📰 71’s Best Selling Albums & Singles – Chart : Jan. 1972

A comprehensive double-page chart roundup lists the biggest-selling albums and singles of 1971 in the UK, with Simon & Garfunkel’s *Bridge Over Troubled Water* at No. 1, followed closely by Rod Stewart’s *Every Picture Tells a Story* and the Rolling Stones’ *Sticky Fingers*.

The singles chart is headed by George Harrison’s “My Sweet Lord,” with Rod Stewart’s “Maggie May” at No. 2 and Middle of the Road’s “Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep” at No. 3, illustrating the diverse mix of rock, folk, and pop dominating the year.

This January 1, 1972 Sounds chart summary serves as a definitive snapshot of British popular music at the close of 1971, capturing the commercial peak of glam’s early stirrings alongside established acts and one-off hits.

🗞 Sounds

📅 Date: January 1, 1972

⏱ Length: 5 min read

📰 Key Highlights

• *Bridge Over Troubled Water* by Simon & Garfunkel named the year’s top-selling album

• Rod Stewart’s *Every Picture Tells a Story* and the Rolling Stones’ *Sticky Fingers* in the top three

• George Harrison’s “My Sweet Lord” tops the singles chart

• Rod Stewart’s “Maggie May” at No. 2 and Middle of the Road’s “Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep” at No. 3

• Strong showings for T. Rex (“Get It On”), Slade, and Tamla Motown compilations

📰 Overview

Published in the January 1, 1972 issue of Sounds, this chart feature summarises the best-selling albums and singles of 1971 in the UK. Compiled from British Market Research Bureau/Record Retailer data, it reflects the commercial landscape at the end of a year that saw the rise of glam rock alongside enduring folk-rock and pop successes.

📰 Source Details

Publication / Venue: Sounds

Date: January 1, 1972

Format: Year-end chart summary

Provenance Notes: Verified directly from the preserved magazine pages; double-page layout with bold “71’s BEST SELLING” headlines and cleanly tabulated lists.

📰 The Story

The album chart is led by Simon & Garfunkel’s *Bridge Over Troubled Water*, with Rod Stewart’s *Every Picture Tells a Story* in second place and the Rolling Stones’ *Sticky Fingers* in third. Tamla Motown compilations and various artists collections feature prominently, while T. Rex’s *Electric Warrior* sits at No. 6, signalling the growing commercial weight of glam.

On the singles side, George Harrison’s “My Sweet Lord” is the year’s biggest seller, followed by Rod Stewart’s “Maggie May” and Middle of the Road’s “Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep.” T. Rex’s “Get It On” makes the top 10, and Slade, Sweet, and other emerging glam acts also appear, illustrating the shift toward louder, more theatrical pop.

📰 Visual Archive

Clean, text-heavy double-page chart layout with bold black headers “71’s BEST SELLING ALBUMS” and “71’s BEST SELLING SINGLES.” No photographs, focusing entirely on ranked lists supplied by the British Market Research Bureau/Record Retailer.

Caption: Sounds magazine year-end chart summary for 1971’s best-selling albums and singles, January 1, 1972.

📰 Related Material

See tabs at foot of page

📰 Closing Notes

This January 1972 Sounds chart roundup provides a clear commercial snapshot of British music at the dawn of the glam era. It shows Rod Stewart and T. Rex rising rapidly while established names like Simon & Garfunkel and the Rolling Stones still dominated sales, perfectly illustrating the blend of old and new that defined 1971.

#1971Charts #RodStewart #TRex #SoundsMagazine #GlamRock #BritishPop

📝 Copyright Notice

All magazine scans, photographs, and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.

Simon & Garfunkel released Bridge Over Troubled Water, their fifth and final studio album, in January 1970 on Columbia Records. Recorded in 1969 primarily at Columbia’s New York studios, with additional sessions in Los Angeles, it was produced by Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel, and Roy Halee. The album blends folk, rock, gospel, and pop, showcasing Simon’s poignant songwriting and Garfunkel’s soaring vocals. The title track, a gospel-inspired ballad with Larry Knechtel’s piano and lush orchestration, became an instant classic. Other key tracks include “The Boxer” (#7 US), “Cecilia” (#4 US), and “El Condor Pasa (If I Could)” (#18 US), reflecting their diverse influences.

It topped the UK Albums Chart for 33 non-consecutive weeks and the US Billboard 200 for 10 weeks, selling over 25 million copies worldwide by 2025. The single “Bridge Over Troubled Water” hit #1 in the UK for three weeks and the US for six weeks, earning six Grammys, including Album of the Year. A critical and commercial triumph, it marked the duo’s peak before their 1970 breakup.

George Harrison released "My Sweet Lord" in November 1970 as the lead single from his landmark triple album All Things Must Pass. Written during his post-Beatles spiritual awakening, the song blends devotional lyrics with a catchy, uplifting melody, reflecting Harrison’s exploration of Hinduism and Christianity. Produced by Harrison and Phil Spector, it features Harrison’s slide guitar, lush orchestration, and backing vocals by the Edwin Hawkins Singers. The track’s iconic Wall of Sound production gives it a rich, anthemic quality.

Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, it showcased contributions from musicians like Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, and Billy Preston. "My Sweet Lord" became a global smash, hitting #1 on the UK Singles Chart for five weeks and topping the US Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks in early 1971. It was the first solo single by a Beatle to reach #1 in the UK and sold millions worldwide. Despite its success, the song faced a lawsuit for its similarity to The Chiffons’ "He’s So Fine," settled out of court.