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42 Albums That Turn 50 in 2022

These 42 albums that turn 50 in 2021 are a testament to how awesome the year 1972 was for rock. A bunch of landmark albums came out that year from…

UMG/Reprise//UMG/Parlophone/

These 42 albums that turn 50 in 2021 are a testament to how awesome the year 1972 was for rock.

A bunch of landmark albums came out that year from the likes of The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Elton John, The Allman Brothers Band, Lou Reed, Black Sabbath and many more.

Scroll through the gallery below to see which albums turn 50 in 2022.

The Rolling Stones - ‘Exile on Main St.’

Rolling-Stones_UMG.jpgUMG

Released on May 12, 1972.


David Bowie - ‘The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars’

Bowie_Parlophone.jpgParlophone

Released on June 16, 1972.


The Rolling Stones - ‘Exile on Main St.’

Rolling-Stones_UMG.jpgUMG

Released on May 12, 1972.


Yes - ‘Close to the Edge’

yes_Atlantic.jpgAtlantic

Released on September 13, 1972.


David Bowie - ‘The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars’

Bowie_Parlophone.jpgParlophone

Released on June 16, 1972.


Deep Purple - ‘Machine Head’

deep-purple_UMG.jpgUMG

Released on March 25, 1972.


Elton John - ‘Honky Chateau’

elton-john_UMG.jpgUMG

Released on May 19, 1972.


Yes - ‘Close to the Edge’

yes_Atlantic.jpgAtlantic

Released on September 13, 1972.


Neil Young - ‘Harvest’

Neil-Young_Reprise.jpgReprise

Released on February 1, 1972.


Deep Purple - ‘Machine Head’

deep-purple_UMG.jpgUMG

Released on March 25, 1972.


The Allman Brothers Band - ‘Eat a Peach’

Allman-Brothers_Capricorn.jpgCapricorn

Released on February 12, 1972.


Elton John - ‘Honky Chateau’

elton-john_UMG.jpgUMG

Released on May 19, 1972.


Jethro Tull - ‘Thick as a Brick’

Jethro-Tull_Parlophone.jpgParlophone

Released on March 10, 1972.


Neil Young - ‘Harvest’

Neil-Young_Reprise.jpgReprise

Released on February 1, 1972.


Todd Rundgren - ‘Something/Anything?’

Todd-Rundgren_Bearsville.jpgBearsville

Released on February 1, 1972.


The Allman Brothers Band - ‘Eat a Peach’

Allman-Brothers_Capricorn.jpgCapricorn

Released on February 12, 1972.


Steely Dan - ‘Can’t Buy a Thrill’

Steely-Dan_UMG.jpgUMG

Released in November 1972.


Jethro Tull - ‘Thick as a Brick’

Jethro-Tull_Parlophone.jpgParlophone

Released on March 10, 1972.


Black Sabbath - ‘Vol. 4’

Sabbath_UMG.jpgUMG

Released on September 25, 1972.


Lou Reed - ‘Transformer’

Lou-Reed_RCA.jpgRCA

Released on November 8, 1972.


Todd Rundgren - ‘Something/Anything?’

Todd-Rundgren_Bearsville.jpgBearsville

Released on February 1, 1972.


Big Star - ‘#1 Record’

Big-Star_Ardent.jpgArdent

Released in August 1972.


Steely Dan - ‘Can’t Buy a Thrill’

Steely-Dan_UMG.jpgUMG

Released in November 1972.


Mott the Hoople - ‘All the Young Dudes’

mott_Sony-Legacy.jpgSony Legacy

Released on September 8, 1972.


Black Sabbath - ‘Vol. 4’

Sabbath_UMG.jpgUMG

Released on September 25, 1972.


Chicago - ‘Chicago V’

Chicago_Rhino-Records.jpgRhino Records

Released on July 10, 1972.


Lou Reed - ‘Transformer’

Lou-Reed_RCA.jpgRCA

Released on November 8, 1972.


Alice Cooper - ‘School’s Out’

Alice_Warner-Bros.jpgWarner Bros

Released in June 1972.


Big Star - ‘#1 Record’

Big-Star_Ardent.jpgArdent

Released in August 1972.


Curtis Mayfield - ‘Super Fly’

Curtis_WMG.jpgWMG

Released on July 11, 1972.


Mott the Hoople - ‘All the Young Dudes’

mott_Sony-Legacy.jpgSony Legacy

Released on September 8, 1972.


Randy Newman - ‘Sail Away’

Randy-Newman_Rhino.jpgRhino

Released on May 23, 1972.


Chicago - ‘Chicago V’

Chicago_Rhino-Records.jpgRhino Records

Released on July 10, 1972.


T. Rex - ‘The Slider’

trex_Reprise.jpgReprise

Released on July 21, 1972.


Alice Cooper - ‘School’s Out’

Alice_Warner-Bros.jpgWarner Bros

Released in June 1972.


Bob Seger - ‘Smokin’ O.P.’s’

Seger_Capitol.jpgCapitol

Released in August 1972.


Curtis Mayfield - ‘Super Fly’

Curtis_WMG.jpgWMG

Released on July 11, 1972.


Stevie Wonder - ‘Music of My Mind’

Stevie-Wonder_Tamla.jpgTamla

Released on March 3, 1972.


Randy Newman - ‘Sail Away’

Randy-Newman_Rhino.jpgRhino

Released on May 23, 1972.


Jackson Browne - ‘Jackson Browne’

jackson-browne_Asylum.jpgAsylum

Released on January 10, 1972.


T. Rex - ‘The Slider’

trex_Reprise.jpgReprise

Released on July 21, 1972.


Bette Midler - ‘The Divine Miss M’

Bette-Midler_Atlantic.jpgAtlantic

Released on November 7, 1972.


Bob Seger - ‘Smokin’ O.P.’s’

Seger_Capitol.jpgCapitol

Released in August 1972.


Joni Mitchell - ‘For the Roses’

Joni_AM.jpgA&M

Released in October 1972.


Stevie Wonder - ‘Music of My Mind’

Stevie-Wonder_Tamla.jpgTamla

Released on March 3, 1972.


Rod Stewart - ‘Never a Dull Moment’

Rod-Stewart_Mercury.jpgMercury

Released on July 21, 1972.


Jackson Browne - ‘Jackson Browne’

jackson-browne_Asylum.jpgAsylum

Released on January 10, 1972.


Pink Floyd - ‘Obscured By Clouds’

Pink-Floyd_Harvest.jpgHarvest

Released on June 2, 1972.


Bette Midler - ‘The Divine Miss M’

Bette-Midler_Atlantic.jpgAtlantic

Released on November 7, 1972.


Argent - ‘All Together Now’

Argent_Esoteric.jpgEsoteric

Released in July 1972.


Joni Mitchell - ‘For the Roses’

Joni_AM.jpgA&M

Released in October 1972.


Thin Lizzy - ‘Shades of a Blue Orphanage’

Thin-Lizzy_Decca.jpgDecca

Released on March 10, 1972.


Rod Stewart - ‘Never a Dull Moment’

Rod-Stewart_Mercury.jpgMercury

Released on July 21, 1972.


Peter Frampton - ‘Wind of Change’

Peter-Frampton_AM.jpgAM

Released in July 1972.


Pink Floyd - ‘Obscured By Clouds’

Pink-Floyd_Harvest.jpgHarvest

Released on June 2, 1972.


Cat Stevens - ‘Catch Bull at Four’

Cat-Stevens_UMG.jpgUMG

Released on September 27, 1972.


Argent - ‘All Together Now’

Argent_Esoteric.jpgEsoteric

Released in July 1972.


Roxy Music - ‘Roxy Music’

Roxy-Music_Virgin.jpgVirgin

Released on June 16, 1972.


Thin Lizzy - ‘Shades of a Blue Orphanage’

Thin-Lizzy_Decca.jpgDecca

Released on March 10, 1972.


Styx - ‘Styx’

Styx_Sony.jpgSony

Released in March 1972.


Peter Frampton - ‘Wind of Change’

Peter-Frampton_AM.jpgAM

Released in July 1972.


ZZ Top - ‘Rio Grande Mud’

zz_London-Recordings.jpgLondon Recordings

Released on April 4, 1972.


Cat Stevens - ‘Catch Bull at Four’

Cat-Stevens_UMG.jpgUMG

Released on September 27, 1972.


Genesis - ‘Foxtrot'

Genesis_UMG.jpgUMG

Released on October 6, 1972.


Roxy Music - ‘Roxy Music’

Roxy-Music_Virgin.jpgVirgin

Released on June 16, 1972.


Paul Simon - ‘Paul Simon’

Paul-Simon_Sony.jpgSony

Released on January 24, 1972.


Dr. John - ‘Dr. John’s Gumbo’

Dr-john_Atco-Records.jpgAtco Records

Released on April 20, 1972


Styx - ‘Styx’

Styx_Sony.jpgSony

Released in March 1972.


Deep Purple - ‘Made in Japan’

deep-purple_Warner-Bros.jpgWarner Bros

Released on December 8, 1972.


ZZ Top - ‘Rio Grande Mud’

zz_London-Recordings.jpgLondon Recordings

Released on April 4, 1972.


The Doobie Brothers - ‘Toulouse Street’

Doobie_Warner-Bros.jpgWarner Bros

Released on July 1, 1972.


Genesis - ‘Foxtrot'

Genesis_UMG.jpgUMG

Released on October 6, 1972.


Eagles - ‘Eagles’

Eagles_Asylum.jpgAsylum

Released on June 1, 1972.


Paul Simon - ‘Paul Simon’

Paul-Simon_Sony.jpgSony

Released on January 24, 1972.


Aretha Franklin - ‘Young, Gifted and Black’

Aretha_Atlantic.jpgAtlantic

Released on January 24, 1972.


Dr. John - ‘Dr. John’s Gumbo’

Dr-john_Atco-Records.jpgAtco Records

Released on April 20, 1972


Jim Croce - ‘You Don’t Mess Around with Jim’

Jim-Croce_BMG.jpgBMG

Released in April 1972.


Deep Purple - ‘Made in Japan’

deep-purple_Warner-Bros.jpgWarner Bros

Released on December 8, 1972.


Al Green - ‘Let’s Stay Together’

Al-Green_Fat-Possum.jpgFat Possum

Released on January 31, 1972.


The Doobie Brothers - ‘Toulouse Street’

Doobie_Warner-Bros.jpgWarner Bros

Released on July 1, 1972.


Eagles - ‘Eagles’

Eagles_Asylum.jpgAsylum

Released on June 1, 1972.


Aretha Franklin - ‘Young, Gifted and Black’

Aretha_Atlantic.jpgAtlantic

Released on January 24, 1972.


Jim Croce - ‘You Don’t Mess Around with Jim’

Jim-Croce_BMG.jpgBMG

Released in April 1972.


Al Green - ‘Let’s Stay Together’

Al-Green_Fat-Possum.jpgFat Possum

Released on January 31, 1972.

Erica Banas is a news blogger who's been covering the rock/classic rock world since 2014. The coolest event she's ever covered in person was the 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. (Sir Paul McCartney inducting Foo Fighters? C'mon now!) She's also well-versed in etiquette and extraordinarily nice. #TransRightsAreHumanRights