Best-selling albums of 1972

According to the BSA Ranking, the best-selling album released in 1972 is Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits by SIMON & GARFUNKEL, with over 18.2 million copies sold. The sales figures throughout this ranking include physical album sales as well as digital track downloads and audio and video streaming, converted into album-equivalent units using industry-standard formulas. For more information, see the certification criteria used in different countries.

★ Highlights:
Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits by SIMON & GARFUNKEL leads both the compilation and group categories among albums released in 1972.
HARVEST by NEIL YOUNG ranks first in both the male solo and studio categories among 1972 releases, with over 7.5 million copies sold.
The best-selling live album released in 1972 is ELVIS AS RECORDED AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN by ELVIS PRESLEY, with over 3.06 million copies sold.
The most successful debut album released in 1972 is THEY ONLY COME OUT AT NIGHT by EDGAR WINTER, with over 2.2 million copies sold.
AMAZING GRACE by ARETHA FRANKLIN is the best-selling female solo album released in 1972, with over 2 million copies sold.
SUPER FLY by CURTIS MAYFIELD is the best-selling soundtrack album released in 1972, with over 2 million copies sold.

Please note that this ranking reflects the cumulative sales of albums released in 1972, from their original release to date. It does not represent the best-selling albums during the calendar year itself. For annual worldwide best-seller lists, see the IFPI Global Album Charts, published since 2001.

№	Album	Total Sales	BSA Ranking
1	Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits SIMON & GARFUNKEL 1972	18,230,092	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 1 11 50
2	HARVEST NEIL YOUNG 1972	7,508,000	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 2 42 339
3	THE BEST OF BREAD BREAD 1972	5,060,000	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 3 80 709
4	A SONG FOR YOU CARPENTERS 1972	3,101,740	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 4 155 1,381
5	ELVIS AS RECORDED AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN ELVIS PRESLEY 1972	3,065,420	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 5 166 1,437
6	HOT AUGUST NIGHT NEIL DIAMOND 1972	2,990,000	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 6 179 1,557
7	MACHINE HEAD DEEP PURPLE 1972	2,500,000	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 7 199 1,802
8	THEY ONLY COME OUT AT NIGHT EDGAR WINTER 1972	2,200,000	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 8 228 2,145
9	CHICAGO V CHICAGO 1972	2,184,000	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 9 230 2,166
10	BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS GREATEST HITS BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS 1972	2,133,580	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 10 240 2,243
11	BIG BAMBU CHEECH & CHONG 1972	2,100,000	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 11 259 2,389
12	CREEDENCE GOLD CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL 1972	2,099,660	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 12 261 2,397
13	MADE IN JAPAN DEEP PURPLE 1972	2,081,000	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 13 265 2,413
14	BURNING LOVE AND HITS FROM HIS MOVIES, VOLUME 2 ELVIS PRESLEY 1972	2,021,750	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 14 293 2,573
15	AMAZING GRACE ARETHA FRANKLIN 1972	2,000,000	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 15 323 2,817
16	SUPER FLY (SOUNDTRACK) CURTIS MAYFIELD 1972	2,000,000	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 16 324 2,818
17	ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH JOHN DENVER 1972	2,000,000	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 17 325 2,819
18	THE JOHNNY CASH PORTRAIT/HIS GREATEST HITS, VOL. 2 JOHNNY CASH 1972	2,000,000	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 18 326 2,820
19	SUMMER BREEZE SEALS & CROFTS 1972	2,000,000	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 19 327 2,821
20	THE WORLD IS A GHETTO WAR 1972	1,800,000	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 20 334 3,003
21	TALKING BOOK STEVIE WONDER 1972	1,717,213	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 21 342 3,080
22	CLOSE TO THE EDGE YES 1972	1,475,687	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 22 370 3,455
23	EXILE ON MAIN STREET THE ROLLING STONES 1972	1,457,330	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 23 371 3,478
24	VOL 4 BLACK SABBATH 1972	1,236,530	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 24 413 3,941
25	NO SECRETS CARLY SIMON 1972	1,205,770	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 25 424 4,025
26	THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST AND THE SPIDERS FROM MARS DAVID BOWIE 1972	1,161,159	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 26 449 4,310
27	CARAVANSERAI SANTANA 1972	1,150,000	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 27 461 4,406
28	CARLOS SANTANA & BUDDY MILES 'LIVE' SANTANA & BUDDY MILES 1972	1,150,000	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 28 462 4,407
29	PAUL SIMON PAUL SIMON 1972	1,119,720	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 29 476 4,530
30	КАК ПРЕКРАСЕН МИР ДАВИД ТУХМАНОВ (DAVID TUKHMANOV) 1972	1,106,970	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 30 492 4,619
31	HOMECOMING AMERICA 1972	1,101,000	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 31 497 4,631
32	THE DIVINE MISS M BETTE MIDLER 1972	1,100,000	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 32 522 4,841
33	CAN'T BUY A THRILL STEELY DAN 1972	1,100,000	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 33 523 4,842
34	EAGLES EAGLES 1972	1,094,666	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 34 530 4,871
35	HONKY CHATEAU ELTON JOHN 1972	1,086,260	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 35 535 4,890
36	MARDI GRAS CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL 1972	1,075,860	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 36 541 4,948
37	ALL-TIME GREATEST HITS JOHNNY MATHIS 1972	1,060,000	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 37 566 5,115
38	DUELING BANJOS/DELIVERANCE SOUNDTRACK 1972	1,060,000	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 38 567 5,116
39	ALL TIME GREATEST HITS OF ROY ORBISON - VOL. I ROY ORBISON 1972	1,034,300	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 39 604 5,467
40	RHYMES & REASONS CAROLE KING 1972	1,024,890	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 40 607 5,506
41	CATCH BULL AT FOUR CAT STEVENS (YUSUF ISLAM) 1972	1,006,390	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 41 619 5,602
42	EAT A PEACH ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND 1972	1,002,740	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 42 623 5,619
43	I'M STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU AL GREEN 1972	1,000,000	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 43 742 6,772
44	LET'S STAY TOGETHER AL GREEN 1972	1,000,000	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 44 743 6,773
45	SCHOOL'S OUT ALICE COOPER 1972	1,000,000	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 45 744 6,774
46	LIVE IN CONCERT AT THE FORUM BARBRA STREISAND 1972	1,000,000	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 46 745 6,775
47	HOME FREE DAN FOGELBERG 1972	1,000,000	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 47 746 6,776
48	THE HAPPIEST GIRL IN THE WHOLE U.S.A. DONNA FARGO 1972	1,000,000	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 48 747 6,777
49	ELVIS SINGS HITS FROM HIS MOVIES, VOL. 1 ELVIS PRESLEY 1972	1,000,000	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 49 748 6,778
50	HE TOUCHED ME ELVIS PRESLEY 1972	1,000,000	Rank in 1972 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 50 749 6,779

1972 albums ranked by sales