1972 was one of the best years for Progressive Art Rock!  This year brought with it a lot of musical discovery and variety — heavier British artistic influence, American singer-songwriter ballads and Top 40 Pop standards that featured strong hooks — it was all there!  As a mid-teen in 1972, my musical tastes were beginning to take shape as I’m sure yours were, too.  It was a blast!

In my opinion, Jethro Tull’s 1972 “Thick As A Brick” was, and still is, the best produced single composition of all-time.  With that said, I’d love to know who your favorite artists and bands were from this year, so hit me back!

Also In 1972:

• Minimum wage in the U.S. was $1.60 per hour
• The average annual income was $11,859
• A new car set you back $3,853
• You could build a new house for $27,600
• A loaf of bread was 25 cents
• A full-service gallon of gas was 55 cents
• First Class postage was only 8 cents!

1972 World News Headlines:

• President Nixon became the first U.S. president to visit China & Moscow
• East & West Germany signed a treaty to normalize relations
• Arabs massacred 11 Israeli athletes at the Summer Olympics in Munich
• Britain imposed direct rule on Northern Ireland
• A 6.2 earthquake killed over 10,000 people

1972 U.S. News Headlines:

• Five burglars were charged with breaking into the Washington, D.C. office of the Democratic National Committee, located in the Watergate complex
• Alabama Governor George Wallace, a controversial presidential candidate, was shot by a sniper, but continued his quest for the White House
• Senator George McGovern chose Sargent Shriver as his VP running mate on the Democratic ticket
• Richard Nixon won a second term in the White House
• Apollo 17, the 6th and final moon landing was completed
• American swimmer Mark Spitz won a record seven gold medals at the Munich Olympics

The top TV shows in 1972:  The Waltons, The Bob Newhart Show, Maude, Emergency!, Sanford & Son, The Streets of San Francisco, The Rookies, M*A*S*H* and The Price is Right

Favorite movies from 1972:  The Godfather, Cabaret, Deliverance, The Poseidon Adventure, Sleuth, High Plains Drifter, Last Tango in Paris, Slaughterhouse Five, The Heartbreak Kid, The Concert for Bangladesh, Deep Throat, The Life & Times of Judge Roy Bean, Fritz the Cat, Butterflies Are Free, and Lady Sings the Blues

Hear my progressive free-form FM sounds of 1972 spinning right now on TuneIn and Live 365!

Thank you for listening to and supporting our station!

– Fred