1972 in country music

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1972.

1972 in music
By location
By genre
By topic
List of years in country music (table)
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Events
During 1972, James inks a recording deal with Columbia Records; "When the Snow..." is his first hit with his new label.
  • March — Merle Haggard is pardoned by California Gov. Ronald Reagan for his 1957 robbery; which had landed him a prison term that lasted two-and-a-half years.
  • April — The first Fan Fair is held in Nashville, Tennessee.
  • June 3 — The Opryland USA country music theme park opens in Nashville.
  • June 13 — The Country Music Foundation Library and Media Center is dedicated.
  • September — The premiere issue of Country Music magazine hits the newsstand. The magazine, which will be issued monthly (later bi-monthly), is an immediate hit with critics and readers.
  • September 17 — Faron Young — who has international success with "It's Four in the Morning" — is charged with assault for spanking a girl in the audience at a concert in Clarksburg, West Virginia after claiming she spat on him.[1] Young appeared before a Wood County, West Virginia justice of the peace and was fined $24, plus $11 in court costs.[2] It is the first in a string of incidents involving Young, whose increasingly bizarre behavior would begin overshadowing his success.
  • October — The Country Music Association moves from NBC to CBS, where it remained until 2006 when the awards show moved to ABC. Loretta Lynn becomes the first woman to win the CMA's Entertainer of the Year award.

No dates
  • The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, a California-based country-folk-rock band, releases their landmark album Will the Circle Be Unbroken. The album of folk and country standards, recorded in Nashville alongside traditional country artists, is a huge critical and commercial success. Two additional volumes would be released in 1989 and 2002.
  • Music and Billboard chart historian Joel Whitburn releases "Top Country Songs 1944–1971." The book, published by Record Research, marks the first time a listing of every song and artist that had ever appeared by means of a country and western hit parade had been compiled into a single volume. Eight more updated volumes will follow (the most recent edition covers through 2017), as well as two editions focusing on strictly those songs reaching the Top 40 (the original released in 1996, and an updated version in 2006).
  • Buck Owens returns to his musical roots when Jerry Brightman is added on pedal steel for records and tours.

Top hits of the year

United States

(as certified by Billboard)

Date Single Name Artist Wks. No.1 CAN peak Spec. Note
January 8 Would You Take Another Chance on Me Jerry Lee Lewis 1 2
January 15 Carolyn Merle Haggard 3 2
February 5 One's on the Way Loretta Lynn 2
February 19 It's Four in the Morning Faron Young 2 [B]
March 4 Bedtime Story Tammy Wynette 1
March 11 My Hang-Up Is You Freddie Hart 6 [1]
April 22 Chantilly Lace Jerry Lee Lewis 3 [B]
May 13 Grandma Harp Merle Haggard 2 5
May 27 (Lost Her Love) On Our Last Date Conway Twitty 1
June 3 The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A. Donna Fargo 3 16 [A]
June 24 That's Why I Love You Like I Do Sonny James 1
July 1 Eleven Roses Hank Williams, Jr. 2
July 15 Made in Japan Buck Owens 1
July 22 It's Gonna Take a Little Bit Longer Charley Pride 3
August 12 Bless Your Heart Freddie Hart 2 4
August 26 If You Leave Me Tonight I'll Cry Jerry Wallace 2 3 [2], [C]
  • Returned to Number One on September 9.
September 2 Woman (Sensuous Woman) Don Gibson 1 [B]
September 16 When the Snow Is on the Roses Sonny James 1
September 23 I Can't Stop Loving You Conway Twitty 1
September 30 I Ain't Never Mel Tillis 2 [A]
October 14 Funny Face Donna Fargo 3
November 4 It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad) Merle Haggard 1
November 11 My Man (Understands) Tammy Wynette 1
November 18 She's Too Good to Be True Charley Pride 3
December 9 Got the All Overs for You (All Over Me) Freddie Hart 3
December 30 She's Got to Be a Saint Ray Price 3 2
Notes
  • 1^ No. 1 song of the year, as determined by Billboard.
  • 2^ Song dropped from No. 1 and later returned to top spot.
  • A^ First Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist.
  • B^ Last Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist.
  • C^ Only Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist to date.

Canada

(as certified by RPM)

Date Single Name Artist Wks. No.1 U.S. peak Spec. Note
January 8 Mile After Mile Orval Prophet 3 — [B]
January 29 There Ain't No Easy Way Eddie Chwill 1 — [C]
February 5 One's on the Way Loretta Lynn 1
February 12 I Can't See Me Without You Conway Twitty 1 4
February 19 Bedtime Story Tammy Wynette 1
February 26 It's Four in the Morning Faron Young 1 [B]
March 4 Cotton Jenny Anne Murray 1 11
March 11 Ann (Don't Go Runnin') Tommy Overstreet 1 2 [C]
March 18 Good Hearted Woman Waylon Jennings 1 3
March 25 Cry Lynn Anderson 1 3
April 1 All His Children Charley Pride 1 2
April 8 My Hang-Up Is You Freddie Hart 1
April 15 A Thing Called Love Johnny Cash 1 2
April 22 Smiling Wine Shirley Eikhard 2 — [C]
May 6 Moon-Man Newfie Stompin' Tom Connors 1 — [B]
May 13 Chantilly Lace Jerry Lee Lewis 1 [B]
May 20 Nothin' Shakin' (But the Leaves on the Trees) Billy "Crash" Craddock 1 10 [A]
May 27 Together Again Hank Smith 1 —
June 3 (Lost Her Love) On Our Last Date Conway Twitty 2
June 17 Made In Japan Buck Owens 1 [B]
June 24 Kate Johnny Cash 1 2
July 1 Sing Happy Dianne Leigh 1 — [B]
July 8 That's Why I Love You Like I Do Sonny James 1
July 15 Eleven Roses Hank Williams, Jr. 1
July 22 Reach Out Your Hand (And Touch Somebody) Tammy Wynette 1 2
July 29 It's Gonna Take a Little Bit Longer Charley Pride 1
August 5 Listen to a Country Song Lynn Anderson 1 4
August 12 Loving You Could Never Be Better George Jones 1 2 [A]
August 19 Testing 1-2-3 Joyce Seamone 1 — [C]
August 26 I'm Gonna Knock on Your Door Billy "Crash" Craddock 1 5
September 2 There's a Party Goin' On Jody Miller 1 4 [C]
September 9 Woman (Sensuous Woman) Don Gibson 1 [B]
September 16 I Can't Stop Loving You Conway Twitty 2
September 30 When the Snow Is on the Roses Sonny James 1 [B]
October 7 Oney Johnny Cash 1 2
October 14 I Ain't Never Mel Tillis 1 [A]
October 21 Baby, Don't Get Hooked on Me Mac Davis 1 26 [C]
October 28 Funny Face Donna Fargo 1 [A]
November 4 My Man (Understands) Tammy Wynette 1
November 11 It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad) Merle Haggard 1
November 18 She's Too Good to Be True Charley Pride 3 [2]
  • Fell to #2 on the week of December 2.
December 2 Got the All Overs for You (All Over Me) Freddie Hart 1
December 16 Fool Me Lynn Anderson 2 4
December 30 You Are What I Am Gordon Lightfoot 1 —
Notes
  • 2^ Song dropped from No. 1 and later returned to top spot.
  • A^ First RPM No. 1 hit for that artist.
  • B^ Last RPM No. 1 hit for that artist.
  • C^ Only RPM No. 1 hit for that artist.

Singles released by American artists
US CAN Single Artist
15 — Ain't It All Worth Living For Tompall & the Glaser Brothers
7 16 Ain't That a Shame Hank Williams, Jr. and
The Mike Curb Congregation
22 12 Alabama Wild Man Jerry Reed
5 2 All the Lonely Women in the World Bill Anderson
27 19 Another Puff Jerry Reed
15 — Ashes of Love Dickey Lee
31 15 Baby, Bye Bye Dickey Lee
12 — Baby's Smile, Woman's Kiss Johnny Duncan
26 12 Ballad of a Hillbilly Singer Freddy Weller
15 11 Be My Baby Jody Miller
6 6 The Best Part of Living Marty Robbins
7 9 Borrowed Angel Mel Street
18 13 Bring Him Safely Home to Me Sandy Posey
11 9 Burning the Midnight Oil Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton
16 13 Cab Driver Hank Thompson
6 3 The Ceremony Tammy Wynette and George Jones
63 3 The Child's Song/Country Music in My Soul George Hamilton IV
6 3 The Class of '57 The Statler Brothers
18 20 The Day That Love Walked In David Houston
6 3 Delta Dawn Tanya Tucker
2 — Do You Remember These The Statler Brothers
18 28 Don't Pay the Ransom Nat Stuckey
2 2 Don't She Look Good Bill Anderson
20 5 Everybody's Reaching Out for Someone Pat Daisy
12 6 Far Far Away Don Gibson
19 16 Fools Johnny Duncan
16 6 Forgive Me for Not Calling You Darling Nat Stuckey
12 37 Give Myself a Party Jeannie C. Riley
3 3 Heaven Is My Woman's Love Tommy Overstreet
3 3 Here I Am Again Loretta Lynn
19 19 I Really Don't Want to Know Charlie McCoy
6 3 I Take It on Home Charlie Rich
17 — I'll Be There (If You Ever Want Me) Johnny Bush
8 8 I'll Still Be Waiting for You Buck Owens
4 4 I'm a Truck Red Simpson
14 — I'm Sorry If My Love Got in Your Way Connie Smith
11 19 I've Come Awful Close Hank Thompson
4 13 I've Found Someone of My Own Cal Smith
3 — (I've Got A) Happy Heart Susan Raye
13 24 I've Got to Have You Sammi Smith
7 15 If It Ain't Love (Let's Leave It Alone) Connie Smith
14 26 If It Feels Good Do It Dave Dudley
9 15 If You Touch Me (You've Got to Love Me) Joe Stampley
11 3 Is This the Best I'm Gonna Feel Don Gibson
5 4 Just for What I Am Connie Smith
16 6 Katy Did Porter Wagoner
15 26 The Key's in the Mailbox Tony Booth
9 4 The Lawrence Welk – Hee Haw Counter-Revolution Polka Roy Clark
13 18 Let's All Go Down to the River Jody Miller and Johnny Paycheck
11 13 Lonely Weekends Jerry Lee Lewis
4 4 Lonely Women Make Good Lovers Bob Luman
16 7 Lonesome 7-7203 Tony Booth
2 2 The Lonesomest Lonesome Ray Price
13 — Looking Back to See Buck Owens and Susan Raye
9 — Lost Forever in Your Kiss Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton
12 24 Love Is a Good Thing Johnny Paycheck
36 14 Love Is Like a Spinning Wheel Jan Howard
6 6 Manhattan, Kansas Glen Campbell
8 4 Me and Jesus Tom T. Hall
8 13 Missing You Jim Reeves
37 10 Misty Memories Brenda Lee
11 9 The Monkey That Became President Tom T. Hall
26 14 More About John Henry Tom T. Hall
15 15 Much Oblige Jack Greene and Jeannie Seely
10 — My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own Susan Raye
9 9 Need You David Rogers
15 9 Oklahoma Sunday Morning Glen Campbell
54 4 One Tin Soldier Skeeter Davis
2 2 Only Love Can Break a Heart Sonny James
5 13 A Picture of Me (Without You) George Jones
6 2 Pretend I Never Happened Waylon Jennings
3 2 Pride's Not Hard to Swallow Hank Williams, Jr.
17 16 Red Red Wine Roy Drusky
34 18 Rhythm of the Rain Pat Roberts
17 29 The Roadmaster Freddy Weller
21 16 Ruby, You're Warm David Rogers
46 6 Sad Situation Skeeter Davis
24 13 Sea of Heartbreak Kenny Price
16 12 A Seed Before the Rose Tommy Overstreet
14 31 Send Me Some Lovin' Hank Williams, Jr. and Lois Johnson
11 48 Show Me Barbara Mandrell
3 63 Sing Me a Love Song to Baby Billy Walker
8 6 Soft, Sweet and Warm David Houston
21 13 Somebody Loves Me Johnny Paycheck
4 7 Someone to Give My Love To Johnny Paycheck
15 31 Somewhere in Virginia in the Rain Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan
7 3 Sweet Dream Woman Waylon Jennings
12 17 Sylvia's Mother Bobby Bare
9 12 Take Me Tammy Wynette and George Jones
33 3 Ten Degrees and Getting Colder George Hamilton IV
5 3 This Little Girl of Mine Faron Young
11 12 This Much a Man Marty Robbins
12 8 To Get to You Jerry Wallace
18 12 To Know Him Is to Love Him Jody Miller
16 13 Today I Started Loving You Again Charlie McCoy
14 — Together Always Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton
10 34 Tonight My Baby's Coming Home Barbara Mandrell
6 28 Touch Your Woman Dolly Parton
52 20 Travelin' Light George Hamilton IV
17 10 Turn Your Radio On Ray Stevens
14 17 Untouched Mel Tillis
20 7 Washday Blues Dolly Parton
6 4 We Can Make It George Jones
8 10 What Ain't to Be Just Might Happen Porter Wagoner
13 24 What Am I Gonna Do Bobby Bare
19 19 What in the World Has Gone Wrong with Our Love Jack Greene and Jeannie Seely
16 11 Wheel of Fortune Susan Raye
6 10 When You Say Love Bob Luman
14 7 Whiskey River Johnny Bush
5 2 White Silver Sands Sonny James
14 6 Who's Gonna Play This Ol' Piano? Jerry Lee Lewis
18 — A Whole Lot of Somethin' Tony Booth
14 5 A World Without Music Porter Wagoner
12 24 Would You Want the World to End Mel Tillis
15 20 The Writing's on the Wall Jim Reeves
12 14 You've Gotta Cry Girl Dave Dudley

Singles released by Canadian artists
US CAN Single Artist
— 15 Albert County Soul Marg Osburne
— 4 Bill Jones General Store Tommy Hunter
— 9 The Bug Song Stompin' Tom Connors
— 16 Cold Day in October R. Harlan Smith
— 9 Come on Back Billy Stolyz
— 12 Country Soul Honey West
— 8 Ding-a-Ling Debbie R. Harlan Smith
— 18 Donna on My Mind Hugh Scott
— 6 Down and Losing Bob Ruzicka
— 3 Family Love Family Brown
— 12 Here's to Lovin' You Jack Bailey
— 9 Home Again This Year Dick Nolan
— 6 I'd Like to See You Humphrey and the Dumptrucks
— 5 I'm Coming Home Jim and Don Haggart
— 8 In the Loving Arms Dallas Harms
62 19 It Rains Just the Same in Missouri Ray Griff
— 8 It's Good to Be Home Again Orval Prophet
— 3 Kentucky Turn Your Back Mercey Brothers
— 16 Lonesome River Gene MacLellan
— 4 The Long Green Line Dick Damron
— 18 Long Lonely Road Dianne Leigh
— 20 Louisiana Joe B. J. Berg
— 26 November Rain Wayne Rostad
— 14 Papa Was a Fiddlin' Man Michael Brandon
— 19 The Redman and the Train Harry Rusk
— 17 Robbie's Song for Jesus Anne Murray
— 8 Robbin' the Cradle Con Archer
— 3 Saunder's Ferry Line Gary Buck
— 6 The Seashores of Old Mexico Hank Snow
— 8 Sit Down Mr. Music Man Little John Cameron
— 11 Something in Your Face Shirley Eikhard
— 4 Somewhere There's a Mountain Eddie Chwill
— 2 Storm Warning Bob Ruzicka
— 19 Sweet City Woman Jeffy Young
— 19 Take Me Home Hank Smith
— 16 That's How My Heart Beats for You Carroll Baker
— 9 Total Destruction Lynn Jones
— 17 Travellin' On Lynn Jones
— 20 Trouble's Back in Town Hugh Scott
— 12 Tryin' The Poppy Family
— 19 When Final Change Is Made Gary Buck
— 15 Whistler's Mountain Andy Zachary
— 15 You Don't Have to Go to Switzerland Russ Gurr
— 18 You're Just More a Woman Danny Coughlan

Top new album releases
Single Artist Record Label
America: A 200-Year Salute in Story and Song Johnny Cash Columbia
Bill and Jan (Or Jan and Bill) Bill Anderson and Jan Howard Decca
Don't She Look Good Bill Anderson Decca
Eagles The Eagles Asylum
Good Hearted Woman Waylon Jennings RCA
The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A. Donna Fargo Dot
International Superstar Johnny Cash RCA
Ladies Love Outlaws Waylon Jennings RCA
Lynn Anderson's Greatest Hits Lynn Anderson Columbia
My Favorite Songwriter: Porter Wagoner Dolly Parton RCA
The Right Combination/Burning The Midnight Oil Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton RCA
A Sweeter Love Barbara Fairchild Columbia
A Thing Called Love Johnny Cash Columbia
Together Always Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton RCA
Touch Your Woman Dolly Parton RCA
Will the Circle Be Unbroken Nitty Gritty Dirt Band EMI America

Other top albums
Single Artist Record Label
Bill Anderson Sings for "All the Lonely Women in the World" Bill Anderson Decca
Cry Lynn Anderson Columbia
Garden Party Ricky Nelson MCA
The Hillbilly Singer Skeeter Davis RCA
If It Ain't Love and Other Great Dallas Frazier Songs Connie Smith RCA
Lonely Women Make Good Lovers Bob Luman Epic
Love Is Like a Spinning Wheel Jan Howard Decca
There's a Party Goin' On Jody Miller Epic
Two for the Show Jack Greene and Jeannie Seely Decca
Wheel of Fortune Susan Raye Capitol

Christmas albums

Births

Deaths
  • January 28 — T. Texas Tyler, 55, 1940s country star best known for "The Deck of Cards."
  • June 23 — Elton Britt, 59, 1940s country star best known for "There's a Star-Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere."
  • July 16 – Charlie Chamberlain, 61, Canadian Country Singer, who was the Male vocalist for Don Messer's Islanders from the band's inception in 1933 until shortly before his death (Heart Attack).

Country Music Hall of Fame Inductees

Major awards

Grammy Awards

Juno Awards

Academy of Country Music

Country Music Association

Further reading
  • Kingsbury, Paul, "The Grand Ole Opry: History of Country Music. 70 Years of the Songs, the Stars and the Stories," Villard Books, Random House; Opryland USA, 1995
  • Kingsbury, Paul, "Vinyl Hayride: Country Music Album Covers 1947–1989," Country Music Foundation, 2003 (ISBN 0-8118-3572-3)
  • Millard, Bob, "Country Music: 70 Years of America's Favorite Music," HarperCollins, New York, 1993 (ISBN 0-06-273244-7)
  • Whitburn, Joel, "Top Country Songs 1944–2005 – 6th Edition." 2005.

References
  1. Cooper, Daniel (2004), In The Encyclopedia of Country Music, Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0-19-517608-7
  2. "Country Music Entertainer faces suit over spanking". The Free Lance-Star, Fredericksburg, Virginia. September 19, 1972. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
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