1972

The following is a list of the number-one singles (main sides only) in the U.S. in 1972, based on a comparison between its three main charts at the time, from Billboard, Cash Box and Record World magazines. 
Issue date 	Song 	Artist(s)
January 1 	"American Pie" 	Don McLean
January 8 	"American Pie" 	Don McLean
January 15 	"American Pie" 	Don McLean
January 22 	"American Pie" 	Don McLean
January 29 	"American Pie" 	Don McLean
February 5 	"American Pie" 	Don McLean
February 12 	"Let's Stay Together" 	Al Green
February 19 	"Without You" 	Nilsson
February 26 	"Without You" 	Nilsson
March 4 	"Without You" 	Nilsson
March 11 	"Without You" 	Nilsson
March 18 	"Heart of Gold" 	Neil Young
March 25 	"A Horse with No Name" 	America
April 1 	"A Horse with No Name" 	America
April 8 	"A Horse with No Name" 	America
April 15 	"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"	Roberta Flack
April 22 	"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"	Roberta Flack
April 29 	"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"	Roberta Flack
May 6 	"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"	Roberta Flack
May 13 	"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"	Roberta Flack
May 20 	"I'll Take You There" 	The Staple Singers
May 27 	"Oh Girl" 	The Chi-Lites
June 3 	"Oh Girl" 	The Chi-Lites
June 10 	"The Candy Man" 	Sammy Davis, Jr.
June 17 	"The Candy Man" 	Sammy Davis, Jr.
June 24 	"Song Sung Blue" 	Neil Diamond
July 1 	"Song Sung Blue" 	Neil Diamond
July 8 	"Outa-Space" 	Billy Preston
July 15 	"Lean on Me" 	Bill Withers
July 22 	"Lean on Me" 	Bill Withers
July 29 	"Too Late to Turn Back Now" 	Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose
August 5 	"Alone Again (Naturally)" 	Gilbert O'Sullivan
August 12 	"Alone Again (Naturally)" 	Gilbert O'Sullivan
August 19 	"Alone Again (Naturally)" 	Gilbert O'Sullivan
August 26 	"Alone Again (Naturally)" 	Gilbert O'Sullivan
September 2 	"Alone Again (Naturally)" 	Gilbert O'Sullivan
September 9 	"Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress)" 	The Hollies
September 16	"Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress)" 	The Hollies
September 23	"Baby, Don't Get Hooked on Me" 	Mac Davis
September 30	"Black & White" 	Three Dog Night
October 7 	"Black & White" 	Three Dog Night
October 14 	"Everybody Plays the Fool" 	The Main Ingredient
October 21 	"My Ding-a-Ling" 	Chuck Berry
October 28 	"My Ding-a-Ling" 	Chuck Berry
November 4 	"Nights in White Satin" 	The Moody Blues
November 11 	"I Can See Clearly Now" 	Johnny Nash
November 18 	"I Can See Clearly Now" 	Johnny Nash
November 25 	"I'll Be Around" 	The Spinners
December 2 	"I'd Love You to Want Me" 	Lobo
December 9 	"I Am Woman" 	Helen Reddy
December 16 	"I Am Woman" 	Helen Reddy
December 23 	"Me and Mrs. Jones" 	Billy Paul
December 30 	"Me and Mrs. Jones" 	Billy Paul