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1972 in music

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Ike & Tina Turner in 1972

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1972.

Specific locations

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Specific genres

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Events

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Bands formed

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Bands disbanded

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Albums released

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January

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Day Album Artist Notes
3 The Right Combination / Burning the Midnight OilPorter Wagoner and Dolly Parton-
7 Jamming with Edward!The Rolling Stones, Nicky Hopkins, Ry Cooder-
10 I've Found Someone of My OwnThe Free MovementDebut
17 Lead Me OnConway Twitty and Loretta Lynn-
Linda RonstadtLinda Ronstadt-
20 GarciaJerry GarciaSolo Debut
24 Cass ElliotCass Elliot-
Got to Be ThereMichael JacksonSolo Debut
Paul SimonPaul Simon-
Young, Gifted and BlackAretha Franklin-
31 Let's Stay TogetherAl Green-
- Blue Öyster CultBlue Öyster CultDebut
1+1Grin-
All the Good TimesNitty Gritty Dirt Band-
AmericaAmericaDebut
Baby I'm-a Want YouBread-
FlashFlashDebut
GreenhouseLeo Kottke-
HalfnelsonSparksas Halfnelson; Debut
Hendrix in the WestJimi HendrixLive 1969–70
I'm the OneAnnette Peacock-
Into the Purple ValleyRy Cooder-
Jackson BrowneJackson BrowneDebut
Keep the FaithBlack Oak Arkansas-
Kraftwerk 2Kraftwerk-
LooseCrazy Horse-
MaloMaloDebut
Phase IIIThe Osmonds-
RockpileDave EdmundsSolo Debut
Sex, Dope, Rock'n'Roll: Teenage HeavenDaddy CoolAustralia
Solid RockThe Temptations-
The Spotlight KidCaptain Beefheart-
The UnnamablesMagmaas Univeria Zekt
Weird Scenes Inside the Gold MineThe DoorsCompilation

February

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Day Album Artist Notes
1 Something/Anything?Todd Rundgren-
8 Root DownJimmy Smith-
9 Lonesome CrowScorpionsDebut
12 Eat a PeachThe Allman Brothers Band-
15 HarvestNeil Young-
18 Manfred Mann's Earth BandManfred Mann's Earth BandDebut
18 Hellbound TrainSavoy Brown-
20 Elvis NowElvis Presley-
25 Pink MoonNick Drake-
- The World of Genius Hans Moving Gelatine Plates-
All I Ever Need Is YouSonny & Cher-
Blue RiverEric Andersen-
Border LordKris Kristofferson-
BurgersHot Tuna-
CherishDavid CassidySolo Debut
DinnertimeAlex Taylor-
Don QuixoteGordon Lightfoot-
Fanny HillFanny-
Forgotten Songs and Unsung HeroesJohn KaySolo Debut
Good Hearted WomanWaylon Jennings-
Grave New WorldStrawbs-
Greatest HitsBlood, Sweat & TearsCompilation
HeadkeeperDave Mason-
Oh How We DancedJim CapaldiSolo Debut
PainOhio Players-
Rockin'The Guess Who-
Silver PistolBrinsley Schwarz-
Tantamount to Treason Vol. 1Michael Nesmith-

March

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Day Album Artist Notes
3 Black MagicMartha Reeves and the Vandellas-
GlitterGary GlitterDebut
Thick as a BrickJethro Tull-
Music of My MindStevie Wonder-
6 Bare TreesFleetwood Mac-
10 Shades of a Blue OrphanageThin Lizzy-
Touch Your WomanDolly Parton-
21 Love Theme from "The Godfather"Andy Williams-
24 Slade Alive!SladeLive
Coming TogetherNew Birth-
30 Machine HeadDeep Purple-
- Alvin Lee and CompanyTen Years AfterCompilation
The Ballad of CalicoKenny Rogers and the First Edition-
Bobby WhitlockBobby WhitlockSolo Debut
Clube da EsquinaMilton Nascimento and Lo Borges-
Cold Blue ExcursionRay DorsetSolo Debut
D&B TogetherDelaney and Bonnie-
Drowning in the Sea of LoveJoe Simon
EnneaChase-
FeedbackSpirit-
Heads & TalesHarry ChapinDebut
Just Another Band from L.A.Frank Zappa and The MothersLive
The Killer Rocks OnJerry Lee Lewis-
The Kink KroniklesThe KinksUS; Compilation
Live Cream Volume IICreamLive 1968
PowerglideNew Riders of the Purple Sage-
Pure Prairie LeaguePure Prairie LeagueDebut
Recall the Beginning...A Journey from EdenSteve Miller Band-
RoadworkEdgar Winter's White Trash-
Shopping BagThe Partridge Family-
Smokin'Humble Pie-
Space and First TakesLee Michaels-
Stories We Could TellThe Everly Brothers-
You Are the Music...We're Just the BandTrapeze-

April

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Day Album Artist Notes
4 Rio Grande MudZZ Top-
5 Graham Nash David CrosbyCrosby & NashDebut
10 RaspberriesRaspberriesDebut
11 Mardi GrasCreedence Clearwater Revival-
12 ManassasStephen Stills and Manassas-
14 Three FriendsGentle GiantUK
20 Dr. John's GumboDr. John-
24 Number 1 RecordBig StarDebut
28 ArgusWishbone Ash-
- Matching Mole Matching MoleDebut
AnnieAnne Murray-
Arthur AlexanderArthur Alexander-
Bolan BoogieT. RexCompilation
Comin' ThruQuicksilver Messenger Service-
He Touched MeElvis Presley-
Henry the Human FlyRichard ThompsonSolo Debut
Hobo's LullabyArlo Guthrie-
The Island of RealThe Rascals-
Kossoff, Kirke, Tetsu and RabbitKossoff, Kirke, Tetsu and Rabbit-
A Lonely ManThe Chi-Lites-
Merrimack CountyTom Rush-
MoonshotBuffy Sainte-Marie-
Mountain Live: The Road Goes Ever OnMountainLive
On RecordApril Wine-
PhantasmagoriaCurved Air-
A Possible Projection of the Future / Childhood's EndAl Kooper-
Procol Harum Live: In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony OrchestraProcol HarumLive
Roberta Flack & Donny HathawayRoberta Flack and Donny Hathaway-
A Thing Called LoveJohnny Cash-
You Don't Mess Around with JimJim Croce-

May

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Day Album Artist Notes
1 Jeff Beck GroupJeff BeckUS
Still BillBill Withers-
2 Brother, Brother, BrotherThe Isley Brothers-
11 Cabbage AlleyThe Meters-
15 Carl and the Passions – "So Tough"The Beach Boys-
17 Lookin' Through the WindowsThe Jackson 5-
19 Demons and WizardsUriah Heep-
Honky ChâteauElton John-
Waterloo LilyCaravan-
22 America Eats Its YoungFunkadelic-
26 Exile on Main St.The Rolling Stones-
I Sing the Body ElectricWeather Report-
Wind of ChangePeter FramptonSolo debut
30 Live at Max's Kansas CityThe Velvet UndergroundLive 1970
UnderstandingBobby Womack-
- Live in EuropeRory Gallagher[4]
Lou ReedLou ReedSolo debut
AceBob WeirSolo debut
Bloodrock LiveBloodrockLive
ChameleonThe Four Seasons-
Colors of the DayJudy CollinsCompilation
Come from the ShadowsJoan Baez-
Floy JoyThe Supremes-
In ConcertJanis JoplinLive 1968 and 1970
Last of the Red Hot BurritosThe Flying Burrito BrothersLive
People ... Hold OnEddie Kendricks-
Roy Orbison SingsRoy Orbison-
Sail AwayRandy Newman-
Sailin' ShoesLittle Feat-
Skies of AmericaOrnette Coleman-
Tell Me This Is a DreamThe Delfonics-

June

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Day Album Artist Notes
1 Amazing GraceAretha FranklinLive
EaglesEaglesDebut
2 Obscured by CloudsPink Floyd-
Space ShantyKhanDebut
5 The Osmonds LiveThe OsmondsLive
6 Looking GlassLooking GlassDebut
9 EarthboundKing CrimsonLive
There It IsJames Brown-
10 Moon ShadowLaBelle-
12 Some Time in New York CityJohn Lennon and Yoko OnoUS
13 School's OutAlice Cooper-
A Song for YouCarpenters-
14 Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest HitsSimon & GarfunkelCompilation
15 Album IIILoudon Wainwright III-
16 Roxy MusicRoxy MusicDebut
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from MarsDavid Bowie-
TogetherGolden Earring-
20 SyreetaSyreetaDebut
23 TrilogyEmerson, Lake & Palmer-
Living in the PastJethro TullCompilation
26 CarneyLeon Russell-
- As Recorded at Madison Square GardenElvis PresleyLive
Dead Forever... BuffaloDebut
666Aphrodite's Child-
Blues RootsIke Turner-
Free at LastFree-
If an Angel Came to See You, Would You Make Her Feel at Home?Black Oak Arkansas-
Let Me Tell You About a SongMerle Haggard-

July

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Day Album Artist Notes
1 All the King's HorsesGrover Washington Jr.-
4 American GothicDavid Ackles-
5 Waka/JawakaFrank Zappa-
7 The Harder They ComeJimmy CliffSoundtrack
10 Chicago VChicago-
Son of SchmilssonHarry Nilsson-
11 Super FlyCurtis MayfieldSoundtrack
20 Long John SilverJefferson Airplane-
Straight ShooterJames Gang-
21 I Can See Clearly NowJohnny Nash-
Never a Dull MomentRod Stewart-
The SliderT. Rex-
27 All DirectionsThe Temptations-
Flying High TogetherSmokey Robinson & The Miracles-
– Seven Separate FoolsThree Dog Night-
Toulouse StreetThe Doobie Brothers-
The Academy in PerilJohn Cale-
Captain BeyondCaptain BeyondDebut
Feel GoodIke & Tina Turner-
ExercisesNazareth-
FoghatFoghatDebut
Music Is the MessageKool & the Gang-
Saint Dominic's PreviewVan Morrison-
MoodsNeil Diamond-
Someplace Else NowLesley Gore-
SparksSparksDebut under final name

August

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Day Album Artist Notes
1 Back StabbersThe O'Jays-
2 Jazz at Santa Monica Civic '72Ella FitzgeraldLive
4 BenMichael Jackson-
7 America: A 200-Year Salute in Story and SongJohnny Cash-
15 Full CircleThe Doors-
Rock of AgesThe BandLive
25 Everybody's in Show-BizThe KinksDouble LP; one studio, one live
Harold Melvin & the Blue NotesHarold Melvin & the Blue NotesDebut
28 'Ot 'n' SweatyCactus-
31 StyxStyxDebut
- ElfElfDebut
And the Hits Just Keep on Comin'Michael Nesmith-
Free WillGil Scott-Heron-
IrrlichtKlaus SchulzeDebut
Live at the ParamountThe Guess WhoLive
Roy BuchananRoy Buchanan-
Smokin' O.P.'sBob Seger-
ZeitTangerine Dream-

September

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Day Album Artist Notes
8 Close to the EdgeYes[5]
All the Young DudesMott the Hoople-
9 Summer BreezeSeals and Crofts-
10 Liza with a ZLiza MinnelliSoundtrack
11 Together AlwaysPorter Wagoner and Dolly Parton-
15 FoxtrotGenesis-
Below the SaltSteeleye Span-
PhoenixGrand Funk Railroad-
Rocky Mountain HighJohn Denver-
25 Vol. 4Black Sabbath-
26 Live Full HouseThe J. Geils BandLive
27 Catch Bull at FourCat Stevens-
29 Glorified MagnifiedManfred Mann's Earth Band-
- At Home with Their Greatest HitsThe Partridge FamilyCompilation
BandstandFamily-
Bright PhoebusLal and Mike Waterson-
Give It UpBonnie Raitt-
Ladies Love OutlawsWaylon Jennings-
The Late Great Townes Van ZandtTownes Van Zandt-
My TimeBoz Scaggs-
Nervous on the RoadBrinsley Schwarz-
Rolling ThunderMickey HartSolo debut
SandySandy Denny-
Solomon's SealPentangle-
SquawkBudgie-
Tequila SunriseDavid Clayton-Thomas-

October

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Day Album Artist Notes
2 My Favorite Songwriter: Porter WagonerDolly Parton-
4 Willie RemembersRare Earth-
9 Heavy CreamCreamCompilation
11 CaravanseraiSantana-
On the CornerMiles Davis-
23 I'm Still in Love with YouAl Green-
25 A Good Feelin' to KnowPoco-
27 Talking BookStevie Wonder-
- Matching Mole's Little Red Record Matching Mole
War HeroesJimi Hendrix-
At Crooked LakeCrazy Horse-
Back to FrontGilbert O'Sullivan-
BarnstormJoe WalshDebut
Music Is My LifeBilly Preston-
Crazy HorsesThe Osmonds-
Bustin' OutPure Prairie League-
Clear SpotCaptain Beefheart-
ExpectationsKeith Jarrett-
Glen Travis CampbellGlen Campbell-
Greetings from L.A.Tim Buckley-
Guitar ManBread-
Lady Sings the BluesDiana RossSoundtrack
The Lady's Not for SaleRita Coolidge-
Last Days and TimeEarth, Wind & Fire-
Live Concert at the ForumBarbra StreisandLive
Loggins and MessinaLoggins and Messina-
The London Chuck Berry SessionsChuck Berry-
Made in EnglandAtomic Rooster-
The MoviegoerScott Walker-
New BloodBlood, Sweat & Tears-
Passin' ThruJames Gang-
Rhymes & ReasonsCarole King-
Rock & Roll Music to the WorldTen Years After-
Round 2The Stylistics-
Sniper and Other Love SongsHarry Chapin-
Stealers WheelStealers WheelDebut
To Whom It May ConcernBee Gees-
Who Came FirstPete TownshendSolo debut
A Woofer in Tweeter's ClothingSparksUS

November

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Day Album Artist Notes
1 Burning Love and Hits from His Movies, Volume 2Elvis PresleyCompilation
One Man DogJames Taylor-
3 Whistle RymesJohn Entwistle-
5 Europe '72Grateful DeadLive
7 The Divine Miss MBette Midler-
Journey Through the PastNeil YoungSoundtrack
8 TransformerLou Reed-
10 Baby James HarvestBarclay James Harvest-
The Best of The Byrds: Greatest Hits, Volume IIThe ByrdsCompilation
See All Her FacesDusty Springfield-
13 FreshRaspberries-
15 HomecomingAmerica-
17 Seventh SojournThe Moody Blues-
20 Get on the Good FootJames Brown-
24 Doremi Fasol LatidoHawkwind-
27 Garden PartyRicky Nelson-
- Slayed?Slade-
Boomer's StoryRy Cooder-
Can't Buy a ThrillSteely DanDebut
Don McLeanDon McLean-
Ege BamyasiCan-
Focus 3Focus-
RomanyThe Hollies-
EnnismoreColin Blunstone-
For the RosesJoni Mitchell-
Free to Be... You and MeMarlo Thomas & Friends-
Good TimesKool & the Gang-
International SuperstarJohnny CashCompilation
Jesus Was a CapricornKris Kristofferson-
Joe CockerJoe Cocker-
The Johnny Cash Family ChristmasJohnny CashChristmas
Killer JoeLittle Jimmy Osmond-
Life Goes OnPaul Williams-
The Magician's BirthdayUriah Heep-
No SecretsCarly Simon-
Not till TomorrowRalph McTell-
Old Dan's RecordsGordon Lightfoot-
PassageBloodrock-
The Partridge Family NotebookThe Partridge Family-
Smokestack LightningMike Harrison-
The Supremes Produced and Arranged by Jimmy WebbThe Supremes-
They Only Come Out at NightEdgar Winter Group-
Whatever's for UsJoan Armatrading-
Why DontchaWest, Bruce and Laing-
The World Is a GhettoWar-

December

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Day Album Artist Notes
1 OctopusGentle GiantUK
Separate WaysElvis PresleyCompilation
4 ReallyJJ Cale-
8 Trouble ManMarvin GayeSoundtrack
9 Hot August NightNeil DiamondLive
11 More Hot Rocks (Big Hits & Fazed Cookies)The Rolling StonesCompilation
15 PiledriverStatus Quo-
22 Made in JapanDeep PurpleLive
- Across 110th StreetBobby Womack and J.J. JohnsonSoundtrack
Azteca AztecaDebut
The Grand WazooFrank Zappa-
Gypsy CowboyNew Riders of the Purple Sage-
It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad)Merle Haggard-
Lady LakeGnidrolog-
PleasureOhio Players-
R.E.O./T.W.O.REO Speedwagon-
The Sweet's Biggest HitsSweetCompilation
Who's Gonna Play This Old Piano?Jerry Lee Lewis-

Release date unknown

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Biggest hit singles

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The following songs achieved the highest chart positions in the charts of 1972.

# Artist Title Year Country Chart Entries
1Don McLean"American Pie"1972United StatesUS Billboard 1 for 19 weeks, Canada RPM 1 for 5 weeks, New Zealand 1 for 3 weeks, Australia 1 for 5 weeks, UK 2 for 16 weeks
2Harry Nilsson"Without You"1972United StatesUK 1 for 20 weeks, Australia 1 for 5 weeks, US Billboard 1 for 19 weeks, New Zealand 1 for 2 weeks
3Hot Butter"Popcorn"1972United StatesHolland 1 for 15 weeks, France 1 for 5 weeks, Switzerland 1 for 17 weeks, Norway 1 for 20 weeks, Germany 1 for 5 months, UK 5 for 19 weeks, US Billboard 9 for 18 weeks
4Neil Young"Heart of Gold"1972CanadaUS Billboard 1 for 14 weeks, Canada 1 for 12 weeks, France 2 for 8 weeks, Norway 4 for 11 weeks, Germany 4 for 4 months,
5The Moody Blues"Nights in White Satin"1972United StatesUS Billboard 2 for 18 weeks, Canada 2 for 12 weeks, France 1 for 9 weeks, Holland 2 for 14 weeks,

Top 40 Chart hit singles

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Alice Cooper in 1972
The Carpenters in 1972
Song title Artist(s) Release date(s) US UK Highest chart position Other Chart Performance(s)
"10538 Overture"Electric Light OrchestraJune 1972n/a99 (United Kingdom)24 (Netherlands [Dutch Top 40])
"A Cowboy's Work Is Never Done"Sonny & CherFebruary 19728n/a3 (Canada)See chart entry performance
"A Horse with No Name"AmericaJanuary 1972131 (Canada, Finland, United States)See chart performance entry
"Ain't Understanding Mellow"Jerry Butler and Brenda Lee EagerJanuary 197021n/a21 (United States)3 (U.S. Billboard Best Selling Soul Singles)
"All the Young Dudes"Mott the HoopleJuly 19723733 (United Kingdom)4 (Ireland) - 13 (New Zealand) - 31 (Canada) - 32 (U.S. Record World) - 34 (U.S. Cash Box Top 100)
"Alone Again (Naturally)"Gilbert O'SullivanFebruary 1972131 (Canada, France, United States)See chart performance entry
"Amazing Grace"Pipes and Drums and Military Band of the Royal Scots Dragoon GuardsApril 1972n/a11 (Australia, Canada, Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom)n/a
"America"Simon & GarfunkelJuly 1972972525 (United Kingdom)n/a
"American Pie"Don McLeanJanuary 1972121 (Australia, Canada, New Zealand)See chart performance entry [1971 single release overlapped into 1972]
"Anticipation"Carly SimonJanuary 197213n/a9 (Canada)3 (U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary) - 10 (U.S. Cash Box Top 100) - 64 (Australia)
"Baby Blue"BadfingerMarch 197214n/a3 (Malaysia)7 (Canada) - 9 (New Zealand, U.S. Cash Box Top 100) - 12 (U.S. Record World Top 100) - 14 (Sweden) - 16 (Australia) - 18 (South Africa) - 30 (West Germany)

Other Chart hit singles

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Notable singles

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Song title Artist(s) Release date(s) Other Chart Performance(s)
"Starman"David BowieApril 1972See chart performance entry

Other Notable singles

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Other notable songs (world)

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Classical music

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Opera

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Jazz

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Musical theater

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Musical films

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Musical television productions

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Births

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Deaths

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Awards

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Grammy Awards

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Eurovision Song Contest

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References

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  1. ↑ Woodmansey, Mick (2016). Spider from Mars: My Life with Bowie. London: Pan Macmillan. p. 300. ISBN 978-0-283-07274-1.
  2. ↑ "1971 Grammy Award Winners". Grammy.com. Retrieved May 1, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Edinburgh 1972 – Scoreboard". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on April 9, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Live! In Europe". Rorygallagher.com. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Close To The Edge (1972)". Forgotten-yesterdays.com. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  6. ↑ Osborne, Jerry (2003). Movie/TV soundtracks & original cast recordings price & reference guide. Port Townsend, WA: Osborne Enterprises. p. 1982. ISBN 9780932117373.
  7. ↑ Jha, Subhash (2006). The essential guide to Bollywood. New Delhi: Lustre Press Roli Books. p. 51. ISBN 9788174363787.
  8. ↑ "長沼英樹 (Hideki Naganuma)". Genius. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  9. ↑ Enrique Iturriaga (2001). "González Gamarra, Francisco". Grove Music Online. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.45211.