#1 at KRIZ/Phoenix: “Summer Breeze,” first big hit for Seals & Crofts and the title track from the #2 album. So much to talk about this week, including several chart quirks…
With the presidential election (Richard Nixon vs. George McGovern) a few weeks away, the novelty record “Convention ’72” by the Delegates zooms to #2. It’s a parody of TV interviews with political newsmakers featuring snippets from popular songs of the day. Also in the novelty vein: “My Ding-A-Ling” (#20), recorded live in London by one of rock & roll’s founders, Chuck Berry. Ironically, this silly ditty would become his highest charting single.
At #3 is the biggest single that never was, Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway To Heaven.” Even though it didn’t chart on the official Billboard Hot 100 because it was an album track only, it was a huge Top 40 radio hit.
The Moody Blues’ “Nights in White Satin” (down to #11) was first released as a single in 1967 but resurfaced in 1972 to become the group’s biggest hit. The second time around, most radio stations played the 7-minute-plus album version, complete with poetry and that iconic gong undoubtedly inspired by the final chord in the Beatles’ “A Day In Life,” which was released a few months earlier. The song also propels the five-year-old LP, Days Of Future Passed, to #5 this week.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s “From The Beginning” (#6) was a much bigger hit in Phoenix than it was nationally at the time — though frequent airplay in later years on classic rock radio would turn it into a familiar staple. It’s from the album Trilogy (#9 on this KRIZ list).
The Raspberries’ “Go All The Way” (#19) may sound familiar to younger generations thanks to the 2014 movie Guardians of the Galaxy. It was a leading example of the emerging genre of power pop, pioneered by Big Star, whose first album was released earlier in the year.
After years of being a successful songwriter, arranger and sideman on so many ’60s hits, Leon Russell scores his first big solo smash with “Tight Rope” (#26).
Following a long career as a teen idol on TV and in music, Rick Nelson embraced country-rock with his Stone Canyon Band. His final major hit, “Garden Party” (#7), famously complains about an audience that didn’t appreciate his newer “adult” music during a 1971 Madison Square Garden concert, a show that also featured … Chuck Berry.
We didn’t even get to important hits this week by Johnny Nash, the Eagles, Three Dog Night, Elvis Presley, Doobie Brothers … and many more.