List of Billboard Easy Listening number ones of 1972 explained

In 1972, Billboard magazine published a chart ranking the top-performing songs in the United States in the easy listening market. The chart, which in 1972 was entitled Easy Listening, has undergone various name changes and has been published under the title Adult Contemporary since 1996. In 1972, 21 songs topped the chart based on playlists submitted by easy listening radio stations and sales reports submitted by stores.

In the issue of Billboard dated January 1, 1972, Three Dog Night moved into the number one position on the Easy Listening chart with "An Old Fashioned Love Song", but the band held the top spot for only a single week before being replaced by David Cassidy with "Cherish". One week later, Don McLean's "American Pie" took the number one position. The song, noted for its allegorical lyrics which are generally regarded as relating to the history of rock and roll music,[1] also topped Billboards pop singles chart, the Hot 100, and has come to be regarded as a classic.[2] In 2001, it was voted into the top 5 of a poll of the Songs of the Century compiled by the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts.[3]

The Irish singer Gilbert O'Sullivan had the highest total number of weeks at number one during 1972, spending six weeks in the top spot with "Alone Again (Naturally)" and three with "Clair". The former song also topped the Hot 100, as did many of the year's other Easy Listening number ones: "Without You" by Nilsson, "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" by Roberta Flack, "The Candy Man" by Sammy Davis Jr., Neil Diamond's "Song Sung Blue", "Black and White" by Three Dog Night, "Baby, Don't Get Hooked on Me" by Mac Davis and "I Can See Clearly Now" by Johnny Nash, meaning that almost half of the year's Easy Listening chart-toppers also reached the pinnacle of the Hot 100. Flack was one of four artists to achieve two Easy Listening number ones in 1972, and both of her chart-toppers won Grammy Awards at the following year's ceremony. Diamond's "Song Sung Blue" was the longest-running number one on the Easy Listening chart, spending seven consecutive weeks in the top spot. The final chart-topper of the year was "Sweet Surrender" by Bread.

Chart history

style="background-color:#FFFF99"
Indicates number one on Billboards year-end easy listening chart for 1972[4]
Issue date!scope=col
Titlescope=colArtist(s)scope=col class=unsortable
scope=row""Three Dog Night[5]
scope=row"Cherish"[6]
scope=row"American Pie"[7]
scope=row[8]
scope=row[9]
scope=row"Hurting Each Other"[10]
scope=row[11]
scope=row"Without You"[12]
scope=row[13]
scope=row[14]
scope=row[15]
scope=row[16]
scope=row"Rock and Roll Lullaby"[17]
scope=row""[18]
scope=row[19]
scope=row[20]
scope=row[21]
scope=row[22]
scope=row[23]
scope=row"Morning Has Broken"[24]
scope=row""[25]
scope=row[26]
scope=rowbgcolor=#FFFF99 rowspan="7""Song Sung Blue" [27]
scope=row[28]
scope=row[29]
scope=row[30]
scope=row[31]
scope=row[32]
scope=row[33]
scope=row"Where Is the Love" and Donny Hathaway[34]
scope=row"Alone Again (Naturally)"[35]
scope=row[36]
scope=row[37]
scope=row[38]
scope=row[39]
scope=row[40]
scope=row""Bread[41]
scope=row"Baby, Don't Get Hooked on Me"[42]
scope=row[43]
scope=row[44]
scope=row"Black and White"Three Dog Night[45]
scope=row"Garden Party"[46]
scope=row[47]
scope=row"If I Could Reach You"[48]
scope=row"I Can See Clearly Now"[49]
scope=row[50]
scope=row[51]
scope=row[52]
scope=row"I'd Love You to Want Me"Lobo[53]
scope=row"Clair"[54]
scope=row[55]
scope=row[56]
scope=row"Sweet Surrender"Bread[57]

References

Works cited

. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 1955 - 2002. Joel Whitburn. Record Research Incorporated. 2005. 978-0-89820-155-0.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: American Pie  - Don McLean. AllMusic. William. Ruhlmann. March 1, 2019. August 13, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240813184058/https://www.allmusic.com/album/american-pie-mw0000040803. live.
  2. Web site: Don McLean: 'American Pie changed my life'. Daily Telegraph. Neil. McCormick. May 18, 2015. March 1, 2019. March 1, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190301203017/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopmusic/11612982/Don-McLean-American-Pie-is-worth-10-or-15-hit-records.html. live.
  3. Web site: Best Songs Of The Century?. CBS News. March 1, 2019. March 8, 2001. November 3, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121103205201/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2001/03/08/entertainment/main277218.shtml. live.
  4. Billboard Adult Contemporary Year End, 1972. Billboard. September 12, 2020. August 13, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240813184609/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1972/adult-contemporary-songs/. live.
  5. Adult Contemporary chart for January 1, 1972. Billboard. February 19, 2019. February 20, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190220090625/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-01-01. live.
  6. Adult Contemporary chart for January 8, 1972. Billboard. February 28, 2019. February 28, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190228220739/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-01-08. live.
  7. Adult Contemporary chart for January 15, 1972. Billboard. February 28, 2019. February 28, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190228225350/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-01-15. live.
  8. Adult Contemporary chart for January 22, 1972. Billboard. February 28, 2019. August 13, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240813184619/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-01-22/. live.
  9. Adult Contemporary chart for January 29, 1972. Billboard. February 28, 2019. February 28, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190228235325/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-01-29. live.
  10. Adult Contemporary chart for February 5, 1972. Billboard. February 28, 2019. August 18, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240818210920/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-02-05/. live.
  11. Adult Contemporary chart for February 12, 1972. Billboard. February 28, 2019. February 28, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190228235314/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-02-12. live.
  12. Adult Contemporary chart for February 19, 1972. Billboard. February 28, 2019. February 28, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190228223805/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-02-19. live.
  13. Adult Contemporary chart for February 26, 1972. Billboard. February 28, 2019. August 13, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240813184622/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-02-26/. live.
  14. Adult Contemporary chart for March 4, 1972. Billboard. February 28, 2019. February 28, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190228200458/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-03-04. live.
  15. Adult Contemporary chart for March 11, 1972. Billboard. February 28, 2019. February 28, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190228222128/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-03-11. live.
  16. Adult Contemporary chart for March 18, 1972. Billboard. February 28, 2019. February 28, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190228222141/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-03-18. live.
  17. Adult Contemporary chart for March 25, 1972. Billboard. February 28, 2019. February 28, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190228225339/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-03-25. live.
  18. Adult Contemporary chart for April 1, 1972. Billboard. February 28, 2019. August 13, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240813184634/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-04-01/. live.
  19. Adult Contemporary chart for April 8, 1972. Billboard. February 28, 2019. March 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190306093233/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-04-08. live.
  20. Adult Contemporary chart for April 15, 1972. Billboard. February 28, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022014/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-04-15. live.
  21. Adult Contemporary chart for April 22, 1972. Billboard. February 28, 2019. March 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190306123627/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-04-22. live.
  22. Adult Contemporary chart for April 29, 1972. Billboard. February 28, 2019. March 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190306174617/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-04-29. live.
  23. Adult Contemporary chart for May 6, 1972. Billboard. March 4, 2019. March 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190306084926/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-05-06. live.
  24. Adult Contemporary chart for May 13, 1972. Billboard. March 4, 2019. August 15, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240815194625/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-05-13/. live.
  25. Adult Contemporary chart for May 20, 1972. Billboard. March 4, 2019. August 15, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240815194617/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-05-20/. live.
  26. Adult Contemporary chart for May 27, 1972. Billboard. March 4, 2019. March 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190306110736/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-05-27. live.
  27. Adult Contemporary chart for June 3, 1972. Billboard. March 4, 2019. March 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190306174604/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-06-03. live.
  28. Adult Contemporary chart for June 10, 1972. Billboard. March 4, 2019. August 15, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240815194619/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-06-10/. live.
  29. Adult Contemporary chart for June 17, 1972. Billboard. March 4, 2019. March 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190306074644/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-06-17. live.
  30. Adult Contemporary chart for June 24, 1972. Billboard. March 4, 2019. March 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190306143910/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-06-24. live.
  31. Adult Contemporary chart for July 1, 1972. Billboard. March 4, 2019. March 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190306063730/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-07-01. live.
  32. Adult Contemporary chart for July 8, 1972. Billboard. March 4, 2019. August 15, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240815194619/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-07-08/. live.
  33. Adult Contemporary chart for July 15, 1972. Billboard. March 4, 2019. March 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190306201919/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-07-15. live.
  34. Adult Contemporary chart for July 22, 1972. Billboard. March 4, 2019. March 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190306073239/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-07-22. live.
  35. Adult Contemporary chart for July 29, 1972. Billboard. March 4, 2019. March 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190306155906/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-07-29. live.
  36. Adult Contemporary chart for August 5, 1972. Billboard. March 4, 2019. March 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190306230552/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-08-05. live.
  37. Adult Contemporary chart for August 12, 1972. Billboard. March 4, 2019.
  38. Adult Contemporary chart for August 19, 1972. Billboard. March 4, 2019. March 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190306152524/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-08-19. live.
  39. Adult Contemporary chart for August 26, 1972. Billboard. March 4, 2019. August 15, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240815194627/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-08-26/. live.
  40. Adult Contemporary chart for September 2, 1972. Billboard. March 4, 2019. March 7, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190307033020/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-09-02. live.
  41. Adult Contemporary chart for September 9, 1972. Billboard. March 4, 2019. March 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190306052836/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-09-09. live.
  42. Adult Contemporary chart for September 16, 1972. Billboard. March 4, 2019. August 13, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240813190743/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-09-16/. live.
  43. Adult Contemporary chart for September 23, 1972. Billboard. March 4, 2019. March 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190306061457/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-09-23. live.
  44. Adult Contemporary chart for September 30, 1972. Billboard. March 4, 2019. March 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190306073959/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-09-30. live.
  45. Adult Contemporary chart for October 7, 1972. Billboard. March 4, 2019.
  46. Adult Contemporary chart for October 14, 1972. Billboard. March 4, 2019. August 13, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240813190727/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-10-14/. live.
  47. Adult Contemporary chart for October 21, 1972. Billboard. March 4, 2019. November 6, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181106174854/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-10-21. live.
  48. Adult Contemporary chart for October 28, 1972. Billboard. March 4, 2019. March 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190306210501/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-10-28. live.
  49. Adult Contemporary chart for November 4, 1972. Billboard. March 4, 2019. March 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190306151216/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-11-04. live.
  50. Adult Contemporary chart for November 11, 1972. Billboard. March 4, 2019.
  51. Adult Contemporary chart for November 18, 1972. Billboard. March 4, 2019. March 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190306071434/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-11-18. live.
  52. Adult Contemporary chart for November 25, 1972. Billboard. March 4, 2019. March 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190306093517/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-11-25. live.
  53. Adult Contemporary chart for December 2, 1972. Billboard. March 4, 2019. June 19, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190619152337/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-12-02. live.
  54. Adult Contemporary chart for December 9, 1972. Billboard. March 4, 2019. March 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190306044348/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-12-09. live.
  55. Adult Contemporary chart for December 16, 1972. Billboard. March 4, 2019. March 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190306103620/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-12-16. live.
  56. Adult Contemporary chart for December 23, 1972. Billboard. March 4, 2019. March 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190306060035/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-12-23. live.
  57. Adult Contemporary chart for December 30, 1972. Billboard. March 4, 2019. March 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190306115401/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1972-12-30. live.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "List of Billboard Easy Listening number ones of 1972".

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