1
record label: Hi 2202
chart position: RandB #1, US #1, UK #7, US AC #36
written by: Al Green, Willie Mitchell & Al Jackson Jr.
album: Let's Stay Together
comments: [beat ballad]
Al Green
Let's Stay Together
1972
Hi
2
record label: P.I.R. 3521
chart position: RandB #1, US #1, UK #12, US AC #10
written by: Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff & Cary Gilbert
album: 360 Degrees of Billy Paul / The Best Of Philadelphia
comments: [philly sound ballad]
Billy Paul
Me and Mrs. Jones
1972
P.I.R.
3
record label: Atlantic 2864
chart position: RandB #4, US #1, UK #14, US AC #1
written by: Ewan MacColl
album: First Take
comments: [ballad]
Roberta Flack
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
1972
Atlantic
4
record label: Epic 10902
chart position: RandB #38, US #1, UK #5, US AC #1
written by: Johnny Nash
album: I Can See Clearly Now
comments: [reggae]
Johnny Nash
I Can See Clearly Now
1972
Epic
5
record label: Sussex 235
chart position: RandB #1, US #1, UK #18, US AC #4
written by: Bill Withers
album: Still Bill
comments: [ballad]
Bill Withers
Lean on Me
1972
Sussex
6
record label: Motown 1207
chart position: RandB #5, US #1, UK #7, US AC #3
written by: Don Black & Walter Scharf
album: Ben / Motown Chartbusters Vol. 8
comments: [Motown Sound]
Michael Jackson
Ben
1972
Motown
7
record label: Motown 1197
chart position: RandB #2, US #2, UK #3
written by: Jimmie Thomas
album: Got to Be There / Motown Chartbusters Vol. 7
comments: [pop soul] [Motown Sound]
Michael Jackson
Rockin' Robin
1972
Motown
8
record label: Tamla 54226
chart position: RandB #1, US #1, UK #11, US AC #38
written by: Stevie Wonder
album: Talking Book / Motown Chartbusters Vol. 8
comments: [Motown Sound]
Stevie Wonder
Superstition
1972
Tamla
9
record label: Brunswick 55471
chart position: RandB #1, US #1, UK #14, US AC #34
written by: Barbara Acklin & Eugene Record
album: A Lonely Man / The Chi-Lites Greatest Hits
comments: [sweet soul ballad]
The Chi-Lites
Oh Girl
1972
Brunswick
10
record label: Gordy 7121
chart position: RandB #5, US #1, UK #14
written by: Norman Whitfield & Barrett Strong
album: All Directions / Motown Chartbusters Vol. 8
comments: [Motown Sound]
The Temptations
Papa Was a Rollin' Stone
1972
Gordy
11
record label: Stax 0125
chart position: RandB #1, US #1, UK #30
written by: Al Bell (as Alvertis Isbell)
album: Be Altitude: Respect Yourself / Stax Greatest Hits / The Best of The Staple Singers
comments: [southern soul]
The Staple Singers
I'll Take You There
1972
Stax
12
record label: Avco 6105011
chart position: RandB #2, US #3, UK #13, US AC #7
written by: Thom Bell & Linda Creed
album: The Stylistics
comments: [philly sound sweet soul ballad]
The Stylistics
Betcha by Golly Wow
1972
Avco
13
record label: P.I.R. 3520
chart position: RandB #1, US #3, UK #9
written by: Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff
album: I Miss You / The Best Of Philadelphia
comments: [philly sound ballad]
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
If You Don't Know Me by Now
1972
P.I.R.
14
record label: Dial 1010
chart position: RandB #1, US #2
written by: Joe Tex
album: I Gotcha
Joe Tex
I Gotcha
1972
Dial
15
record label: Atlantic 452927
chart position: RandB #1, US #4, UK #11, US AC #14
written by: Melvin Steals & Mervin Steals
album: The Spinners (Detroit)
comments: [philly sound]
The Spinners
Could It Be I'm Falling in Love
1972
Atlantic
16
record label: Glades 1703
chart position: RandB #1, US #3, UK #12
written by: Timmy Thomas
album: Why Can't We Live Together
Timmy Thomas
Why Can't We Live Together
1972
Glades
17
record label: AandM 1320
chart position: RandB #1, US #2, UK#44, US AC #23
written by: Billy Preston & Joe Greene
album: I Wrote a Simple Song
comments: [jazz funk instrumental]
Billy Preston
Outa-Space
1972
A&M
18
record label: United Artists 50910
chart position: RandB #5, US #2, US AC #6
written by: Eddie Cornelius
album: Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose
comments: [pop soul]
Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose
Too Late to Turn Back Now
1972
United Artists
19
record label: Atlantic 2879
chart position: RandB #1, US #5, UK #29, US AC #1
written by: Ralph MacDonald & William Salter
album: Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway / The Best of Donny Hathaway
Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway
Where Is the Love
1972
Atlantic
20
record label: Atlantic 452904
chart position: RandB #1, US #3, US AC #31
written by: Thom Bell & Phil Hurtt
album: The Spinners (Detroit)
comments: [philly sound]
The Spinners
I'll Be Around
1972
Atlantic
21
record label: Hi 2227
chart position: RandB #1, US #3, UK #51, US AC #28
written by: Al Green, Al Jackson Jr. & Willie Mitchell
album: Call Me...
comments: [southern soul]
Al Green
You Ought to Be with Me
1972
Hi
22
record label: Hi 2216
chart position: RandB #2, US #4, UK #44
written by: Al Green, Al Jackson Jr. & Willie Mitchell
album: I'm Still in Love with You
comments: [southern soul]
Al Green
I'm Still in Love with You
1972
Hi
23
record label: Sussex 241
chart position: RandB #2, US #2, US AC #14
written by: Bill Withers
album: Still Bill
Bill Withers
Use Me
1972
Sussex
24
record label: KoKo 2111
chart position: RandB #1, US #3
written by: Homer Banks, Carl Hampton & Raymond Jackson
album: If Loving You Is Wrong I Don't Want to Be Right
comments: [southern soul ballad]
Luther Ingram
(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right
1972
KoKo
25
record label: RCA Victor 0731
chart position: RandB #2, US #3, UK #52, US AC #25
written by: Jim Bailey, Rudy Clark & Ken Williams
album: Bitter Sweet
The Main Ingredient
Everybody Plays the Fool
1972
RCA Victor
26
record label: P.I.R. 3517
chart position: RandB #1, US #3, UK #14
written by: Leon Huff, Gene McFadden & John Whitehead
album: Back Stabbers / The Best Of Philadelphia
comments: [philly sound]
The O'Jays
Back Stabbers
1972
P.I.R.
27
record label: Hi 2211
chart position: RandB #2, US 4, UK #44
written by: Al Green, Al Jackson Jr. & Willie Mitchell
album: I'm Still in Love with You
comments: [southern soul]
Al Green
Look What You Done for Me
1972
Hi
28
record label: Atlantic 2866
chart position: RandB #1, US #5, US AC #11
written by: Aretha Franklin
album: Young Gifted And Black
Aretha Franklin
Day Dreaming
1972
Atlantic
29
record label: Curtom 1975
chart position: RandB #2, US #4
written by: Curtis Mayfield
album: Superfly Original Motion Picture Score
Curtis Mayfield
Freddie's Dead (Theme from Superfly)
1972
Curtom
30
record label: Avco 4603
chart position: RandB #4, US #10, UK #9, US AC #27
written by: Thom Bell, Linda Creed & Anthony Bell
album: Round 2
comments: [philly sound sweet soul]
The Stylistics
I'm Stone in Love with You
1972
Avco
31
record label: Volt 4075
chart position: RandB #1, US #5
written by: Tony Hester
album: Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get / The Best of The Dramatics / Stax Greatest Hits
comments: [ballad]
The Dramatics
In the Rain
1972
Volt
32
record label: RCA 2226
chart position: RandB #4, US #6
written by: Harry Jensen, Gerald Thomas, Douglas Gibson, Robert Manigault, Jimmy Castor & Langdon Fridie Jr.
album: It's Just Began
comments: [novelty]
The Jimmy Castor Bunch
Troglodyte (Cave Man)
1972
RCA
33
record label: Curtom 1978
chart position: RandB #5, US #8, UK #52
written by: Curtis Mayfield
album: Superfly
Curtis Mayfield
Superfly
1972
Curtom
34
record label: Motown 1195
chart position: RandB #5, US #16, UK #9, US AC #33
written by: Smokey Robinson
album: Floy Joy / Motown Chartbusters Vol. 7
comments: [Motown Sound]
The Supremes
Floy Joy
1972
Motown
35
record label: Polydor 15030
chart position: RandB #11, US #8, UK #29
written by: Bill Ador
album: Jungle Fever
comments: [funk instrumental]
The Chakachas
Jungle Fever
1972
Polydor
36
record label: Bell 45195
chart position: RandB #28, US #8, US AC #2
written by: Tony Macaulay
album: Individually And Collectively
comments: [pop soul]
The 5th Dimension
(Last Night) I Didn't Get to Sleep at All
1972
Bell
37
record label: Motown 1205
chart position: RandB #5, US #16, UK #9
written by: Clifton Davis
album: Lookin' Through the Windows
comments: [Motown Sound]
The Jackson 5
Lookin' Through the Windows
1972
Motown
38
record label: United Artists 50975
chart position: RandB #3, US #7
written by: Papa Dee Allen, Harold Brown, B.B. Dickerson, Leroy Jordan, Charles Miller, Lee Oscar Levitin
album: The World Is a Ghetto
War
The World Is a Ghetto
1972
United Artists
39
record label: ABC/Dunhill 4330
chart position: RandB #7, US #10, UK #18
written by: Brian Potter & Dennis Lambert
album: Keeper of the Castle
Four Tops
Keeper of the Castle
1972
ABC/Dunhill
40
record label: Atlantic 10148 (UK)
chart position: UK #3
written by: Carole King, Gerry Goffin, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil
album: Saturday Night At The Club
comments: (re release) [pop soul]
The Drifters
At the Club -- Saturday Night At The Movies
1972
Atlantic
41
record label: Tamla 54228
chart position: RandB #4, US #7
written by: Marvin Gaye
album: Trouble Man Original Motion Picture Score
comments: [Motown Sound]
Marvin Gaye
Trouble Man
1972
Tamla
42
record label: Motown 1216
chart position: RandB #3, US #9
written by: J. Shephard, W. Miller
album: Jermaine
comments: [ballad] [Motown Sound]
Jermaine Jackson
Daddy's Home
1972
Motown
43
record label: Uni 55319
chart position: RandB #6, US #14, UK #14
written by: Barry White
album: Love Unlimited
comments: [ballad]
Love Unlimited
Walkin' in the Rain with the One I Love
1972
Uni
44
record label: Spring 128
chart position: RandB #1, US #11
written by: Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff & Joe Simon
album: The Power Of Joe Simon
comments: [southern soul]
Joe Simon
Power of Love
1972
Spring
45
record label: Avco 6105019 (UK)
chart position: UK #3, RandB #42, US #84
written by: Sandy Linzer
comments: [pop soul]
Limmie & the Family Cookin
You Can Do Magic
1972
Avco
46
record label: Avco 4587
chart position: RandB #14, US #22, UK #11
written by: Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier & Eddie Holland Jr.
comments: [northern soul]
Donnie Elbert
I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)
1972
Avco
47
record label: London 10271 (UK)
chart position: UK #4
written by: Doug Morris and Eliot Greenberg
album: Sweet Talking Guy
comments: re release
The Chiffons
Sweet Talkin' Guy
1972
London
48
record label: Tamla Motown 830(UK)
chart position: RandB #13, US #33, UK #11, US AC #25
written by: Kris Kristofferson
album: Standing Ovation / Motown Chartbusters Vol. 8
comments: [ballad] [Motown Sound]
Gladys Knight & the Pips
Help Me Make It Through the Night
1972
Tamla Motown
49
record label: Westbound 192
chart position: RandB #5, US #36, UK #12
written by: Abrim Tilmon
album: You Want It, You Got It / Abe, James and Ivory
The Detroit Emeralds
You Want it, You Got it
1972
Westbound
50
record label: Westbound 209
chart position: UK #4, RandB #22, US #110
written by: Abrim Tilmon
album: You Want It, You Got It / Abe, James and Ivory
The Detroit Emeralds
Feel the Need in Me
1972
Westbound
51
record label: Stax 0117
chart position: RandB #8, US #27, UK #22
written by: Posie Knight & Jerry Weaver
album: I've Been Lonely for So Long / Stax Greatest Hits
comments: [southern soul]
Frederick Knight
I've Been Lonely for So Long
1972
Stax
52
record label: Polydor 14139
chart position: RandB #1, US #18
written by: James Brown, Fred Wesley & Joe Mims
album: Get on the Good Foot
comments: [funk]
James Brown
Get on the Good Foot (Part 1)
1972
Polydor
53
record label: Motown 1202
chart position: RandB #2, US #16
written by: Leon Ware & Arthur Ross
album: Got to Be There
comments: [Motown Sound]
Michael Jackson
I Wanna Be Where You Are
1972
Motown
54
record label: Tamla Motown 821(UK)
chart position: UK #10, RandB #21, US #37, US AC #17
written by: Smokey Robinson
album: Floy Joy / Motown Chartbusters Vol. 7
comments: [Motown Sound]
The Supremes
Automatically Sunshine
1972
Tamla Motown
55
record label: United Artists 50867
chart position: RandB #12, US #16
written by: Papa Dee Allen, H. Brown, B.B. Dickerson, L. Jordan, C. Miller, Lee Oskar and Scott
album: All Day Music
War
Slippin' into Darkness
1972
United Artists
56
record label: Stax 0127
chart position: RandB #4, US #19
written by: Phillip Mitchell
album: Starting All Over Again / Stax Greatest Hits
comments: [southern soul ballad]
Mel & Tim
Starting All Over Again
1972
Stax
57
record label: Tamla Motown 967(UK)
chart position: RandB #10, UK #13, US #30
written by: Norman Whitfield & Barrett Strong
album: Solid Rock / Motown Chartbusters Vol. 7
comments: [Motown Sound]
The Temptations
Take a Look Around
1972
Tamla Motown
58
record label: 20th Century 2002
chart position: RandB #3, US #16
written by: Murph, Eskridge & Johnson
album: Love Jones
comments: [sweet soul ballad]
Brighter Side of Darkness
Love Jones
1972
20th Century
59
record label: Motown 1199
chart position: RandB #8, US #13
written by: R. Byrd
album: Lookin' Through the Windows
comments: [Motown Sound]
The Jackson 5
Little Bitty Pretty One
1972
Motown
60
record label: Motown 1214
chart position: RandB #9, US #18
written by: Stephen Schwartz
album: Skywriter
comments: [Motown Sound]
The Jackson 5
Corner of the Sky
1972
Motown
61
record label: CBS 8351(UK)
chart position: UK #9
written by: Johnny Nash
album: I Can See Clearly Now
comments: [reggae]
Johnny Nash
There Are More Questions Than Answers
1972
CBS
62
record label: T Neck 935
chart position: RandB #3, US #24
written by: Herman Kelly, Clyde Otis, O'Kelly Isley, Ronald Isley & Rudolph Isley
album: Brother, Brother, Brother
The Isley Brothers
Pop That Thang
1972
T Neck
63
record label: Epic 10873
chart position: US #12, UK #13, US AC #6
written by: Bob Marley
album: I Can See Clearly Now
comments: [Reggae]
Johnny Nash
Stir It Up
1972
Epic
64
record label: Westbound 203
chart position: RandB #4, US #24
written by: Abrim Tilmon
album: You Want It, You Got It / Abe, James and Ivory
The Detroit Emeralds
Baby Let Me Take You (In My Arms)
1972
Westbound
65
record label: Sussex 233
chart position: RandB #11, US #18
written by: Dennis Coffey
album: Goin' for Myself
comments: [instrumental]
Dennis Coffey
Taurus
1972
Sussex
66
record label: Tamla Motown 824(UK)
chart position: RandB #10, US #46, UK #16
written by: Johnny Bristol & Marilyn McLeod
album: Moody Jr. / Motown Chartbusters Vol. 7
comments: [Motown Sound] [jazz soul instrumental]
Jr. Walker & the All Stars
Walk in the Night
1972
Tamla Motown
67
record label: Avco 4595
chart position: RandB #6, US #25, US AC #25
written by: Linda Creed & Thom Bell
album: The Stylistics
comments: [philly sound sweet soul]
The Stylistics
People Make the World Go Round
1972
Avco
68
record label: Spring 123
chart position: RandB #4, US #27
written by: Millie Jackson & Billy Nichols
album: Millie Jackson
Millie Jackson
Ask Me What You Want
1972
Spring
69
record label: Polydor 14109
chart position: RandB #1, US #27
written by: James Brown & Bobby Byrd
album: There It Is
comments: [funk]
James Brown
Talking Loud and Saying Nothing
1972
Polydor
70
record label: United Artists 50954
chart position: RandB #28, US #23, US AC #27
written by: Eddie Cornelius
album: Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose
Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose
Don't Ever Be Lonely (A Poor Little Fool Like Me)
1972
United Artists
71
record label: Enterprise 9042
chart position: RandB #3, US #30
written by: Isaac Hayes
album: Shaft
Isaac Hayes
Do Your Thing
1972
Enterprise
72
record label: Atlantic 2883
chart position: RandB #7, US #26
written by: Aretha Franklin
album: Young, Gifted and Black
comments: [ballad]
Aretha Franklin
All the King's Horses
1972
Atlantic
73
record label: United Artists 50946
chart position: RandB #8, US #31
written by: Jim Ford
album: Understanding...
comments: [southern soul ballad]
Bobby Womack
Harry Hippie
1972
United Artists
74
record label: Invictus 9125
chart position: RandB #9, US #57, UK #29
written by: Brian Holland & Lamont Dozier
album: Love And Beauty
comments: [ballad]
Holland & Dozier Featuring Lamont Dozier
Why Can't We Be Lovers
1972
Invictus
75
record label: Atlantic 10216 (UK)
chart position: UK #9
written by: Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil
album: I'll Take You Where The Music's Playing
comments: (re release) [pop soul]
The Drifters
Come On Over to My Place
1972
Atlantic
76
record label: Tamla 54216
chart position: RandB #13, US #33
written by: Stevie Wonder
album: Music of My Mind
comments: [Motown Sound]
Stevie Wonder
Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)
1972
Tamla
77
record label: United Artists 50902
chart position: RandB #1, US #60
written by: Darryl Carter, Bobby Womack & Linda Womack
album: Understanding...
comments: [southern soul]
Bobby Womack
Woman's Gotta Have It
1972
United Artists
78
record label: Enterprise 9058
chart position: RandB #19, US #38, US AC #12
written by: Isaac Hayes
comments: [instrumental] (from the ABC TV series 'The Men')
Isaac Hayes
Theme from the Men
1972
Enterprise
79
record label: Stax 0137
chart position: RandB #6, US #38
written by: Gary William Friedman & Herb Shapiro
album: Be Altitude: Respect Yourself / The Best of The Staple Singers
The Staple Singers
This World
1972
Stax
80
record label: Westbound 201
chart position: RandB #3, US #46
written by: Denise LaSalle
album: Trapped By A Thing Called Love / Doin' It Right
comments: [southern soul]
Denise LaSalle
Now Run and Tell That
1972
Westbound
81
record label: UK 4549012
chart position: UK #8
written by: Roy C (as Roy Hammond)
album: The Best Of The Roy C
comments: [southern soul]
Roy C
Shotgun Wedding
1972
UK
82
record label: Tamla Motown 826(UK)
chart position: UK #8
written by: Bill Withers
album: Got to Be There / Motown Chartbusters Vol. 7
comments: [ballad] [Motown Sound]
Michael Jackson
Ain't No Sunshine
1972
Tamla Motown
83
record label: Chimneyville 443
chart position: RandB #3, US #53
written by: King Floyd
album: King Floyd
comments: [southern soul]
King Floyd
Woman Don't Go Astray
1972
Chimneyville
84
record label: United Artists 50996
chart position: RandB #43, US #37, US AC #10
written by: Eddie Cornelius & Carter Cornelius
album: Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose
Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose
I'm Never Gonna Be Alone Anymore
1972
United Artists
85
record label: Polydor 14116
chart position: RandB #6, US #40
written by: James Brown, Charles Bobbit, Dave Matthews & Manny Rosen
album: There It Is
James Brown
King Heroin
1972
Polydor
86
record label: KoKo 2113
chart position: RandB #9, US #40
written by: Homer Banks, Carl Hampton & Raymond Jackson
album: If Loving You Is Wrong I Don't Want to Be Right
comments: [southern soul]
Luther Ingram
I'll Be Your Shelter (In Time of Storm)
1972
KoKo
87
record label: Stax 0119
chart position: RandB #5, US #44
written by: John Colbert & Norman West
album: Genesis / Stax Greatest Hits
comments: [southern soul]
The Soul Children
Hearsay
1972
Stax
88
record label: Polydor 14153
chart position: RandB #3, US #44
written by: James Brown
album: Get on the Good Foot
comments: [funk]
James Brown
I Got a Bag of My Own
1972
Polydor
89
record label: Polydor 14125
chart position: RandB #4, US #43
written by: James Brown
album: There It Is
comments: [funk]
James Brown
There It Is (Part 1)
1972
Polydor
90
record label: Hot Wax 7204
chart position: RandB #3, US #68
written by: William Weatherspoon & Angelo Bond
album: Two Sides of Laura Lee / The Best of Laura Lee
comments: [northern soul]
Laura Lee
Rip Off
1972
Hot Wax
91
record label: Epic 10829
chart position: RandB #15, US #23, UK #17, US AC #26
written by: Sly Stone (as Sylvester Stewart)
album: There's a Riot Goin' On
Sly & the Family Stone
Runnin' Away
1972
Epic
92
record label: Alston 4614
chart position: RandB #6, US #46
written by: Betty Wright, Clarence Reid & Willie Clarke
album: Hard to Stop
comments: [southern soul]
Betty Wright
Baby Sitter
1972
Alston
93
record label: Spring 127
chart position: RandB #7, US #42
written by: Raeford Gerald
album: Millie Jackson
comments: [northern soul]
Millie Jackson
My Man Is a Sweet Man
1972
Spring
94
record label: MCA 1160 (UK)
chart position: UK #9
written by: Van McCoy & Alicia Evelyn
album: I Get the Sweetest Feeling
comments: [northern soul]
Jackie Wilson
I Get the Sweetest Feeling
1972
MCA
95
record label: Rhino 101 (UK)
chart position: UK #9
written by: B. Ruffin
album: Bruce Ruffin
comments: [reggae]
Bruce Ruffin
Mad About You
1972
Rhino
96
record label: Motown 1201
chart position: RandB #23, US #46, UK #51
written by: Wade Brown, David Jones Jr. & Johnny Bristol
album: Jermaine [1972 album]
comments: [Motown Sound]
Jermaine Jackson
That's How Love Goes
1972
Motown
97
record label: Westbound 206
chart position: RandB #4, US #55
written by: Denise LaSalle
album: On the Loose
comments: [southern soul]
Denise LaSalle
Man Sized Job
1972
Westbound
98
record label: Polydor 14129
chart position: RandB #7, US #44
written by: Bill Doggett, Henry Glover, Billy Butler, Shape Sheppard & Clifford Scott
comments: [instrumental with very few words]
James Brown
Honky Tonk
1972
Polydor
99
record label: T Neck 934
chart position: RandB #6, US #54
written by: Ronald Isley, Kelly Isley (as O'Kelly Isley Jr.) & Rudolph Isley
album: Brother, Brother, Brother
comments: [funk]
The Isley Brothers
Lay Away
1972
T Neck
100
record label: Atlantic 2693
chart position: UK #11
written by: Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff
album: Here I Go Again
comments: [philly sound] [re release]
Archie Bell & the Drells
Here I Go Again
1972
Atlantic