Rock Chronicles Japan Vol. 1 (1968-1980), a CD Journal Mook published by Ongaku Shuppan Sha in 1999, is subtitled, “Know the Japanese rock era via 50 people and 333 albums. ” The book comprises brief articles, interviews, lists of important acts and capsule reviews of albums organized by year.
Here are the essential albums of the year 1972, presented in Japanese order, preserving the romanization of artists’ names as they were printed in the original publication. Note that some romanizations are unconventional (some may be typos). Romanization of album titles, unless printed in roman letters in the original, are mine. (Please leave corrections in the comment field.) Links go to Wikipedia articles in English and Japanese. *=available on U.S. streaming platforms (as of 2021).
Ikuta Keitaro + Max: Kono kurai jiki nimo [生田敬太郎:この暗い時期にも] (reviewed by TF–see link to full list of capsule review writers below)
Agata Morio: Otome no Roman [あがた森魚:乙女の儚夢（ロマン）] (WK)
Izumiya Shigeru: Shunka Shuto [泉谷しげる:春夏秋冬] (OT)
Itsuwa Mayumi: Shōjo [五輪真弓:少女] (NK) *
The M [エム:エムI] (YM)
Kuni Kawachi: Boku no koe ga kikoeru kai [クニ河内:僕の声が聞こえるかい] (TF)
Ohtaki Eiichi [大瀧 詠一] (OT2)
Kanenobu Sachiko: Misora [金延幸子:み空](YM) *
Saito Tetsuo: Kimi wa eiyū nanka ja nai [斉藤哲夫:君は英雄なんかじゃない] (TF)
Shiba: Aoi Sora no Hi [シバ:青い空の日] (IQ)
Gypsy Blood: Rokkō Oroshi [ジプシー・ブラッド:ろっこうおろし] (MH)
Shiro, Bread & Butter: Moonlight [シロー、ブレッド＆バター:ムーンライト] (YS)
Zunokeisatsu: 2nd Album [頭脳警察:セカンド] (YS)
Sugita Jiro: Apartment 1109 [杉田二郎:アパートメント1109] (TF)
Speed, Glue & Shinki [スピード・グルー＆シンキ] (WK) *
Segawa Hiroshi: Pierrot [瀬川洋:ピエロ] (IQ)
Takaishi Tomoya & The Natasha Seven [高石ともやとザ・ナターシャ・セブン] (NH)
Takada Wataru: Keizu [高田渡:系図](ST2)
The Dylan II: Kinō no omoide ni wakare o tsugerunda mono [ザ・ディランII:きのうの思い出に別れをつげるんだもの](MH)
Tulip: Yellow Magical Shoes [チューリップ:魔法の黄色い靴] (IQ)
Terauchi Takeshi & Blue Jeans: Rashōmon [寺内タケシとブルージーンズ:羅生門] (YM)
Tomobe Masato: Osaka e yatte kita [友部正人:大阪へやって来た] (ST2)
Nagira Kenichi: Mannendoko [なぎらけんいち:万年床] (NH) *
Nishioka Kyozo: Dylan ni-te [西岡恭蔵:ディランにて] (NH)
Neko [猫](SY)
Nozawa Kyoji: Hakuchūmu [野沢享司:白昼夢] (MH)
Furuido: Furuido no Sekai [古井戸:古井戸の世界] (TF)
Flied Egg: Dr. Siegel’s Fried Egg Shooting Machine [フライド・エッグ:ドクター・シーゲルのフライド・エッグ・マシーン] (IQ) *
Musashinotanpopodan: Musashi no tanpopo dan no densetsu [武蔵野タンポポ団:武蔵野タンポポ団の伝説] (ST2)
Yamauchi Tetsu: TETSU [山内テツ:TETSU] (MH) *
Yamahira Kazuhiko: Hōsō kinshi uta.[山平和彦:放送禁止歌] (TF)
Yoshida Takuro: Genki desu. [吉田拓郎:元気です。] (WK)
Ranmado [乱魔堂] (ST2)
Rashomon: Indian, Shi yorimo aka wo erabu [羅生門:インディアン、死よりも赤を選ぶ] (YM)
Rokumonsen: King Salmon no iru shima [六文銭:キングサーモンのいる島] (NK)
Various Artists: ’72 Haru Ichiban Concert Live [’72春一番コンサート・ライヴ](ST2)
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