Even with listening to most of these records a few times before doing a post, that still leaves a lot of time – mostly on walks, but also while doing yard work – to listen to other music. This includes records from 1972 that didn’t make it into the top 20, and not just the already-commented-on Black Sabbath’s “Vol. 4”. How Jethro Tull made it ahead of any of these records is mystifying to me, and some of your favourites are likely here, too. I can’t recommend everything from 1972, but the albums listed below gave me a lot of pleasure.
- Traffic – The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys (especially the epic title track, an immediate addition to my Spotify playlist “Long Songs that Never Get Boring”)
- Stevie Wonder – Music of My Mind (what a year he had)
- The O’Jays – Back Stabbers
- Todd Rundgren – Something/Anything?
- Randy Newman – Sail Away
- Al Green – I’m Still in Love with You; Let’s Stay Together (also a pretty good year)
- T. Rex – The Slider
- Mott the Hoople – All the Young Dudes (produced by David Bowie – its a crime these guys aren’t appreciated more)
- Miles Davis – On the Corner
- Elton John – Honky Chateau
- Alice Cooper – School’s Out (possibly 1972’s biggest surprise outside of Black Sabbath – I think there’s a musical theatre nerd in Vince that managed to sneak out for part of this record)
- Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band – Clear Spot
- Eagles – Eagles (it pains me to include this – Don Henley seems like an enormous tool (just ask Frank Ocean), and Glenn Frey may have been one – but there is no denying these guys made some decent records)
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