# Best #1 single of the year retrospective: 1972 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 22, 2014, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1972/699252 "2014-09-22T16:38:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1972/699252/21 "2014-09-22T20:26:51Z")
In a year with such good music it’s amazing how bad the pop selections are. I went with the local band and Brandy. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1972/699252/22 "2014-09-22T20:28:01Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > In a year with such good music it’s amazing how bad the pop selections are. I went with the local band and Brandy. “Brandy” is one of the songs I wanted to vote for, but ultimately decided not to. It’s such a sad song. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1972/699252/23 "2014-09-22T20:58:19Z")
I voted for “Me and Mrs. Jones”, despite it’s message of glorifying a relationship of infidelity. “Papa Was A Rolling Stone” is also great. “Brandy” depresses me, so sad. I prefer the Madonna version of American Pie, the original is too long and boring. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1972/699252/24 "2014-09-22T21:01:18Z")
> [@Nema98](#): > > I prefer the Madonna version of American Pie, the original is too long and boring. Them’s fighting words. I find the Madonna version to be slow and plodding, and missing most of the point of the song to boot; the original is no longer than it _needs_ to be. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1972/699252/25 "2014-09-22T21:51:57Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Them’s fighting words. I find the Madonna version to be slow and plodding, and missing most of the point of the song to boot; the original is no longer than it _needs_ to be. Yeah. Madonna’s version has absolutely no emotion to it. Or perhaps I should say, it sounds cold and lifeless to me. (I like Madonna, but that really is one of the worst covers by a successful artist I’ve ever heard, up there with Phil Collin’s “True Colors” in completely sucking the soul out of a song. Sorry True Colors fans.) That said, I could do without ever hearing the original “American Pie” again, too. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1972/699252/26 "2014-09-22T21:53:54Z")
Extremely weak year. The Temptations and McLean are the only top-notch songs, and I went with the Temptations because it was so melodically adventurous. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1972/699252/27 "2014-09-22T22:09:43Z")
Ah, I feel the silliness coming on. The Candyman, Song Sung Blue, I am Woman - argh. Now, it has Brandy by Looking Glass, a huge guilty pleasure of mine, as well as some great 70’s classics like Lean On Me, I’ll Take you There, I Can See Clearly Now and American Pie - fun. But I gotta go with The Reverend Al Green - Let’s Stay Together is just a great, great song. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1972/699252/28 "2014-09-22T22:19:34Z")
I went with The Temptations. It was the last gasp before Motown moved to Los Angeles, and it was never quite the same again. The Funk Brothers moved there as well, but they never really hit the same heights again. Al Green is a close second. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1972/699252/29 "2014-09-22T22:31:37Z")
The 70s marked my finishing college, moving to NYC, and becoming an “adult” . . . heavily immersed in classical music, including opera. So half of the songs of 1972 are totally unknown to me. Of the ones I know - and like - “Lean on Me” is the winner. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1972/699252/30 "2014-09-22T22:58:23Z")
A whole list of “not their best” songs to choose from. I almost voted for Chuck Berry./ True, the song is absolute crap, but it was his only #1. I can’t hear The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face anymore without seeing those damned abused dogs, so that one’s out. I like Brandy, but even in my warped judgment it doesn’t rank as a best anything. In the end, I went with Al Green. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1972/699252/31 "2014-09-22T22:59:31Z")
I was going with Rev Al and the song that got Obama re-elected. Then it was Pop and Mavis cutting an endless groove. Then I heard _ba-dump . . . da-da-dumm . dump_ with the time clicking on the hi-hats and it was the third of September all over again. A few of those songs are good. A couple are great. Only one is a masterpiece. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1972/699252/32 "2014-09-22T23:14:39Z")
Went with **Alone Again Naturally**. My favorite music reviewer isolated part of its strength in this summary, “…**Alone Again (Naturally)**, which I like best for the way its tossed-off structure matches its casual, crucial equation of filial and romantic affection.” Religious faith is also tied in with family and romantic affection, to knock the third leg off the stool. Unlike “Living is Without You” there’s no bombast. Instead there’s believable anecdotal detail and deadpan gallows humor: “Treat myself and visit a nearby tower.” “In an effort to make clear to whoever.” And for a verse describing emotional devastion, it doesn’t get much colder than _Left standing in the lurch, at a church Where people are saying My God that’s tough, she stood him up No point in us remaining_ ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2014, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1972/699252/33 "2014-09-22T23:17:24Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I went with The Temptations. It was the last gasp before Motown moved to Los Angeles, and it was never quite the same again. The Funk Brothers moved there as well, but they never really hit the same heights again. Al Green is a close second. I don’t know about Los Angeles but soul music was definitely starting to move in a different direction about this time. Gamble and Huff were on the scene with the Philly sound and we’re about to be introduced to the likes of The Ojays, Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes, MFSB, et al. It was a nice groove until it morphed into Disco. Amongst the pile of crap we had to choose from in this poll there were only a few songs that even deserved a vote. I cast my ballot for The Staple Singers. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1972/699252/34 "2014-09-23T00:09:03Z")
American Pie by a landslide I’ll bet. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1972/699252/35 "2014-09-23T00:19:09Z")
I didn’t have to lok any farther than Ameican Pie. Best song ever in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1972/699252/36 "2014-09-23T00:30:50Z")
America’s first album,\* America\*, is a fine album in the folk rock tradition and has a slew of good songs on it. And that includes “A Horse with No Name,” which is superior pop product despite the lyrics, even though I can’t vote for it for number one of the year. I’ll keep on defending them in the future if necessary, because they had a greatest hits album full of actual greatest hits. I’ve always thought their guitar work was great stuff, although I have no technical understanding whatsoever. Wordman or whoever, please chime in. In fact, the list is full of catchy pop product. Catchy but slick. That’s not a real criticism; look at how much of 50s pop was catchy but slick by the standards of the time, though the production values can’t compare. Rock keeps starting out as slick, then rebelling against that with grittiness, then building it back up to lushness, and then rebelling again. This era ain’t got no soul. Look what it did to Chuck Berry! No vote. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1972/699252/37 "2014-09-23T00:34:43Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > No vote. Bah humbug! 'Xap. Dude. At the very least, you’ve got Mavis. A vote for I’ll Take you There would be honorable 😉 …and how can you deny The Reverend? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1972/699252/38 "2014-09-23T00:38:20Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > I was going with Rev Al and the song that got Obama re-elected. Then it was Pop and Mavis cutting an endless groove. > > Then I heard _ba-dump . . . da-da-dumm . dump_ with the time clicking on the hi-hats and it was the third of September all over again. Yep, the exponents of Soul were the saving grace of this year’s playlist, save a couple honorable mentions. BTW, too bad for you and\* The First Time…\*, **kunilou** , for me Roberta’s version is nearly unruinable and was right there in the running. American Pie suffers from overexposure (and had insult added to injury by Madonna’s cover, wtf was she thinking) but would be respectable otherwise. Plus it allowed the DJ to take a bathroom break, which I’m sure was appreciated. OTOH, the world would be no poorer had we never heard old Chuck tell us anything about his ding-a-ling. But he probably was as surprised as anyone that this was his highest-charting record ever, and obviously got a huge kick out of it. ---
**Author:** ![Cognoscant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Cognoscant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cognoscant)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1972/699252/39 "2014-09-23T00:51:14Z")
That’s strange…I don’t see “The Ballad of El Goodo” by Big Star up there. It was definitely from 1972, and it was certainly on a _#1 Record_ 😃 ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1972/699252/40 "2014-09-23T00:51:47Z")
> [@Peanuthead](#): > > I don’t know about Los Angeles but soul music was definitely starting to move in a different direction about this time. Gamble and Huff were on the scene with the Philly sound and we’re about to be introduced to the likes of The Ojays, Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes, MFSB, et al. It was a nice groove until it morphed into Disco. Amongst the pile of crap we had to choose from in this poll there were only a few songs that even deserved a vote. I cast my ballot for The Staple Singers. I’m sure you know this, but to let others aware: “Me and Mrs. Jones” is a Gamble and Huff song. But not their best, which is why I won’t vote for it this year. The very young JohnT would’ve voted for “The Candy Man” because he was all about anything Willy Wonka. Or “My Ding-a-ling” because, you know, songs about dicks are funny to kids. The 13yo JohnT would’ve voted for “American Pie” because it’s obviously the most important song ever written. The 17yo JohnT might’ve voted for “Alone Again” because fuck the world. The 22yo JohnT would’ve said all these songs suck. The 30yo JohnT would’ve realized that the 22yo JohnT was being a dick because, obviously, Al Green doesn’t suck… or else why would he have been used in _Pulp Fiction_? Now I want to vote for Helen Reddy because she does my favorite version of “I Don’t Know How to Love Him”, but that song isn’t on this list. It’s amazing how much one has to ignore some of the production choices in some of these songs in order to understand how good they are. Al Green it is! Sorry Don. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1972/699252.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1972/699252.md?page=3)