1972 Billboard Number One Hits: Every Hot 100 Chart-Topper

The 1972 Billboard Number One Hits list captured a year of singer-songwriters, soul classics, country-pop, soft rock, early solo breakthroughs, and a few songs that became much bigger than their chart dates. Melanie opened the year with Brand New Key, Roberta Flack ruled the year-end chart with The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, Gilbert O’Sullivan spent six total weeks at No. 1 with Alone Again (Naturally), and Billy Paul closed the year with the smooth Philadelphia soul of Me and Mrs. Jones.

This page follows the Billboard Hot 100 issue dates for 1972, shown here as reader-friendly weekly date ranges. Because Billboard chart weeks can cross calendar years, this list begins with Melanie’s late-1971 carryover and continues into early 1973 with Billy Paul’s Me and Mrs. Jones.

The Billboard Hot 100 ranks the most popular songs in the United States using radio airplay and sales. These are official Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 songs, not pop-only, adult-contemporary-only, R&B-only, country-only, rock-only, or “that one was definitely on every dashboard radio” rankings.

1972 Billboard Number One Hits by Week

December 26, 1971 – January 8, 1972: Brand New Key – Melanie
January 9 – February 5, 1972: American Pie – Don McLean
February 6 – February 12, 1972: Let’s Stay Together – Al Green
February 13 – March 11, 1972: Without You – Nilsson
March 12 – March 18, 1972: Heart of Gold – Neil Young
March 19 – April 8, 1972: A Horse with No Name – America
April 9 – May 20, 1972: The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face – Roberta Flack
May 21 – May 27, 1972: Oh Girl – The Chi-Lites
May 28 – June 3, 1972: I’ll Take You There – The Staple Singers
June 4 – June 24, 1972: The Candy Man – Sammy Davis Jr.
June 25 – July 1, 1972: Song Sung Blue – Neil Diamond
July 2 – July 22, 1972: Lean on Me – Bill Withers
July 23 – August 19, 1972: Alone Again (Naturally) – Gilbert O’Sullivan
August 20 – August 26, 1972: Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl) – Looking Glass
August 27 – September 9, 1972: Alone Again (Naturally) – Gilbert O’Sullivan
September 10 – September 16, 1972: Black and White – Three Dog Night
September 17 – October 7, 1972: Baby, Don’t Get Hooked on Me – Mac Davis
October 8 – October 14, 1972: Ben – Michael Jackson
October 15 – October 28, 1972: My Ding-a-Ling – Chuck Berry
October 29 – November 25, 1972: I Can See Clearly Now – Johnny Nash
November 26 – December 2, 1972: Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone – The Temptations
December 3 – December 9, 1972: I Am Woman – Helen Reddy
December 10, 1972 – January 6, 1973: Me and Mrs. Jones – Billy Paul

Song-by-Song Notes on the 1972 Billboard No. 1 Hits

Brand New Key – Melanie

Melanie opened the 1972 Billboard Hot 100 calendar with Brand New Key, a late-1971 carryover. The song’s playful lyric, roller-skate imagery, and folk-pop sound made it one of the more unusual No. 1 singles of the early 1970s.

Its cross-year run gave 1972 a quirky start. Some songs arrive with sweeping strings; this one arrived with a bicycle bell and a wink.

American Pie – Don McLean

Don McLean spent four weeks at No. 1 with American Pie, one of the most analyzed story songs in pop history. Its references to “the day the music died,” widely understood as the 1959 plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson, helped turn it into a folk-rock epic.

The single version was long by pop-radio standards, but listeners still followed the whole ride. It became Billboard’s No. 3 year-end Hot 100 song of 1972. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

Let’s Stay Together – Al Green

Al Green reached No. 1 with Let’s Stay Together, one of the defining soul records of the early 1970s. Green’s smooth vocal, Willie Mitchell’s production, and the song’s romantic simplicity made it a lasting classic.

Its one-week run understates its cultural staying power. Some songs top the chart; this one became a lifelong wedding-reception employee.

Without You – Nilsson

Nilsson spent four weeks at No. 1 with Without You, a dramatic cover of a song written by Pete Ham and Tom Evans of Badfinger. Nilsson’s vocal performance turned the ballad into one of the year’s biggest emotional pop records.

The song became one of his signature hits and later found new life through Mariah Carey’s 1990s version. It is a towering breakup ballad, which means subtlety was not invited.

Heart of Gold – Neil Young

Neil Young reached No. 1 with Heart of Gold, his only Hot 100 chart-topper. The song’s harmonica, acoustic guitar, and searching lyric made it one of the most recognizable singer-songwriter hits of the decade.

Its one-week run brought Young’s folk-rock sound to the top of the pop chart without sanding away its plainspoken edge.

A Horse with No Name – America

America spent three weeks at No. 1 with A Horse with No Name, a desert-dream folk-rock single with close harmonies and a hypnotic rhythm. Its sound drew frequent comparisons to Neil Young, which made its chart placement right after Heart of Gold especially memorable.

The song’s title horse never received a name, but the band received a No. 1. Fair trade.

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face – Roberta Flack

Roberta Flack spent six weeks at No. 1 with The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, Billboard’s year-end Hot 100 song of 1972. Written by Ewan MacColl, the song became a major hit after its use in Clint Eastwood’s film Play Misty for Me. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

The song later won Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Its slow, intimate performance stood out during a year full of folk-rock, soul, and story songs.

Oh Girl – The Chi-Lites

The Chi-Lites reached No. 1 with Oh Girl, a Chicago soul ballad led by Eugene Record’s aching vocal. The song’s harmonica line and fragile mood gave it a distinctive sound on pop radio.

Its one-week run became the group’s biggest Hot 100 success and one of the great soft-soul heartbreak songs of the decade.

I’ll Take You There – The Staple Singers

The Staple Singers reached No. 1 with I’ll Take You There, a gospel-soul classic with a relaxed groove and a message of uplift. The song was recorded at Muscle Shoals and became one of the family group’s signature hits.

Its one-week run connected gospel roots, soul radio, and pop crossover in one deceptively simple record. The invitation still works.

The Candy Man – Sammy Davis Jr.

Sammy Davis Jr. spent three weeks at No. 1 with The Candy Man, from the film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Davis reportedly was not fond of the song, but audiences clearly disagreed.

It became Billboard’s No. 5 year-end Hot 100 song of 1972. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6} The candy business was apparently very strong.

Song Sung Blue – Neil Diamond

Neil Diamond reached No. 1 with Song Sung Blue, a simple, melancholy pop song with an easy sing-along quality. Diamond said the song drew inspiration from Mozart, a fun twist on one of his most approachable hits.

Its one-week run added another major Hot 100 peak to Diamond’s early-1970s success.

Lean on Me – Bill Withers

Bill Withers spent three weeks at No. 1 with Lean on Me, one of the most enduring songs about friendship and support. Its gospel-like piano foundation and direct lyric helped make it a universal anthem.

The song later returned to No. 1 in a different version by Club Nouveau in 1987. That makes Lean on Me one of the rare songs to top the Hot 100 in two different versions.

Alone Again (Naturally) – Gilbert O’Sullivan

Gilbert O’Sullivan spent six total weeks at No. 1 with Alone Again (Naturally), split into two chart runs. The song’s gentle melody contrasts sharply with its dark lyric about loneliness, grief, and despair.

It was Billboard’s No. 2 year-end Hot 100 song of 1972, behind Roberta Flack’s The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7} That is a lot of sadness near the top of the year-end chart; 1972 was apparently not afraid of feelings.

Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl) – Looking Glass

Looking Glass reached No. 1 with Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl), a sailor-story pop-rock song about a barmaid and the man who cannot stay. Its vivid lyric and singable chorus made it one of 1972’s most durable story songs.

The song interrupted Gilbert O’Sullivan’s No. 1 run for one week before Alone Again (Naturally) returned to the top. Brandy was a fine girl, but she only got one chart week.

Black and White – Three Dog Night

Three Dog Night reached No. 1 with Black and White, a pop song with roots in a civil-rights-era message about racial equality. The group’s version turned the song into a bright, radio-friendly hit.

Its one-week run gave Three Dog Night another Hot 100 chart-topper during their strong early-1970s run.

Baby, Don’t Get Hooked on Me – Mac Davis

Mac Davis spent three weeks at No. 1 with Baby, Don’t Get Hooked on Me, a country-pop crossover with a gently self-protective lyric. Davis had already been successful as a songwriter before becoming a major performer.

Its title sounds like a warning label on a romantic product nobody should have bought without reading the fine print.

Ben – Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson reached No. 1 as a solo artist for the first time with Ben, a tender ballad from the horror film sequel of the same name. Jackson had already topped the Hot 100 with The Jackson 5, but this was his first solo No. 1. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

The song is famously about a rat from a movie, which makes its gentle emotional delivery one of pop history’s stranger chart facts. Michael sold it anyway, because of course he did.

My Ding-a-Ling – Chuck Berry

Chuck Berry reached No. 1 with My Ding-a-Ling, a live novelty song that became his only Hot 100 chart-topper. Berry was one of rock and roll’s foundational figures, but his lone No. 1 came from this playful, double-entendre singalong.

Pop history can be unfair and hilarious at the same time. Chuck Berry helped invent rock and roll, and the chart rewarded him with this.

I Can See Clearly Now – Johnny Nash

Johnny Nash spent four weeks at No. 1 with I Can See Clearly Now, a bright pop-reggae song that brought Jamaican-influenced sounds further into the American mainstream. Nash had strong ties to Jamaica and helped expose U.S. listeners to reggae-adjacent pop before Bob Marley became widely known in America.

The song’s optimistic message has kept it alive for decades. A clear day, apparently, has excellent replay value.

Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone – The Temptations

The Temptations reached No. 1 with Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone, a long, cinematic funk-soul track produced by Norman Whitfield. The song’s extended groove, dramatic vocal arrangement, and family-story lyric made it one of Motown’s boldest early-1970s hits.

Its one-week run was short, but the record’s reputation is enormous. This was not a three-minute pop; this was a whole atmosphere.

I Am Woman – Helen Reddy

Helen Reddy reached No. 1 with I Am Woman, one of the most famous feminist anthems of the 1970s. The song’s message connected strongly with the women’s movement and became Reddy’s signature recording.

Its one-week run made it much larger than a normal chart-topper. It became a slogan, an anthem, and a historical marker.

Me and Mrs. Jones – Billy Paul

Billy Paul closed the 1972 Billboard Hot 100 year with Me and Mrs. Jones, which carried into January 1973. The song’s smooth Philadelphia soul production and secret-romance story made it one of the year’s most memorable R&B crossover hits.

Its cross-year run gave 1972 a soulful exit and 1973 a very stylish opening. The arrangement was classy; the situation was not.

Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Stories of 1972

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face Was Billboard’s Year-End No. 1

Roberta Flack’s The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face spent six weeks at No. 1 and finished as Billboard’s top Hot 100 song of 1972. The song’s use in Clint Eastwood’s Play Misty for Me helped bring it to a much wider audience. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}

Gilbert O’Sullivan Matched Roberta Flack’s Six Weeks at No. 1

Alone Again (Naturally) also spent six total weeks at No. 1, though its run was interrupted by Looking Glass’ Brandy. Billboard placed it at No. 2 on the 1972 year-end Hot 100. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}

Many Artists Earned Their First No. 1

Billboard’s 1972 No. 1 list included 18 acts earning their first Hot 100 chart-topper, including Don McLean, Al Green, Nilsson, Neil Young, America, Roberta Flack, Bill Withers, Gilbert O’Sullivan, Johnny Nash, Helen Reddy, and Billy Paul. Michael Jackson also earned his first solo No. 1 with Ben. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}

Soul and Singer-Songwriter Pop Shared the Year

Al Green, Roberta Flack, The Chi-Lites, The Staple Singers, Bill Withers, The Temptations, Helen Reddy, Billy Paul, Don McLean, Neil Young, America, and Gilbert O’Sullivan helped define the year. The chart balanced intimate singer-songwriter songs with some of the decade’s strongest soul records.

Story Songs Had Serious Power

American Pie, Brandy, Ben, My Ding-a-Ling, Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone, and Me and Mrs. Jones all leaned heavily on narrative, character, or unusual subject matter. 1972 was a good year for songs with a plot.

1972 Billboard Number One Hits Trivia

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face by Roberta Flack was Billboard’s year-end Hot 100 song of 1972.
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face and Alone Again (Naturally) each spent six weeks at No. 1.
Alone Again (Naturally) had an interrupted run when Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl) reached No. 1 for one week.
American Pie spent four weeks at No. 1 and ranked No. 3 on Billboard’s 1972 year-end Hot 100. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}
Lean on Me later returned to No. 1 in a version by Club Nouveau in 1987.
Ben gave Michael Jackson his first solo Hot 100 No. 1.
My Ding-a-Ling was Chuck Berry’s only Hot 100 No. 1.
I Am Woman became one of the best-known feminist anthems of the 1970s.
Me and Mrs. Jones closed 1972 and carried into the 1973 Billboard chart year.

Why the 1972 Billboard Number One Hits Matter

The 1972 Billboard Number One Hits list shows a pop chart rich in voices and stories. Soul, folk-rock, singer-songwriter ballads, country-pop, reggae-influenced pop, Motown funk, and novelty material all reached No. 1.

The year also marked major career moments: Roberta Flack’s breakthrough, Michael Jackson’s first solo No. 1, Chuck Berry’s only Hot 100 No. 1, Don McLean’s epic chart triumph, and Helen Reddy’s feminist anthem. Several of these songs became larger cultural markers, not just temporary chart hits.

For chart fans, 1972 was a year of big feelings and memorable stories: old music dying, lonely songwriters, fine girls in harbor towns, rats named Ben, clear skies, rolling-stone fathers, and Mrs. Jones keeping things complicated.