Now Yearbook 1972

After 1976 in September 2025, the juggernault that is Now Yearbook resumes with this much anticipated volume available in deluxe 4 cd form with book, a cheapskate card cover and a trunked 3 lp version as we revisit the early 1970's.

1972 was very much the year of Juniors with me, moving up, listening to Radio One and Luxembourg in the evenings when I could and watching shows on tv such as Hughie Green's Opportunity Knocks on ATV and when I had a stereo portable radiogram for playing my meagre collection of 45's and dolly bird fronted Top Of The Pops albums with remakes of the years hits.

1972 was the year of the TV Advertised lp and the likes of Ronco and KTel catered for that but many of them  had 24 tracks on a single record so they sounded thin and were brutally edited so the remakes sounded better.

Opening with an all-time favourite, usually reserved for Christmas-time listening, ‘Happy Xmas (War Is Over)’ by John Lennon, The Plastic Ono Band, Yoko Ono & The Harlem Community Choir – and it leads an opening run of classics including Rod Stewart’s #1 ‘You Wear It Well’, Don McLean with ‘American Pie’, ‘A Horse With No Name’ from America and a song by the same name ‘America’ from Simon & Garfunkel, released as a single in 1972 to promote their ‘Greatest Hits’ collection. 

More legendary U.S. artists follow including Carly Simon, Bread, Harry Nilsson with his #1 ‘Without You’, and Neil Diamond with one of his signature tracks, U.S. #1, and the title of recent biopic ‘Song Sung Blue’. Gilbert O’Sullivan enjoyed his first chart-topper with ‘Clair’ while Colin Blunstone hit with ‘Say You Don’t Mind’ and Cat Stevens scored a Top 10 hit on both sides of the Atlantic with ‘Morning Has Broken’… 

Ten years before ‘Thriller’, Michael Jackson had his first solo hit with ‘Got To Be There’, and is followed by timeless ballads from Bill Withers and Labi Siffre with ‘It Must Be Love’. Johnny Nash enjoyed a massive hit with ‘I Can See Clearly Now’ and leads into Disc One’s closing run from four of the most celebrated artists of all time; Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney (& Wings), and finishes with Elvis Presley’s Top 10 ‘I Just Can’t Help Believin’.

1972 saw Glam Rock become hugely popular, and CD2 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’.

Moving to CD3 we mark ‘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, 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 & The Family Stone.

We conclude with CD4 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)’ while Rod Stewart provided the 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 with 'Storm In a Teacup' 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.

 An instrumental that closes this 4 cd set, 1972’s biggest selling single featuring The Pipes and Drums Of The Military Band Of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards celebrated a huge selling version of Amazing Grace’ complete with bagpipe solo.

While playing as a record ties more into the experience I had in 1972, the 4 cd version provides a broader selection taking in follow up singles although there is no T Rex, David Bowie or Rolling Stones.

This set brings back much of that time and the memories I associate with it.

Come FridayJuly 3rd, the new legendary extra edition for cd came out in it's plain card tri-fold packaging which is a pity as a digipac with an insert talking about the selection would of been more fitting.

With this extra volume we gain 61-tracks celebrating more magical hits from a interesting year in pop.

CD1 opens with The Osmonds’ huge hit ‘Crazy Horses’ a really heavy track track, ahead of glam classics from T. Rex with the #1 ‘Metal Guru’, and Slade’s ‘Look Wot You Dun’. 

Elton John features with ‘Honky Cat’, while Sweet hit the Top 20 for the first of three times in ‘72 with ‘Poppa Joe’ followed by Paul Simon’s enduring ‘Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard’ sitting alongside pop gems from Lynsey de Paul and Colin Blunstone. 

Legendary artists Carly Simon, Neil Diamond and Rod Stewart feature before Bread’s timeless ‘Everything I Own’ a song which would give both Ken Boothe and Boy George #1 singles. 

This is followed by more chart hits follow from The Kinks, Gilbert O’Sullivan and Hot Chocolate before the disc closes with two all-time classics: The Chiffons with the re-released ‘Sweet Talkin' Guy’ and Michael Jackson’s Top 3 ear-worm ‘Rockin’ Robin’. 

CD2 begins with one of the defining soul records of the era, Al Green’s ‘Let’s Stay Together’, followed by the sublime duet ‘Where Is The Love’ from Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway.

 Michael Jackson appears once more with his version of ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’ a Bill Withers number, ahead of standout soul cuts from The Stylistics, Gladys Knight & The Pips and The Supremes. 

The Temptations feature with ‘Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)’ before Bill Withers’ classic ‘Use Me’, plus smooth-grooves from Sly & The Family Stone and Jr. Walker & The All Stars. 

We then move to easy-pop hits from Middle Of The Road, The New Seekers and New World lead into U.S. smashes from Sonny & Cher and Buffy Sainte-Marie before the disc concludes  with Engelbert Humperdinck’s final Top 20 hit (to date) with ‘Too Beautiful To Last’. 

CD3 opens with one of Elton John’s most celebrated songs, ‘Tiny Dancer’, followed by Bread with ‘The Guitar Man’ and Blue Mink’s ‘Stay With Me’. 

The Moody Blues, a second appearance from Rod Stewart and Lindisfarne's famous Meet Me On The Corner are joined by more standout tracks from the Strawbs, Duncan Browne and The Hollies’ U.S. #2 ‘Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress)’. 

Glam heroes return with T. Rex’s second #1 to feature in the 1972 edition with ‘Telegram Sam’ plus Slade’s #2 ‘Gudbuy T’Jane’, ahead of rock-oriented hits from Mungo Jerry, Argent and C.C.S. 

Elvis Presley’s live version of ‘An American Trilogy’ hit the Top 10 in 1972 and features ahead of a run of reggae-infused pop from Greyhound, Johnny Nash, Dandy Livingstone and Bruce Ruffin before the collection closes with an evergreen festive favourite from the Jackson 5, ‘Santa Claus Is Coming To Town’. 

While some the decisons about what to include seem baffling the Osmonds surely belonged on the main volume and 1972 was the year Gary Glitter broke out with massive hits regardless of his crimes so really ought to had been included for the hits they were, the whole set does do justice to 1972 in a way few other series really got into in any great depth.