Ride
Edgar Winter Group
78. I Am Woman
Helen Reddy
79. Children of the Revolution
T. Rex
80. Amie
Pure Prairie League
81. Get on the Good Foot
James Brown
82. Easy Livin'
Uriah Heep
83. Look What You Done for Me
Al Green
84. Day Dreaming
Aretha Franklin
85. Everybody Plays the Fool
Main Ingredient
86. Always on My Mind
Elvis Presley
87. Happy
Rolling Stones
88. I'm Stone in Love With You
Stylistics
89. I'd Love You to Want Me
Lobo
90. Top of the World
Carpenters
91. The Needle and the Damage Done
Neil Young
92. Soul Makossa
Manu Dibango
93. Your Mama Don't Dance
Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina
94. Witchy Woman
Eagles
95. Song Sung Blue
Neil Diamond
96. The Cover of Rolling Stone
Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show
97. Sail Away
Randy Newman
98. The World Is a Ghetto
War
99. Operator
Jim Croce
100. You Ought to Be With Me
Al Green
20 more worth mentioning.
101. City of New Orleans
Arlo Guthrie
102. Melissa
Allman Brothers Band
103. Metal Guru
T. Rex
104. Will It Go Round in Circles
Billy Preston
105. Rock and Roll Lullaby
B.J. Thomas
106. Conquistador (live)
Procol Harum
107. America the Beautiful
Ray Charles
108. Hi, Hi, Hi
Wings
109. Trouble Man
Marvin Gaye
110. Starting All Over Again
Mel and Tim
111. You Don't Mess Around With Jim
Jim Croce
112. Thick As a Brick
Jethro Tull
113. Honky Cat
Elton John
114. Taxi
Harry Chapin
115. Walking in the Rain With the One I Love
Love Unlimited
116. Little Willy
The Sweet
117. I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock & Roll Band)
Moody Blues
118. Wildflower
Skylark
119. Nice To Be With You
Gallery
120. Troglodyte
Jimmy Castor Bunch
Arlo Guthrie
102. Melissa
Allman Brothers Band
103. Metal Guru
T. Rex
104. Will It Go Round in Circles
Billy Preston
105. Rock and Roll Lullaby
B.J. Thomas
106. Conquistador (live)
Procol Harum
107. America the Beautiful
Ray Charles
108. Hi, Hi, Hi
Wings
109. Trouble Man
Marvin Gaye
110. Starting All Over Again
Mel and Tim
111. You Don't Mess Around With Jim
Jim Croce
112. Thick As a Brick
Jethro Tull
113. Honky Cat
Elton John
114. Taxi
Harry Chapin
115. Walking in the Rain With the One I Love
Love Unlimited
116. Little Willy
The Sweet
117. I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock & Roll Band)
Moody Blues
118. Wildflower
Skylark
119. Nice To Be With You
Gallery
120. Troglodyte
Jimmy Castor Bunch
DigitalDreamDoor Editor Picks for 1972
An unheralded great record from 1972
Brian's choice:
* Gypsy
Van Morrison
Lew's choice:
* Southbound Train
Crosby & Nash
Bruce's choice:
* Eddie's Love
Eddie Kendricks
Adam's choice:
* I Don't Know
Bill Withers
Brett's choice:
* Watch The Sunrise
Big Star
Brian's choice:
* Gypsy
Van Morrison
Lew's choice:
* Southbound Train
Crosby & Nash
Bruce's choice:
* Eddie's Love
Eddie Kendricks
Adam's choice:
* I Don't Know
Bill Withers
Brett's choice:
* Watch The Sunrise
Big Star
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Edited By: Brian
Last Updated: 2020-04-14