Best Sellers Charts: 1972

Harry Nilsson's "Without You" tops the 1972 best sellers singles chart, and Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" tops the best sellers album chart, as published in Melody Maker, December 30, 1972.

Harry Nilsson released "Without You" in October 1971 as a single from his album Nilsson Schmilsson, on RCA Records. Originally written and recorded by Badfinger in 1970, Nilsson’s cover transformed the song into a dramatic, heart-wrenching ballad. His soaring vocals, paired with a lush arrangement featuring piano, strings, and subtle percussion, were produced by Richard Perry at Trident Studios in London. The track showcased Nilsson’s vocal range and emotional depth, turning the song into a definitive power ballad.

"Without You" hit #1 on the UK Singles Chart for five weeks and topped the US Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks in early 1972. It also reached #1 in Australia and Canada, selling over a million copies worldwide. The song’s raw emotion and Nilsson’s delivery made it a timeless classic, though it later faced tragedy with the suicides of both Badfinger writers, Pete Ham and Tom Evans.

Simon & Garfunkel released Bridge Over Troubled Water, their fifth and final studio album, in January 1970 on Columbia Records. The album, recorded in 1969 at Columbia’s New York studios with additional sessions in Los Angeles, was produced by the duo and Roy Halee. It showcases Paul Simon’s masterful songwriting and Art Garfunkel’s ethereal vocals, blending folk, rock, gospel, and pop. The title track, “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” a soaring gospel-inspired ballad, features Garfunkel’s lead vocals and Larry Knechtel’s piano, with lush orchestration. Other key tracks include “The Boxer,” “Cecilia,” and “El Condor Pasa (If I Could),” reflecting their eclectic influences.

The album 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 commercial and critical triumph, it marked the duo’s peak before their 1970 split.