📰 Tipped for the Charts – Singles Review : Jan. 1972
- glamslam72
- Jan 8, 1972
- 2 min read
A New Musical Express singles‑preview column by Derek Johnson, spotlighting key early‑’72 releases expected to make chart impact. The page paired a prominent David Bowie photograph with concise, commercially minded assessments of new singles from Stevie Wonder, the Fortunes, David Bowie and Jefferson Airplane.
Publication: New Musical Express
Date: January 8, 1972
Format: One‑page singles preview
Writer: Derek Johnson
A moment of pre‑glam anticipation, Motown strength and early‑’70s crossover momentum.
📰 Key Highlights
• Stevie Wonder’s “If You Really Love Me” positioned as a natural chart‑bound single
• Fortunes’ “Storm in a Teacup” praised for its bright, brassy pop appeal
• David Bowie’s “Changes” highlighted as a strong, creative performance with impact potential
• Jefferson Airplane’s “Pretty As You Feel” noted for relaxed melody and instrumental warmth
• Bowie visually foregrounded as an emerging figure “establishing himself on the world scene”
📰 Overview
This page captures the UK pop landscape at the very start of 1972 — a moment when Motown, polished British pop and the first stirrings of Bowie’s mainstream breakthrough coexisted. Derek Johnson’s column delivered brisk, confident verdicts aimed at predicting chart movement, reflecting NME’s role as an early‑year tastemaker. The presence of Bowie’s photograph signalled his rising profile just ahead of the *Ziggy Stardust* era.
📰 Source Details
Publication / Venue: New Musical Express
Date: January 8, 1972
Format: One‑page singles preview
Provenance Notes: Based on the original NME “Tipped for the Charts” column.
📰 The Story
The reviews highlight:
• Stevie Wonder’s growing creative independence and strong Motown momentum
• The Fortunes’ shift to a new songwriting team (Lynsey de Paul & Ron Roker)
• Bowie’s increasing artistic confidence leading into his 1972 breakthrough
• NME’s recognition of American West Coast influences via Jefferson Airplane
• A transitional moment between late‑’60s pop and the glam‑rock explosion to come
The tone is brisk, commercial and forward‑looking — a critic identifying the week’s likely climbers.
📰 Visual Archive
📰 Closing Notes
A crisp early‑year snapshot, this NME page stands as a record of the artists and sounds poised to shape the UK charts as 1972 began.
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