100 Greatest Songs From 1972

record cover art for Superstition by Stevie Wonder and Papa Was a Rollin' Stone by Temptations
Criteria: Songs listed are from Rock 'n' Roll and related sub-genres. Rankings are based on initial and lasting popularity and on acclaim received from critics and musicians.

Superstition single cover Papa Was A Rollin' Stone single cover Smoke on the Water single cover Heart Of Gold single cover Walk on the Wild Side single cover You're So Vain single cover Take It Easy single cover Rocket Man single cover
Note: Yearly song lists go by earliest 'release date' (Single, Album, or Country of first release).
Not necessarily the year a song peaked in the U.S. charts.
No.
Song
Artist
1 Superstition Stevie Wonder
2 Papa Was A Rollin' Stone Temptations
3 Smoke On The Water Deep Purple
4 Lean On Me Bill Withers
5 Heart Of Gold Neil Young
6 Walk On The Wild Side Lou Reed
7 You Are The Sunshine Of My Life Stevie Wonder
8 If You Don't Know Me By Now Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
9 I'll Take You There Staple Singers
10 Tumbling Dice Rolling Stones
11 Love Train O'Jays
12 You're So Vain Carly Simon
13 Oh Girl Chi-Lites
14 Take It Easy Eagles
15 I'll Be Around Spinners
16 Reeling In The Years Steely Dan
17 Rocket Man Elton John
18 School's Out Alice Cooper
19 All The Young Dudes Mott the Hoople
20 The Harder They Come Jimmy Cliff
21 Back Stabbers O'Jays
22 I Can See Clearly Now Johnny Nash
23 Burning Love Elvis Presley
24 I'm Still In Love With You Al Green
25 Listen to the Music Doobie Brothers
26 Alone Again (Naturally) Gilbert O'Sullivan
27 Crocodile Rock Elton John
28 Stuck In The Middle With You Stealers Wheel
29 I Saw The Light Todd Rundgren
30 Rock And Roll, Part 2 Gary Glitter
31 Me and Mrs. Jones Billy Paul
32 Go All The Way Raspberries
33 Do It Again Steely Dan
34 Love And Happiness Al Green
35 Ziggy Stardust David Bowie
36 Superfly Curtis Mayfield
37 Hello It's Me Todd Rundgren
38 Time In A Bottle Jim Croce
39 Could It Be I'm Falling In Love Spinners
40 Starman David Bowie
41 Use Me Bill Withers
42 Summer Breeze Seals and Crofts
43 Saturday In The Park Chicago
44 Freddie's Dead Curtis Mayfield
45 Old Man Neil Young
46 Everything I Own Bread
47 Ben Michael Jackson
48 Frankenstein Edgar Winter Group
49 Brandy Looking Glass
50 (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Wanna Be Right Luther Ingram
51 Why Can't We Live Together Timmy Thomas
52 Rocky Mountain High John Denver
53 Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard Paul Simon
54 Highway Star Deep Purple
55 Across 110th Street Bobby Womack
56 Virginia Plain Roxy Music
57 How Can You Mend a Broken Heart Al Green
58 It Never Rains in Southern California Albert Hammond
59 Suffragette City David Bowie
60 Doctor My Eyes Jackson Browne
61 You Wear It Well Rod Stewart
62 Ventura Highway America
63 Pusherman Curtis Mayfield
64 Dancing In The Moonlight King Harvest
65 The Cisco Kid War
66 Neither One of Us Gladys Knight and the Pips
67 Whiskey In the Jar Thin Lizzy
68 Ain't No Woman Four Tops
69 The Guitar Man Bread
70 Garden Party Rick Nelson
71 Break Up To Make Up Stylistics
72 Peaceful Easy Feeling Eagles
73 Mother and Child Reunion Paul Simon
74 The Jean Genie David Bowie
75 Too Late To Turn Back Now Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose
76 Suavecito Malo
77 Free Ride Edgar Winter Group
78 I Am Woman Helen Reddy
79 Children Of the Revolution T. Rex
80 Amie Pure Prairie League
81 Get On The Good Foot James Brown
82 Easy Livin' Uriah Heep
83 Look What You Done For Me Al Green
84 Day Dreaming Aretha Franklin
85 Everybody Plays The Fool Main Ingredient
86 Always on My Mind Elvis Presley
87 Happy Rolling Stones
88 I'm Stone In Love With You Stylistics
89 I'd Love You To Want Me Lobo
90 Top Of The World Carpenters
91 The Needle and the Damage Done Neil Young
92 Soul Makossa Manu Dibango
93 Your Mama Don't Dance Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina
94 Witchy Woman Eagles
95 Song Sung Blue Neil Diamond
96 The Cover of Rolling Stone Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show
97 Sail Away Randy Newman
98 The World Is A Ghetto War
99 Operator Jim Croce
100 You Ought To Be With Me Al Green
20 more worth mentioning.
101 City of New Orleans Arlo Guthrie
102 Melissa Allman Brothers Band
103 Metal Guru T. Rex
104 Will It Go Round In Circles Billy Preston
105 Rock And Roll Lullaby B.J. Thomas
106 Conquistador (live) Procol Harum
107 America The Beautiful Ray Charles
108 Hi, Hi, Hi Wings
109 Trouble Man Marvin Gaye
110 Starting All Over Again Mel and Tim
111 You Don't Mess Around With Jim Jim Croce
112 Thick As A Brick Jethro Tull
113 Honky Cat Elton John
114 Taxi Harry Chapin
115 Walking In The Rain With The One I Love Love Unlimited
116 Little Willy The Sweet
117 I'm Just A Singer (In A Rock & Roll Band) Moody Blues
118 Wildflower Skylark
119 Nice To Be With You Gallery
120 Troglodyte Jimmy Castor Bunch
DigitalDreamDoor Editor Picks for 1972
Brian's Choice: An unheralded great record from 1972
* Gypsy Van Morrison
Lew's Choice:
* Southbound Train Crosby & Nash
Bruce's Choice:
* Eddie's Love Eddie Kendricks
Adam's Choice:
* I Don't Know Bill Withers
Brett's Choice:
* Watch The Sunrise Big Star