The next instalment in the ongoing ‘Yearbook’ series. It’s back to 1972 with 80 stellar tracks across 4 CDs. Now – Yearbook 1972: Celebrating a brilliant year of pop singles.
1972 saw Glam Rock become hugely popular, and the second disc kicks off at the rock end of glam with Alice Cooper and the anthemic #1 ‘School’s Out’, and followed by the superb art-rock of Roxy Music on their debut ‘Virginia Plain’ – and Mott The Hoople with the David Bowie written and produced ‘All The Young Dudes’ hitting the Top 3. Ahead of their biggest commercial year in ’73, Sweet scored their third Top 5 hit with ‘Wig Wam Bam’ and Slade follow with the second of two #1’s in 1972, ‘Mama Weer All Crazee Now’. Elton John had a huge year and Top 5 smash ‘Crocodile Rock’ is up next alongside another glam-flavoured chart-topper ‘Son Of My Father’ by Chicory Tip and co-written by Giorgio Moroder. Jeff Beck had a hit with the re-released ‘Hi Ho Silver Lining’ and Terry Dactyl & The Dinosaurs made #2 with ‘Seaside Shuffle’…. The second half of the disc celebrates the year’s biggest rock-pop hits including from Blackfoot Sue, Family, Argent, Free, Lindisfarne, Marmalade, Jo Jo Gunne and The Move – plus the debut hit from Electric Light Orchestra, ‘10538 Overture’, which reached #9 and became the first of 13 Top 10 smashes they would enjoy in the ‘70s – and the huge ‘Silver Machine’ from Hawkwind featuring a pre-Motörhead Lemmy on lead vocals. The disc ends on a lighter note from a Rock ‘n’ Roll legend Chuck Berry, who hit #1 in both the UK and US with the novelty track ‘My Ding-A-Ling’.
CD3 celebrates ‘72’s easy listening and pure pop classics opening in style with Shirley Bassey and her second ‘Bond’ theme ‘Diamonds Are Forever’ ahead of Andy Williams’ ‘Speak Softly Love’ – the theme from the year’s biggest film ‘The Godfather’. ‘The Way Of Love’ from Cher comes ahead of joyful pop nuggets from Sammy Davis Jr, Tom Jones and Tony Christie with ‘(Is This The Way To) Amarillo’ reaching #18 in 1972 but hitting #1 33 years later!... Middle Of The Road had a Top 5 hit, while The New Seekers’ ‘Beg Steal Or Borrow’ reached #2 and came 2nd at 1972’s Eurovision Song Contest, losing out to Vicky Leandros with ‘Come What May’ which is next… It was a great year for soul music on the charts with Love Unlimited’s sublime ‘Walkin’ In The Rain With The One I Love’ leading an incredible run that features The Stylistics, Diana Ross, The Supremes, Jackson 5, The Drifters and The Staple Singers, plus Northern Soul favourites Donnie Elbert and Archie Bell And The Drells, with ‘Back Stabbers’ from The O’Jays announcing their ‘70s Philadelphia International era, while the disc closes with ‘Family Affair’ a huge hit and a massively-influential track from Sly and The Family Stone.
The final disc is packed with huge hits and launches with one of Elton John’s signature songs, the #2, ‘Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going To Be A Long Long Time)’. Rod Stewart provided the stunning vocal on Python Lee Jackson’s ‘In A Broken Dream’ and Slade’s other #1 in ’72 ‘Take Me Bak ‘Ome’ is next, alongside a second appearance from Sweet. More second features from Elvis Presley, Gilbert O’Sullivan and Michael Jackson are included along with #1’s from Don McLean with ‘Vincent’ and The New Seekers with their massive selling ‘I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing’. Melanie enjoyed a Top 5 hit with ‘Brand New Key’ – and Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show reached #2 with ‘Sylvia’s Mother’.
Artists enjoying a later-in-career renaissance included Johnny Cash, Faron Young and The Fortunes whilst newer artists Junior Campbell and Hurricane Smith are up next. The disc closes with singer/songwriter Peter Skellern’s ‘You’re A Lady’ reaching #3 and featuring backing vocals by The Congregation who are featured next with their own Top 5 hit ‘Softly Whispering I Love You’. U.S. talk show host and actor Les Crane’s spoken word reading of the poem ‘Desiderata’ was a Top 10 hit both here and in his home country – and it’s an instrumental that closes this collection – and 1972’s biggest selling single: Based on the arrangement of the previous year’s hit for Judy Collins, The Pipes and Drums Of The Military Band Of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards celebrated a huge selling version – featuring a bagpipe solo – of ‘Amazing Grace’.
NOW – Yearbook 1972 – a celebration of the diversity and wonderful creativity of a truly fabulous year in pop.
Track list:
CD1:
