4x Life

One month in pop history, every week.

It’s April, 1972

Written by

Thomas Scovell

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It’s feeling a little like summer in October, 2025 so let’s take the win and tune our ears back to the sounds of April, 1972…

Songs of the month

  • “A Cowboy’s Work Is Never Done” – Sonny And Cher
  • “A Horse With No Name” – America
  • “Ain’t Understanding Mellow” – Jerry Bulter And Brenda Lee Eager
  • [new] “Baby Blue” – Badfinger
  • [new] “Back Off Boogaloo” – Ringo Starr
  • “Bang A Gong (Get It On)” – T. Rex
  • “Betcha By Golly Wow” – Stylistics
  • “Crazy Mama” – J.J. Cale
  • [new] “Day Dreaming” – Aretha Franklin
  • [new] “Do Your Thing” – Isaac Hayes
  • [new] “Doctor My Eyes” – Jackson Browne
  • “Down By The Lazy River” – Osmonds
  • [new] “Every Day Of My Life” – Bobby Vinton
  • “Everything I Own” – Bread
  • [new] “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” – Roberta Flack
  • [new] “Give Ireland Back To The Irish” – Wings
  • “Heart Of Gold” – Neil Young
  • [new] “Hot Rod Lincoln” – Commander Cody & Lost Planet Airmen
  • “I Gotcha” – Joe Tex
  • [new] “I’ll Take You There” – Staple Singers
  • “In The Rain” – Dramatics
  • [new] “Jump Into The Fire” – Nilsson
  • “Jungle Fever” – Chakachas
  • [new] “Look What You’ve Done For Me” – Al Green
  • [new] “Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard” – Paul Simon
  • [new] “Morning Has Broken” – Cat Stevens
  • “Mother And Child Reunion” – Paul Simon
  • [new] “Oh Girl” – Chi-Lites
  • “Precious And Few” – Climax
  • “Puppy Love” – Donny Osmond
  • “Rock N Roll Lullaby” – B.J. Thomas
  • “Rockin’ Robin” – Michael Jackson
  • “Roundabout” – Yes
  • [new] “Run Run Run” – Jo Jo Gunne
  • “Runnin’ Away” – Sly And The Family Stone
  • [new] “Slippin’ Into Darkness” – War
  • [new] “Suavecito” – Malo
  • [new] “Take A Look Around” – Temptations
  • [new] “Taurus” – Dennis Coffey
  • [new] “The Candy Man” – Sammy Davis Jr.
  • [new] “The Day I Found Myself” – Honey Cone
  • [new] “The Family Of Man” – Three Dog Night
  • “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” – Roberta Flack
  • “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” – Robert John
  • “The Way Of Love” – Cher
  • [new] “Vincent” – Don Mclean
  • “We’ve Got To Get It On Again” – Addrisi Brothers
  • “Without You” – Nilsson

[new] = New to the chart this week.

You can listen to the full playlist on Youtube via this link.

This month in history

On the third Silent film legend Charlie Chaplin returned to the United States after more than 20 years of self-imposed exile over “political differences” with the USA. “The Little Tramp” had been invited back for an honorary award at the Academy Awards.

On the 21st American astronauts John W. Young and Charles Duke became the ninth and tenth people to walk on the Moon, after the lunar module Orion had landed as part of the Apollo 16 mission. The mission was the only one to the lunar highlands, near the Descartes crater.

On the 25th Photographs that developed “right before your eyes” with the launch of the Polaroid SX-70 film and camera. Previously “instant” cameras had required significant work, like coating images with a liquid to develop them, whereas the new model ejected pictures that developed with no intervention within minutes.

What’d Sadie think?

3 weeks at the top for newcomer “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” by Roberta Flack and then a week for the Chi-Lites with “Oh Girl”.

Loved ’em

  • “Day Dreaming” – Aretha Franklin
  • “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” – Roberta Flack
  • “I’ll Take You There” – Staple Singers
  • “Morning Has Broken” – Cat Stevens
  • “Oh Girl” – Chi-Lites

Liked ’em

  • “Baby Blue” – Badfinger
  • “Back Off Boogaloo” – Ringo Starr
  • “Do Your Thing” – Isaac Hayes
  • “Doctor My Eyes” – Jackson Browne
  • “Give Ireland Back To The Irish” – Wings
  • “Jump Into The Fire” – Nilsson
  • “Look What You’ve Done For Me” – Al Green
  • “Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard” – Paul Simon
  • “Run Run Run” – Jo Jo Gunne
  • “Slippin’ Into Darkness” – War
  • “Suavecito” – Malo
  • “Take A Look Around” – Temptations
  • “Taurus” – Dennis Coffey
  • “The Candy Man” – Sammy Davis Jr.
  • “The Day I Found Myself” – Honey Cone
  • “The Family Of Man” – Three Dog Night
  • “Vincent” – Don Mclean

Leave ’em

  • “Everyday Of My Life” – Bobby Vinton
  • “Hot Rod Lincoln” – Commander Cody & Lost Planet Airmen

Now go listen to the full playlist on Youtube via this link.

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