Top 100 Songs of 1972

Below is a list from Billboard magazine’s Top ear-End Hot 100 songs for 1972. Chart © by Billboard, a part of MRC Media and Info, a division of MRC. All Rights Reserved. Learn more about Billboard here.

Top 100 Songs of 1972

1

American Pie – Don McLean

2

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face – Roberta Flack

3

The Candy Man – Sammy Davis Jr.

4

Alone Again (Naturally) – Gilbert O’Sullivan

5

I Gotcha – Joe Tex

6

Lean On Me – Bill Withers

7

Brand New Key – Melanie

8

Baby Don’t Get Hooked On Me – Mac Davis

9

Daddy Don’t You Walk So Fast – Wayne Newton

10

Oh Girl – The Chi-Lites

11

Let’s Stay Together – Al Green

12

Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl) – Looking Glass

13

Nice to Be With You – Gallery

14

My Ding-A-Ling – Chuck Berry

15

Heart of Gold – Neil Young

16

Betcha By Golly, Wow – The Stylistics

17

(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right – Luther Ingram

18

I’ll Take You There – The Staple Singers

19

Ben – Michael Jackson

20

The Lion Sleeps Tonight – Robert John

21

Slippin’ Into Darkness – War

22

Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress) – The Hollies

23

How Do You Do – Mouth and MacNeal

24

Song Sung Blue – Neil Diamond

25

Popcorn – Hot Butter

26

Everybody Plays the Fool – The Main Ingredient

27

Precious and Few – Climax

28

Last Night I Didn’t Get to Sleep At All – The 5th Dimension

29

Nights In White Satin – The Moody Blues

30

Go All the Way – The Raspberries

31

Back Stabbers – The O’Jays

32

Too Late to Turn Back Now – Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose

33

Sunshine (Go Away Today) – Jonathan Edwards

34

Starting All Over Again – Mel and Tim

35

Day After Day – Badfinger

36

Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going to Be a Long Long Time) – Elton John

37

Beautiful Sunday – Daniel Boone

38

Scorpio – Dennis Coffey and The Detroit Guitar Band

39

Morning Has Broken – Cat Stevens

40

The City of New Orleans – Arlo Guthrie

41

Garden Party – Rick Nelson

42

I Can See Clearly Now – Johnny Nash

43

Clean Up Woman – Betty Wright

44

Hold Your Head Up – Argent

More 56 Top Songs of 1972

45. 45. Without You – Nilsson
    46. Outa-Space – Billy Preston
    47. A Horse With No Name – America
    48. Down by the Lazy River – The Osmonds
    49. Rockin’ Robin – Michael Jackson
    50. Burning Love – Elvis Presley
    51.  Jungle Fever – The Chakachas
    52.  Everything I Own – Bread
    53.  In the Rain – The Dramatics
    54.  Look What You Done for Me – Al Green
    55.  The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A. – Donna Fargo
    56.  Bang a Gong (Get It On) – T. Rex
    57.  Mother and Child Reunion – Paul Simon
    58.  Where Is the Love – Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway
    59.  I’m Still In Love With You – Al Green
    60.  Layla – Derek and The Dominos
    61.  Day Dreaming – Aretha Franklin
    62.  The Way of Love – Cher
    63.  Black & White – Three Dog Night
    64.  Sylvia’s Mother – Dr. Hook and The Medicine Show
    65.  Hurting Each Other – The Carpenters
    66.  Coconut – Nilsson
    67.  Puppy Love – Donny Osmond
    68.  You Don’t Mess Around With Jim – Jim Croce
    69.  Hot Rod Lincoln – Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen
    70.  A Cowboy’s Work Is Never Done – Sonny and Cher
    71.  Joy – Apollo 100
    72.  Anticipation – Carly Simon
    73.  Never Been to Spain – Three Dog Night
    74.  Kiss an Angel Good Morning – Charlie Pride
    75.  School’s Out – Alice Cooper
    76.  Saturday In the Park – Chicago
    77.  Drowning In the Sea of Love – Joe Simon
    78.  Use Me – Bill Withers
    79.  Family Affair – Sly and The Family Stone
    80.  Troglodyte (Cave Man) – Jimmy Castor Bunch
    81.  The Witch Queen of New Orleans – Redbone
    82.  Freddie’s Dead (Theme from ‘Superfly’) – Curtis Mayfield
    83.  Power of Love – Joe Simon
    84.  Ain’t Understanding Mellow – Jerry Butler and Brenda Lee Eager
    85.  Taxi – Harry Chapin
    86.  Don’t Say You Don’t Remember – Beverly Bremers
    87.  Sealed With a Kiss – Bobby Vinton
    88.  I Saw the Light – Todd Rundgren
    89.  Motorcycle Mama – Sailcat
    90.  Day By Day – Godspell Soundtrack
    91.  Roundabout – Yes
    92.  Doctor My Eyes – Jackson Browne
    93.  I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony) – The New Seekers
    94.  Vincent / Castles In the Air – Don Mclean
    95.  Baby Let Me Take You (In My Arms) – The Detroit Emeralds
    96.  Speak to the Sky – Rick Springfield
    97.  I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony) – The Hillside Singers
    98.  Walkin’ In the Rain With the One I Love – Love Unlimited
    99.  Get On the Good Foot, Pt. 1 – James Brown
    100.  Pop That Thang – The Isley Brothers

Looking for more great Songs?

Then find out our thoughts on the Best Sarah McLachlan Songs of All Time, the Best Tina Turner Songs of All Time, the Best Mary J. Blige Songs of All-Time, the Best Alanis Morrissette Songs of All Time, or the Best Gloria Estefan Songs of All Time.

Or how about the Best Rhianna Songs of All Time, the Best Elle Kings Songs of All Time, the Best Sia Songs of All Time, the Best Ann Murrey Songs of All Time, or the Best Donna Summer Songs of All Time.

Top 100 Songs of 1972 – Final Thoughts

The year 1972 saw a diverse range of music topping the charts, from classic rock to soul and R&B. It was a time when music was still heavily influenced by the political and social climate, with songs like Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” and Don McLean’s “American Pie” addressing the issues of the day.

The list of top 100 songs from 1972 includes some of the biggest hits of all time, such as “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin and “Rocket Man” by Elton John. It’s a reminder of the enduring appeal of these songs and how they continue to be celebrated decades later.