B-Side Guys

The Best Albums of 1972

Every album of 1972, ranked by B-Side Breakdown: the reviews from 38 outlets we trust, put on one 0–100 scale. An album needs at least 5 reviews to make the list.

Album cover for Exile on Main St. by The Rolling StonesNumber one of 1972The Rolling StonesExile on Main St.99 A+7 critics · 100% approval · Unanimous · A-Side
Average Breakdown89across 1972's albums. That's higher than 100% of the other years here.
Liked100%of 1972's albums scored 75 or higher. Across every year it's 49%.
Most divisiveContentiousBlack Sabbath, Vol. 4 split the critics more than any other album of the year.A-Sides47%of 1972's albums earned an A-Side. Across every year it's 6.2%.
  1. 1Album cover for Exile on Main St. by The Rolling Stones
    The Rolling StonesExile on Main St.May 12, 1972 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    99A+
  2. 2Album cover for The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars by David Bowie
    David BowieThe Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from MarsJune 6, 1972 · 11 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    97A+
  3. 3Album cover for Superfly – The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by Curtis Mayfield
    Curtis MayfieldSuperfly – The Original Motion Picture SoundtrackJuly 1972 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    96A
  4. 4Album cover for Ege Bamyasi by Can
    CanEge BamyasiNovember 1972 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    96A
  5. 5Album cover for Pink Moon by Nick Drake
    Nick DrakePink MoonFebruary 25, 1972 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    95A
  6. 6Album cover for Can’t Buy a Thrill by Steely Dan
    Steely DanCan’t Buy a ThrillOctober 1972 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    92A-
  7. 7Album cover for Honky Château by Elton John
    Elton JohnHonky ChâteauMay 19, 1972 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    91A-
  8. 8Album cover for Close to the Edge by Yes
    YesClose to the EdgeSeptember 13, 1972 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Some debate
    90A-
  9. 9Album cover for For the Roses by Joni Mitchell
    Joni MitchellFor the RosesOctober 1972 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    89B+
  10. 10Album cover for Roxy Music by Roxy Music
    Roxy MusicRoxy MusicJune 16, 1972 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    89B+

How 1972 grades

Share of albums at each letter grade. A is 90 and up, F is below 60.

1972

A47%
B41%
C12%
D0%
F0%

Every year

A6%
B24%
C37%
D22%
F11%
  1. 11Album cover for The Slider by T. Rex
    T. RexThe SliderJuly 21, 1972 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Some debate
    89B+
  2. 12Album cover for Paul Simon by Paul Simon
    Paul SimonPaul SimonMarch 1972 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Some debate
    88B+
  3. 13Album cover for Music of My Mind by Stevie Wonder
    Stevie WonderMusic of My MindMarch 3, 1972 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Some debate
    86B
  4. 14Album cover for Transformer by Lou Reed
    Lou ReedTransformerNovember 8, 1972 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    84B
  5. 15Album cover for Harvest by Neil Young
    Neil YoungHarvestFebruary 14, 1972 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Broad agreement
    83B
  6. 16Album cover for Henry the Human Fly by Richard Thompson
    Richard ThompsonHenry the Human FlyJune 1972 · 6 reviews · 67% approval · Some debate
    79C+
  7. 17Album cover for Vol. 4 by Black Sabbath
    Black SabbathVol. 4September 25, 1972 · 6 reviews · 67% approval · Contentious
    75C
  1. 1Album cover for Exile on Main St. by The Rolling Stones
    The Rolling StonesExile on Main St.May 12, 1972 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    99A+
  2. 2Album cover for The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars by David Bowie
    David BowieThe Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from MarsJune 6, 1972 · 11 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    97A+
  3. 3Album cover for Ege Bamyasi by Can
    CanEge BamyasiNovember 1972 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    96A
  4. 4Album cover for Can’t Buy a Thrill by Steely Dan
    Steely DanCan’t Buy a ThrillOctober 1972 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    92A-
  5. 5Album cover for Honky Château by Elton John
    Elton JohnHonky ChâteauMay 19, 1972 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    91A-
  6. 6Album cover for Close to the Edge by Yes
    YesClose to the EdgeSeptember 13, 1972 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Some debate
    90A-
  7. 7Album cover for Roxy Music by Roxy Music
    Roxy MusicRoxy MusicJune 16, 1972 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    89B+
  8. 8Album cover for The Slider by T. Rex
    T. RexThe SliderJuly 21, 1972 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Some debate
    89B+
  9. 9Album cover for Transformer by Lou Reed
    Lou ReedTransformerNovember 8, 1972 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    84B
  10. 10Album cover for Harvest by Neil Young
    Neil YoungHarvestFebruary 14, 1972 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Broad agreement
    83B

← 1971 · Every year, back to the 1950s · 1973 →

B-Side Breakdowns home