Albums of 1972
Exile on Main St., Harvest, Transformer, Talking Book — the Album Rock era at its absolute peak.
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1Let's Stay TogetherAl Green
Let's Stay Together
Smooth, sensual Memphis soul defined by Green's falsetto and Willie Mitchell's warm production. The title track is a standard for good reason. A bedroom-soul cornerstone.
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2I'm Still in Love with YouAl Green
I'm Still in Love with You
A warm, sensual Hi Records peak. Smooth and beloved. A high point.
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3Young, Gifted and BlackAretha Franklin
Young, Gifted and Black
A soulful, mature peak of gospel-charged R&B. Powerful and acclaimed. A high point.
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4Amazing GraceAretha Franklin
Amazing Grace
A towering live gospel album, the best-selling of her career. Powerful and historic. A landmark.
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5#1 RecordBig Star
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6Still BillBill Withers
Still Bill
Warm, plain-spoken soul of enormous craft, home to 'Lean on Me' and 'Use Me'. Direct and timeless. His finest record.
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7Vol. 4Black Sabbath
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8Give It UpBonnie Raitt
Give It Up
A warm, rootsy early peak of slide guitar and soul. Tuneful and beloved. A fan favourite.
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9Ege BamyasiCan
Ege Bamyasi
A funky, hypnotic krautrock peak, home to 'Vitamin C'. Inventive and beloved. A high point.
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10No SecretsCarly Simon
No Secrets
The breakthrough album built around 'You're So Vain' — her sharpest lyrics matched to a polished pop-rock sound.
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11Rhymes & ReasonsCarole King
Rhymes & Reasons
The third chapter of King's imperial run, less celebrated than Tapestry but full of the same warmth and songwriting craft.
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12Return to ForeverChick Corea
Return to Forever
A bright, Latin-tinged fusion landmark of airy grooves. Warm and influential. A genre favourite.
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13Super FlyCurtis Mayfield
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14CymandeCymande
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15The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from MarsDavid Bowie
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
Bowie's glam-rock concept album about a doomed alien rock star turned him into a superstar and changed what a pop performer could be. The songs are tight and theatrical, the playing sharp, the whole thing over in 38 thrilling minutes. The essential entry point to his catalogue.
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16Machine HeadDeep Purple
Machine Head
A hard-rock cornerstone built on 'Smoke on the Water' and tight, heavy riffing. Loud and tuneful. Hugely influential.
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17EaglesEagles
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18Honky ChateauElton John
Honky Chateau
A warm, tuneful peak, home to 'Rocket Man' and 'Honky Cat'. Beloved and acclaimed. A turning point.
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19FoxtrotGenesis
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20Thick as a BrickJethro Tull
Thick as a Brick
A sprawling, single-song prog satire of the concept album. Ambitious and beloved. A high point.
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21The Harder They ComeJimmy Cliff
The Harder They Come
The soundtrack that introduced much of the world to reggae, a sharp mix of Cliff's anthems and key genre cuts. Vibrant and historic. An ideal reggae starting point.
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22For the RosesJoni Mitchell
For the Roses
A reflective, jazz-leaning bridge in her catalogue. Beautiful and acclaimed. A grower among fans.
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23TransformerLou Reed
Transformer
Reed's glam-era breakthrough, produced by Bowie, home to 'Walk on the Wild Side' and 'Perfect Day'. Witty, seedy and tuneful. His most accessible record.
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24Trouble ManMarvin Gaye
Trouble Man
A lush, jazzy soundtrack peak of cinematic soul. Smooth and beloved. A cult favourite.
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25On the CornerMiles Davis
On the Corner
A dense, funk-and-electronics landmark divisive on release and later revered. Bold and influential. A cult masterpiece.
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26HarvestNeil Young
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27Neu!Neu!
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28Pink MoonNick Drake
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29Paul SimonPaul Simon
Paul Simon
An eclectic, tuneful solo debut blending styles with ease. Warm and beloved. A strong start.
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30Obscured by CloudsPink Floyd
Obscured by Clouds
An underrated soundtrack peak of warm, concise songs. Tuneful and beloved. A cult favourite.
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31Sail AwayRandy Newman
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32Roxy MusicRoxy Music
Roxy Music
An audacious art-rock debut of glam, lounge and the avant-garde. Stylish and strange. Hugely influential.
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33CaravanseraiSantana
Caravanserai
An ambitious, jazzy-instrumental pivot. Bold and acclaimed. A creative high.
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34Can't Buy a ThrillSteely Dan
Can't Buy a Thrill
A sharp, tuneful debut, home to 'Reelin' in the Years' and 'Do It Again'. Polished and beloved. A strong start.
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35Talking BookStevie Wonder
Talking Book
Where Wonder's classic period truly opens up, home to 'Superstition' and 'You Are the Sunshine of My Life'. Warm, funky and melodically rich. A perfect entry to his run of 1970s masterpieces.
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36Music of My MindStevie Wonder
Music of My Mind
The album where Wonder seized creative control, all synths and invention. Bold and beloved. A turning point.
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37The SliderT. Rex
The Slider
A glam peak of boogie hooks, home to 'Metal Guru' and 'Telegram Sam'. Sexy and beloved. A high point.
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38Eat a PeachThe Allman Brothers Band
Eat a Peach
A double album mixing studio and live jamming, partly recorded after Duane's death. Beautiful and beloved. A high point.
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39Exile on Main St.The Rolling Stones
Exile on Main St.
A loose, murky double album cut largely in a French villa basement, where blues, country, gospel and rock'n'roll bleed into one another. It sounded ramshackle on release and is now widely held to be their masterpiece. Let it wash over you a few times before its depth reveals itself.
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40The World Is a GhettoWar
The World Is a Ghetto
A smooth, socially conscious funk-soul peak of Latin and jazz textures. Groovy and warm. A 70s favourite.
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41Close to the EdgeYes
Close to the Edge
Prog at its most refined, three long, intricate suites of dazzling musicianship. Grand and cohesive. Often called their masterpiece.