1972’s Best Classic Rock Albums

1972's Best Classic Rock AlbumsContinuing with our Best Classic Rock albums of the 1970s series, we turn to the year 1972. Just as we have seen in 1970 and 1971, the year was filled with releases from great solo rock artists and rock bands. The singer songwriter genre exploded in 1972 with artists like Jim Croce, James Taylor, Harry Chapin and many others all receiving significant airplay on both AM pop radio and FM album oriented rock. Hard Rock was evolving into metal with bands like Deep Purple and Black Sabbath releasing great albums that would inspires generations of Metal bands. The popularity of Progressive rock continued to grow with bands like Yes and Emerson Lake & Palmer selling millions of records. Fifties artists such as Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley were still releasing records. Soul music was also dominating charts as the sound of Motown continued to shine. There was a great deal of music choices for consumers in 1972. Rock and roll in all its genres stood at the forefront.

Here is our Top 10  best classic rock albums choices for the year 1972. They will be followed by our choices for the best 1972 rock albums released throughout the entire year in chronological order.

# 10 – You Don’t Mess Around with Jim  – Jim Croce

We open up our 1972′ best classic rock albums list with a great one from Jim Croce. The album You Don’t Mess Around with Jim featured classic song such as “Operator,” “You Don’t Mess Around with Jim,” “Time In A Bottle,” “Photographs and Memories,” and so many more.

You Don't Mess Around with Jim  - Jim Croce

#  9 – Honky ChâteauElton John

Elton John’s Honky Chateau was a transitional album from the legendary artist. Headed towards a more slick pop sound, the album presented fans with such nuggets as “Rocket Man, Honky Cat, Mona Lisa and Mad Hatters,” and other great tracks.

Honky Château - Elton John

#  8 – Can’t Buy A Thrill – Steely Dan

Steely Dan’s great debut album unleashed the talents of Donald Fagen and Walter Becker into a rock and roll world that would fall in love with the group instantly. Who could forget the album’s standout tracks such as “Do It Again, Dirty Work and Reelin’ In the Years.” At the time we had no idea of the brilliant catalog of music soon to come from the band. Can anyone say Aja?

Can't Buy A Thrill - Steely Dan

#  7 – TrilogyEmerson, Lake & Palmer

Trilogy was one of Emerson Lake & Palmer’s finest albums. It was the band’s third album release. Side one alone of this fantastic record put this one in our top 10. Standout tracks included “The Endless Enigma (Part 1) and Enigma (Part 2), ” From the Beginning” and “Hoedown.”

Trilogy - Emerson, Lake & Palmer

#  6 – Machine Head – Deep Purple

Deep Purple’s legendary record Machine Head was released in March of 1972. It stands as one of the greatest and most hard rock influential records ever released. The album included such Deep Purple classics as “Highway Star, Smoke On The Water” and “Space Truckin.”

Machine Head - Deep Purple

#  5 – Harvest – Neil Young

Neil Young crossed so many genres on the great Harvest album defining the brilliance of the singer songwriter genre within the mergers of country, southern and rock styles. Standout tracks included the songs “Heart of Gold, Old Man, Alabama, and The Needle and the Damage Done.”

Harvest - Neil Young

#  4 – The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust – David Bowie

David Bowie’s brilliant album officially titled The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars was released in the spring of 1972. The album stands as one of David Bowie greatest musical achievements. David Bowie’s character of Ziggy Stardust defined a fascinating story delivered with such brilliant songs as “Starman, Ziggy Stardust, “Suffragette City, Five Years and Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide.”

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust - David Bowie

#  3 – Eat A Peach – The Allman Brothers Band

As we move closer to the top spot on our 1972’s best classic rock albums list, we turn to one of our favorite bands of all time.The Allman Brothers Band album Eat A Peach was a landmark two record set release for the group. The album was a mix of live tracks from the Fillmore East concerts along with new studio recordings with and without Duane Allman. Standout tracks included “Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More, Melissa, Blue Sky Little Martha,” and incredible live versions of “Mountain Jam,” and “One Way Out.”

Eat A Peach - The Allman Brothers Band

#  2 – Close To The Edge – Yes

Many Yes fans will argue that the Close To The Edge album was Yes’s finest work. It was an incredible rock record that stands as one of the greatest progressive rock records ever released.

Close To The Edge - Yes

#  1 – Exile on Main St – The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones two record set Exile On Main Street is so good we don’t even know where to start in describing this record. It was The Rolling Stones’ tenth album. The record is clearly defined by most critics and fans as the Rolling Stones’ best work. Song after song, this one just blows you away. The big hits like “Tumbling Dice, Happy, Rips This Joint, Sweet Virginia,” and the deeper cuts like “Sweet Black Angel, Torn and Frayed,” and just about every other track on the album have been cherished among rock fans for five decades.

Exile on Main St - The Rolling Stones

More Fantastic Classic Rock Albums Released in 1972

These are listed in chronological order in which they came out throughout the year

Best Rock Albums – January 1972

Blue Öyster CultBlue Öyster Cult

Paul SimonPaul Simon

1+1Grin

Jackson BrowneJackson Browne

Linda Ronstadt Linda Ronstadt

Best Rock Albums – February 1972

Something/Anything?Todd Rundgren

Manfred Mann’s Earth BandManfred Mann’s Earth Band

BurgersHot Tuna

Fanny Hill – Fanny

Hellbound Train – Savoy Brown

Best Rock Albums – March 1972

Glitter – Gary Glitter

Music of My MindStevie Wonder

Just Another Band from L.A.Frank Zappa and The Mothers

Bare TreesFleetwood Mac

Bobby WhitlockBobby Whitlock

Pure Prairie LeaguePure Prairie League

RoadworkEdgar Winter’s White Trash

Smokin’Humble Pie

Best Rock Albums – April 1972

Rio Grande Mud –  ZZ Top

Graham Nash David Crosby – Crosby & Nash

ManassasStephen Stills

Dr. John’s GumboDr John

Lou Reed  – Lou Reed

Best Rock Albums – May 1972

Jeff Beck GroupJeff Beck

Live in EuropeRory Gallagher 

Demons and WizardsUriah Heep

Wind of ChangePeter Frampton 

Live at Max’s Kansas CityThe Velvet Underground

Sail AwayRandy Newman

Sailin’ ShoesLittle Feat

Best Rock Albums – June 1972

Some Time in New York CityJohn Lennon and Yoko Ono

Roxy MusicRoxy Music

Living in the PastJethro Tull

Number 1 Record Big Star

School’s OutAlice Cooper

Best Rock Albums – July 1972

Toulouse StreetThe Doobie Brothers

Waka/JawakaFrank Zappa

Chicago VChicago

Son of SchmilssonHarry Nilsson

Long John SilverJefferson Airplane

Never a Dull MomentRod Stewart

Foghat – Foghat

I Can See Clearly NowJohnny Nash

Saint Dominic’s PreviewVan Morrison

Straight ShooterJames Gang

Best Rock Albums – August 1972

Rock of AgesThe Band

Rock of AgesThe Kinks

Back StabbersThe O’Jays

Live at the ParamountThe Guess Who

Roy BuchananRoy Buchanan

Smokin’ O.P.’s Bob Seger

Summer BreezeSeals and Crofts

Best Rock Albums – September 1972

PhoenixGrand Funk Railroad

Vol. 4 Black Sabbath

Live Full HouseThe J. Geils Band

Below the SaltSteeleye Span

Sandy –  Sandy Denny

Best Rock Albums – October 1972

Talking BookStevie Wonder

BarnstormJoe Walsh

Bustin’ OutPure Prairie League

Clear SpotCaptain Beefheart

Lion’s Share – Savoy Brown

Loggins and MessinaLoggins and Messina

The London Chuck Berry SessionsChuck Berry

Passin’ ThruJames Gang

Rock & Roll Music to the WorldTen Years After

Stealers WheelStealers Wheel

Who Came FirstPete Townshend

Best Rock Albums – November 1972

Europe ’72The Grateful Dead

FreshRaspberries

Homecoming America

Seventh SojournThe Moody Blues

Ege BamyasiCan

For the RosesJoni Mitchell

Joe CockerJoe Cocker

The Magician’s BirthdayUriah Heep

No Secrets Carly Simon

They Only Come Out at NightEdgar Winter Group

Why Dontcha – West, Bruce and Laing

The World Is a GhettoWar

Best Rock Albums – December 1972

OctopusGentle Giant

PiledriverStatus Quo

Made in Japan  – Deep Purple

Updated May 8, 2023

1972’s Best Classic Rock Albums article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2023

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