The Top Ten Albums of 1972

1972 was one of the greatest, most pivotal years in music history and it celebrates its 50th anniversary this year and what better way to send up the albums that made this year such a landmark in music history, with masterpieces from both established acts and spirited newcomers, than by counting down the ten best LPs from that banner year.

Let's get started!

#10: Foxtrot - Genesis (51 minutes, Progressive Rock)

Peter Gabriel's Genesis hit a career peak with this unique blend of pastoral progressive rock weirdness, full of intricate rhythms, folksy warmth, bizarre and mythic lyrics and some virtuosic guitar work from the unmatched Steve Hackett, all culminating in the brilliant multipart opus, "Supper's Ready", a 20 minute symphony of progressive folk that was a landmark in the genre as a whole. The entire album is one of the most willfully odd and intriguing pieces of music released in all of progressive rock history, let alone just 1972. A true cornucopia of musical gifts and one of the best starting points for those looking to get into progressive rock as a whole.

Key Tracks: "Watcher of the Skies" and "Supper's Ready"

#9: Paul Simon - Paul Simon (42 minutes, Folk-Pop/Singer-Songwriter)

Paul Simon's debut solo album after splitting up with Art Garfunkel is a low key affair. The album is a set that mainly features Paul alone with his guitar, but he compensates for the album's stripped down nature by providing some of his sharpest written lyrics and most lovably warm melodies in his entire career, delivering a set of acoustic pop gems. The best cuts, as always, are the ones that embrace world music textures, with hints of reggae and South American rhythms foreshadowing his groundbreaking solo work to come, but here they blend with his folksier tendencies beautifully to put him head and shoulders above the rest of the prolific singer-songwriter craze. This album is a musical junction between the earnest acoustic pop of Simon and Garfunkel and the dazzling world music rhythms of Graceland (1986), and it truly is the best of both worlds.

Key Tracks: "Mother and Child Reunion" and "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard"

#8: Honky Chateau - Elton John (45 minutes, Pop/Rock)

Elton's breakthrough album in the U.S. was a perfect blend of his early rootsy folk rock and earnest piano ballads with the glamorous pop rock songs that would lead to his utter chart domination for the rest of the decade. The record packs a real melodic punch with every song dealing in wickedly sharp hooks and some of Elton's strongest, most memorable piano playing, all while accompanied by his air tight backing band. The album is a stylish, self-assured blend of country, pop, rock and some gorgeous sweeping cinematic piano ballads into a concoction that was synonymous with Elton's theatrical grandiosity. His first true knockout punch with many more to come in its wake.

Key Tracks: "Rocket Man", "Honky Cat" and "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters"

#7: Still Bill - Bill Withers (36 minutes, R&B/Soul)

Bill Withers, one of soul's warmest voices, delivered a sophomore album that took all the myriad strengths of his homespun debut and compounded them with a stronger, funk-oriented backing band and even sharper, more varied songwriting and assured, confident vocal work. He crafts an album full of gorgeously soulful piano ballads, dripping with sweetness and heartache, crunchy guitar driven funk jams and folksy acoustic pieces all delivered by his one of a kind warm voice. An unassuming record, but one that boasts countless classic tracks and many more unsung gems from one of soul's foremost craftsmen.

Key Tracks: "Lean On Me", "Let Me in Your Life" and "Use Me"

#6: Can't Buy a Thrill - Steely Dan (40 minutes, Jazz-Rock/Pop)

The debut album from jazz rock luminaries Steely Dan sounds markedly different from their later masterpieces, namely because of this record resembling the sonic warmth and shimmering guitars of L.A. rock than the cold New York jazz they'd later embrac, but this album is nearly as good as anything else they'd ever release. The songwriting is as sharp lyrically and memorable melodically as ever and full of creative, virtuosic solos and interlocking grooves. While the vocals might lack their acerbic edge, everything else slides perfectly into place. A brilliant debut from a band that would unbelievably only get better from here.

Key Tracks: "Do It Again", "Dirty Work" and "Reelin' in the Years"

#5: Young, Gifted and Black - Aretha Franklin (44 minutes, R&B/Soul/Gospel)

This album was truly the peak of Aretha's dazzling artistic renaissance, crafting one of her most authentic and varied LPs, bridging her love of gospel, funk, smooth soul and Motown-adjacent pop, all while sharpening her impressive songwriting talents. This album truly shows off her songwriting skills more than any other, relying less on covers and far more on her own impressive original material, but her voice is still unmatched at interpreting classic songs. This was the true capstone of Aretha's commercial and artistic glory days, and the album's diversity was its greatest strength, resulting in her most brilliant, warm album. A true work of art in a way that her excellent earlier albums couldn't quite match.

Key Track: "Day Dreaming", "Rock Steady" and "Border Song (Holy Moses)"

#4: Exile on Main St. - The Rolling Stones (1 hour and 7 minutes, Blues/Rock)

The Rolling Stones, the world's hardest working rock band, laid down one of the most brilliant, consistent and wall to wall exciting double albums in rock history with this platter, a hot and heavy dose of blistering, bluesy rock and roll music. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and the rest of the band locked in to an absolutely otherworldly groove, delivering killer bluesy rock and roll sludge with vigor and grit. The Stones effortlessly blend country, soul, blues, funk and gospel together in a masterpiece that could be seen as the definitive statement of rock music. The living, breathing definition of rock and roll.

Key Tracks: "Rocks Off", "Tumbling Dice" and "Shine a Light"

#3: Superfly - Curtis Mayfield (36 minutes, Funk/R&B)

The Blaxploitation soundtrack is a true relic of the early 70s, but that filmic phenomenon produced some amazing music, first and foremost this cinematic masterpiece from the funk legend Curtis Mayfield, who arranged this dazzlingly complex tapestry of soul and funk music, effortlessly blending the grit of the streets and the movie's drug dealing plot line with the sweep of the best cinematic scores. The stylistic fusion makes this a truly unique album that works equally well as a soundtrack as it does a standalone piece, with the instrumentals feeling just as well thought out as the vocal tracks. A truly one of a kind record, the best of a storied genre.

Key Tracks: "Pusherman", "Superfly" and "Freddie's Dead"

#2: Talking Book - Stevie Wonder (43 minutes, R&B/Soul)

Stevie Wonder released his fair share of classic albums, but it's hard to beat this one, a virtuosic showcase of Wonder's knack for expressive singing, multi-instrumental genius and an unmatched talent for songwriting. He delivers lush soulful ballads, bright pop songs, gritty funk grooves and guitar driven rock jams in an astounding diverse ten song set that spans the emotional spectrum as much as it does the musical one. A truly spectacular album that shows the breadth of his many talents. The fact that he would continue to improve from here is utterly mind blowing. The work of a true genius.

Key Tracks: "Superstition", "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" and "I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever)"

#1: The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders from Mars - David Bowie (38 minutes, Glam-Rock/Pop)

David Bowie was a true musical chameleon, a rock star like no other, and he made the A list with this one of a kind, generational blockbuster album. He lost himself in the role of a lifetime, Ziggy Stardust, the classic space age hero, the androgynous, groundbreaking rock sensation. The Starman. He delivered some of the most electric music of any era here with stomping glam-rockers, dreamy soaring ballads and shimmering spaced out pop songs all with some of the most haunting, evocative vocal work of his career. It bridges bouncy rock and roll and the high drama and brilliant storytelling of musical theatre in the most expressive and ambitious way possible while still remaining a ton of fun with every single listen. A true masterpiece and one of the best albums of any year. Thank you Starman!

Key Tracks: "Moonage Daydream", "Starman", "Suffragette City" and "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide" .

Thanks for going on this musical journey through 1972 with me to celebrate 50 years of these amazing albums! Look out for the Top Ten Albums of 1982 very soon! A big thank you to every artist who made the list and many more who could have (honorable mentions below)! Happy 50th anniversary to all these truly classic record that have impacted my life for the better!

Honorable Mentions:

Amazing Grace - Aretha Franklin (1 hour and 26 minutes, Gospel/Soul)

Music of My Mind - Stevie Wonder (47 minutes, R&B/Soul)

For the Roses - Joni Mitchell (40 minutes, Folk-Rock/Singer-Songwriter)

Brother, Brother, Brother - The Isley Brothers (41 minutes, Funk/Soul)

Toulouse Street - The Doobie Brothers (34 minutes, Country/Rock)

All Directions - The Temptations (34 minutes, Funk/Soul)