List of Billboard Hot 100 number ones of 1972 explained

These are the Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 1972.

That year, 18 acts earned their first number one song, such as Don McLean, Al Green, Nilsson, Neil Young, America, Roberta Flack, The Chi-Lites, The Staple Singers, Sammy Davis Jr., Bill Withers, Gilbert O'Sullivan, Looking Glass, Mac Davis, Chuck Berry, Johnny Nash, Helen Reddy, and Billy Paul. Michael Jackson, having previously hit number one with The Jackson 5, also earns his first number one song as a solo act.

Chart history

style="background-color:#FFFF99"

The yellow background indicates the #1 song on Billboards 1972 Year-End Chart of Pop Singles.

width=31		Issue date	Song	Artist(s)	Reference
bgcolor=#EDEAE0 align=center rowspan=2	265	January 1	"Brand New Key"	Melanie	^[1]
January 8	^[2]
bgcolor=#EDEAE0 align=center rowspan=4	266	January 15	"American Pie"	Don McLean	^[3]
January 22	^[4]
January 29	^[5]
February 5	^[6]
bgcolor=#EDEAE0 align=center rowspan=1	267	February 12	"Let's Stay Together"	Al Green	^[7]
bgcolor=#EDEAE0 align=center rowspan=4	268	February 19	"Without You"	Nilsson	^[8]
February 26	^[9]
March 4	^[10]
March 11	^[11]
bgcolor=#EDEAE0 align=center rowspan=1	269	March 18	"Heart of Gold"	Neil Young	^[12]
bgcolor=#EDEAE0 align=center rowspan=3	270	March 25	"A Horse with No Name"	America	^[13]
April 1	^[14]
April 8	^[15]
bgcolor=#EDEAE0 align=center rowspan=6	271	April 15	bgcolor=#FFFF99 align="center" rowspan="6"	"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"	Roberta Flack	^[16]
April 22	^[17]
April 29	^[18]
May 6	^[19]
May 13	^[20]
May 20	^[21]
bgcolor=#EDEAE0 align=center rowspan=1	272	May 27	"Oh Girl"	The Chi-Lites	^[22]
bgcolor=#EDEAE0 align=center rowspan=1	273	June 3	"I'll Take You There"	The Staple Singers	^[23]
bgcolor=#EDEAE0 align=center rowspan=3	274	June 10	"The Candy Man"	Sammy Davis Jr.	^[24]
June 17	^[25]
June 24	^[26]
bgcolor=#EDEAE0 align=center rowspan=1	275	July 1	"Song Sung Blue"	Neil Diamond	^[27]
bgcolor=#EDEAE0 align=center rowspan=3	276	July 8	"Lean on Me"	Bill Withers	^[28]
July 15	^[29]
July 22	^[30]
bgcolor=#EDEAE0 align=center rowspan=4	277	July 29	"Alone Again (Naturally)"	Gilbert O'Sullivan	^[31]
August 5	^[32]
August 12	^[33]
August 19	^[34]
bgcolor=#EDEAE0 align=center rowspan=1	278	August 26	"Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)"	Looking Glass	^[35]
bgcolor=#EDEAE0 align=center rowspan=2	re	September 2	"Alone Again (Naturally)"	Gilbert O'Sullivan	^[36]
September 9	^[37]
bgcolor=#EDEAE0 align=center rowspan=1	279	September 16	"Black and White"	Three Dog Night	^[38]
bgcolor=#EDEAE0 align=center rowspan=3	280	September 23	"Baby, Don't Get Hooked on Me"	Mac Davis	^[39]
September 30	^[40]
October 7	^[41]
bgcolor=#EDEAE0 align=center rowspan=1	281	October 14	"Ben"	Michael Jackson	^[42]
bgcolor=#EDEAE0 align=center rowspan=2	282	October 21	"My Ding-a-Ling"	Chuck Berry	^[43]
October 28	^[44]
bgcolor=#EDEAE0 align=center rowspan=4	283	November 4	"I Can See Clearly Now"	Johnny Nash	^[45]
November 11	^[46]
November 18	^[47]
November 25	^[48]
bgcolor=#EDEAE0 align=center rowspan=1	284	December 2	"Papa Was a Rollin' Stone"	The Temptations	^[49]
bgcolor=#EDEAE0 align=center rowspan=1	285	December 9	"I Am Woman"	Helen Reddy	^[50]
bgcolor=#EDEAE0 align=center rowspan=3	286	December 16	"Me and Mrs. Jones"	Billy Paul	^[51]
December 23	^[52]
December 30	^[53]

Number-one artists

List of number-one artists by total weeks at number one! Position! Artist! Weeks at No. 1

1	Roberta Flack	6
	Gilbert O'Sullivan
3	Don McLean	4
	Nilsson
	Johnny Nash
6	America	3
	Sammy Davis Jr.
	Bill Withers
	Mac Davis
	Billy Paul
11	Melanie	2
	Chuck Berry
13	Al Green	1
	Neil Young
	The Chi-Lites
	The Staple Singers
	Neil Diamond
	Looking Glass
	Three Dog Night
	Michael Jackson
	The Temptations
	Helen Reddy

See also

• 1972 in music
• List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of the 1970s

Sources

• Fred Bronson's Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits, 5th Edition
• Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-2008, 12 Edition
• Joel Whitburn Presents the Billboard Hot 100 Charts: The Seventies
• Additional information obtained can be verified within Billboard's online archive services and print editions of the magazine.

Notes and References

1. Web site: January 1, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518145509/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-01-01. live.
2. Web site: January 8, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518151105/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-01-08. live.
3. Web site: January 15, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-01-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20210122221009/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-01-15. live.
4. Web site: January 22, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518151026/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-01-22. live.
5. Web site: January 29, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518144004/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-01-29. live.
6. Web site: February 5, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518151109/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-02-05. live.
7. Web site: February 12, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518144004/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-02-12. live.
8. Web site: February 19, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518145530/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-02-19. live.
9. Web site: February 26, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2024-08-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20240804034632/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-02-26/. live.
10. Web site: March 4, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518151035/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-03-04. live.
11. Web site: March 11, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518151101/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-03-11. live.
12. Web site: March 18, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20210510200828/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-03-18. live.
13. Web site: March 25, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2023-04-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20230412092255/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-03-25/. live.
14. Web site: April 1, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518151122/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-04-01. live.
15. Web site: April 8, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518145544/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-04-08. live.
16. Web site: April 15, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518151017/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-04-15. live.
17. Web site: April 22, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518175407/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-04-22. live.
18. Web site: April 29, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518173829/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-04-29. live.
19. Web site: May 6, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518175400/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-05-06. live.
20. Web site: May 13, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-04-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20210427224019/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-05-13. live.
21. Web site: May 20, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518145521/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-05-20. live.
22. Web site: May 27, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518175342/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-05-27. live.
23. Web site: June 3, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518151054/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-06-03. live.
24. Web site: June 10, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518145554/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-06-10. live.
25. Web site: June 17, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518145541/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-06-17. live.
26. Web site: June 24, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518145537/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-06-24. live.
27. Web site: July 1, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518175335/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-07-01. live.
28. Web site: July 8, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518151050/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-07-08. live.
29. Web site: July 15, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518145527/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-07-15. live.
30. Web site: July 22, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518145510/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-07-22. live.
31. Web site: July 29, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518175349/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-07-29. live.
32. Web site: August 5, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518145524/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-08-05. live.
33. Web site: August 12, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518145534/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-08-12. live.
34. Web site: August 19, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518145514/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-08-19. live.
35. Web site: August 26, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518175345/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-08-26. live.
36. Web site: September 2, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518151057/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-09-02. live.
37. Web site: September 9, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518173823/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-09-09. live.
38. Web site: September 16, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518175414/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-09-16. live.
39. Web site: September 23, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518145517/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-09-23. live.
40. Web site: September 30, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518175353/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-09-30. live.
41. Web site: October 7, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518175357/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-10-07. live.
42. Web site: October 14, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518151038/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-10-14. live.
43. Web site: October 21, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20210509153153/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-10-21. live.
44. Web site: October 28, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518145557/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-10-28. live.
45. Web site: November 4, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-08-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20210801013017/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-11-04. live.
46. Web site: November 11, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518173826/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-11-11. live.
47. Web site: November 18, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518151041/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-11-18. live.
48. Web site: November 25, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518175411/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-11-25. live.
49. Web site: December 2, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518145550/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-12-02. live.
50. Web site: December 9, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518145547/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-12-09. live.
51. Web site: December 16, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518145601/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-12-16. live.
52. Web site: December 23, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518151113/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-12-23. live.
53. Web site: December 30, 1972. Billboard Hot 100. 2021-05-18. 2021-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518145603/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1972-12-30. live.