1972 was a year when I got introduced to a number of bands that would become all-time faves, including Blue Oyster Cult, Mott the Hoople, and Steely Dan.
And as far as live albums went, the Allman Brothers, Jimi Hendrix, the J. Geils Band, and Rory Gallagher were well represented.
I wouldn’t say ’72 was the greatest year for rock in the seventies, but, since it gave us both Machine Head and Ziggy Stardust, who can complain?
As always, I’ve listed the LPs alphabetically by title, and included three choice tracks from each disc to help you remember how wicked they really were.
All the Young Dudes: Mott the Hoople (“Sweet Jane”, “One of the Boys”, “Mama’s Little Jewel”)
Argus: Wishbone Ash (“The King Will Come”, “Throw Down the Sword”, “Warrior”)
Blue Oyster Cult: Blue Oyster Cult (“Transmaniacon MC”, “Stairway to the Stars”, “Workshop of the Telescopes”)
Burgers: Hot Tuna (“Keep on Truckin'”, “Water Song”, “99 Year Blues”)
Can’t Buy a Thrill: Steely Dan (“Do It Again”, “Dirty Work”, “Only a Fool Would Say That”)
Caravanserai: Santana (“Waves Within”, “Song of the Wind”, “Future Primitive”)
Close to the Edge: Yes (“Close to the Edge”, “And You and I”, “Siberian Khatru”)
Eagles: Eagles (“Take it Easy”, “Chug All Night”, “Peaceful Easy Feeling”)
Eat a Peach: The Allman Brothers Band (“One Way Out”, “Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More”, “Blue Sky”)
Exile on Main Street: The Rolling Stones (“Rip This Joint”, “Rocks Off”, “Tumbling Dice”)
Foghat: Foghat (“I Just Want to Make Love to You”, “Fool’s Hall of Fame”, “Maybellene”)
Harvest: Neil Young (“Heart of Gold”, “Old Man”, “The Needle and the Damage Done”)
Hendrix in the West: Jimi Hendrix (“Johnny B. Goode”, “Little Wing”, “Red House”)
“Live” Full House: J. Geils Band (“First I Look at the Purse”, “Hard Drivin’ Man”, “Homework”)
Live in Europe: Rory Gallagher (“Messin’ With the Kid”, “Going to My Home Town”, “Bullfrog Blues”)
The Magician’s Birthday: Uriah Heep (“Blind Eye”, “Rain”, “Echoes in the Dark”)
Machine Head: Deep Purple (“Highway Star”, “Smoke On the Water”, “Space Truckin'”)
Never a Dull Moment: Rod Stewart (“You Wear It Well”, “Twisting the Night Away”, “Los Paraguayos”)
Rio Grande Mud: ZZ Top (“Francine”, “Just Got Paid”, “Ko Ko Blue”)
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars: David Bowie (“Ziggy Stardust”, “Moonage Daydream”, “Hang on to Yourself”)
Rock & Roll Music to the World: Ten Years After (“You Give Me Loving”, “Choo Choo Mama”, “Tomorrow I’ll Be Out of Town”)
Roy Buchanan: Roy Buchanan (“Sweet Dreams”, “The Messiah Will Come Again”, “John’s Blues”)
School’s Out: Alice Cooper (“School’s Out”, “Looney Tune”, “Public Animal #9)
Slayed?: Slade (“How D’You Ride”, “Gudbuy T’Jane”, “Mama Weer All Crazee Now”)
The Slider: T-Rex (“Rock On”, “Telegram Sam”, “Baby Boomerang”)
Smokin’: Humble Pie (“30 Days in the Hole”, “Hot ‘N’ Nasty”, “C’mon Everybody”)
Talking Book: Stevie Wonder (“You Are the Sunshine of My Life”, “You’ve Got it Bad Girl”, “Superstition”)
They Only Come Out a Night: Edgar Winter Group (“Free Ride”, “Frankenstein”, “Round and Round”)
Toulouse Street: Doobie Brothers (“Listen to the Music”, “Jesus Is Just Alright”, “Disciple”)
Vol. 4: Black Sabbath (“Supernaut”, “Snowblind”, “Tomorrow’s Dream”)