Top 17 Music Albums of 1972
by Junomoogmello 
This chart is under construction with albums being added as re-listened to, that way commentary is relevant and not based on memories. Only music which I own on vinyl, CD and tape is included. Personally I think that digital streaming has killed the music industry.
- Chart updated: 02/02/2025 16:15
- (Created: 07/23/2020 10:20).
- Chart size: 17 albums.
There is 1 comment for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 17 Music Albums of 1972 has an average rating of 88 out of 100 (from 2 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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A pivotal prog album which sounds as fresh today as when first released. There is so much going on within each track that I hear different things with each listen. If I ever get enough points to set up a Pro Chart, this will be sat at the top.
[First added to this chart: 09/02/2021]
Year of Release:
1972
Appears in:
Rank Score:
13,803
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One of the best prog albums of all time. Superb guitar and bass throughout, underpinned by drums which sit perfectly in the mix. An album where you can pick each instrument out individually and where the vocals sit correctly in the mix also. This could well be my all time favourite album cover. As the warrior looks over the land one wonders what is going through his mind, flip the sleeve over and you can pick out the feint outline of a UFO. Well done to Hipgnosis for such a simple yet effective and thought provoking sleeve design.
[First added to this chart: 01/30/2022]
Year of Release:
1972
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,911
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This album was a Christmas present (which I had asked for!) back in the early eighties and I can remember how excited I was to open the wrapping and gaze upon the very 'progressive' style cover art ahead of lowering the needle into the first track. This is an album which never disappoints and which is probably more progressive than metal. In fact, it has all the elements of a prog masterpiece, a fitting cover, a theme which follows through several tracks and musicianship which twists and winds like a snake in a hot desert outcrop! Is this a prog masterpiece which as yet has sat under the covers yet to be discovered?
[First added to this chart: 03/21/2021]
Year of Release:
1972
Appears in:
Rank Score:
944
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The two songs bookending this album are reason enough to buy this prog classic. In my view there isn't a lot between this album and Selling England by the Pound. I was never lucky enough to see Genesis live in their heyday but I have seen Steve Hackett and his band perform Watcher of the Skies on two occasions and it was superb on both occasions!
[First added to this chart: 09/04/2021]
Year of Release:
1972
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,063
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Possibly the greatest live album ever made. Worth owning the album for the incredible versions of Child In Time and Smoke On The Water, the latter with a slightly different guitar chord intro to the studio version. For a live album, the recording quality is superb. An album made to live on vinyl!
[First added to this chart: 08/30/2020]
Year of Release:
1972
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,809
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I am often torn between this one and 'After the Gold Rush', never really sure which sits in poll position. Does it really matter, both are great but quite different albums? The instrumental layering on this album is superb. I love 'Heart of Gold' and 'Old Man'. Strong message in 'The Needle and the Damage Done'. Parts of this album sound so much like Nils Lofgren, I came to him first so perhaps that statement should be reversed. I know Nils was in the band on keyboards through some of Neil Young's work so perhaps the style rubbed off on him, no bad thing!
[First added to this chart: 12/24/2023]
Year of Release:
1972
Appears in:
Rank Score:
12,357
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An incredibly complex album which can move from orchestral arrangements to almost heavy rock elements in a trice. Three Fiends (last track) is my personal favourite where the bass almost takes the melody part. Amazing album.
[First added to this chart: 04/25/2022]
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It's the beginning of September and nearly the end of my psychedelic and eighties music listeneing period (summer). What better way to start the Prog season than with this excellent album. I may well be shot down in flames for saying it but I prefer this to King Crimson's In The Court Of The Crimson King! Musically brilliant with twists and turns like a sidewinder. A true classic prog album which can easily sit alongside top Yes and Genesis Prog albums.
[First added to this chart: 02/28/2021]
Year of Release:
1972
Appears in:
Rank Score:
845
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I actually prefer In Rock and Stormbringer. Smoke on the Water is no doubt the highlight track, I am lucky enough to have this album in mint condition on purple vinyl. Sound awesome through good audio kit.
[First added to this chart: 03/21/2021]
Year of Release:
1972
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,448
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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Edit comment As a teenager I remember Thomas the Vance playing Budgie quite regularly on The Friday Rock Show. This fantastic Radio show introduced me to so many bands, Budgie being one of them. I am not sure if Budgie took themselves that seriously, if you wanted to make it big would you name a track 'Hot as a Dockers Armpit'! The great thing with Budgie is the contrast from heavy to mellow and it works. 'Make me Happy' is a favourite.
[First added to this chart: 02/13/2022]
Total albums: 17. Page 1 of 2
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Top 17 Music Albums of 1972 composition
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| Deep Purple | 2 | 12% | |
| Gentle Giant | 2 | 12% | |
| Uriah Heep | 2 | 12% | |
| Neil Young | 1 | 6% | |
| Budgie | 1 | 6% | |
| Santana | 1 | 6% | |
| The Rolling Stones | 1 | 6% | |
| Show all | |||
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Top 17 Music Albums of 1972 ratings
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Showing all 2 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ! | 04/27/2024 22:04 | mrmcrook | 772 | 93/100 |
| ! | 09/02/2021 19:43 | DJENNY | 4,341 | 100/100 |
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From mrmcrook 04/27/2024 22:08 | #303228
Love your notes. Fully agree with your comment about digital streaming. Not only has it killed the music industry, it's also diluted the relevance of most opinions as now people will tell you how good a song or album is from only listening to it once. Like you, I only list albums I own and have listened to multiple times.
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