Country Music Flashback, Highlights of 1972
Biggest Number One Song, My Hang-Up Is You (Freddie Hart), 6 weeks at No. 1
Events
- Merle Haggard is pardoned by California Gov. Ronald Reagan
- Mel Street makes his chart debut with “Borrowed Angel”
- Don Gibson charts his final No. 1 single, Woman, Sensuous Woman
- Jerry Wallace charts his only No. 1 single, If You Leave Me Tonight
Deaths
- T. Texas Tyler (6/ 20/1916 ~ 1/28/1972),Best known for Deck of Cards
- Elton Britt (6 27/1913 ~ 6/22/1972), Best known for Star-Spangled Banner
Country Music Association Awards
- Entertainer of the Year ~ Loretta Lynn
- Male Vocalist of the Year ~ Charley Pride
- Female Vocalist of the Year ~ Loretta Lynn
- Song of the Year ~ "Easy Loving," Freddie Hart”
- Single of the Year ~ "The Happiest Girl in the WholeUSA," Donna Fargo
- Album of the Year ~ “Let Me Tell You About a Song,” Merle Haggard
- Vocal Duo of the Year ~ Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn
- Vocal Group of the Year ~ The Statler Brothers
- Hall of Fame Induction ~ Jimmie Davis
Academy of Country Music
- Entertainer of the Year ~ Roy Clar
- Top Male Vocalist ~ Merle Haggard
- Top Female Vocalist ~ Donna Fargo
- Top Vocal Group ~ The Statler Brothers
- Top New Male Vocalist ~ Johnny Rodriguez
- Top New Female Vocalist ~ Tanya Tucker
- Song of the Year, Single of the Year, Album of the Year (The Happiest Girl in the WholeUSA, Donna Fargo
Grammy Award: Best Country Song ~ Kiss an Angel Good Morning, Charley Pride
About Freddie Hart: Singer/songwriter Hart had been knocking aboutNashvillefor nearly 20 years, chalking up some hits as a songwriter and charting a few minor hits himself, without achieving major success. During that period he recorded for Capitol,Columbiaand Kapp. But it seemed like he came out of nowhere when he rose to top the country charts in 1971 with his gold No. 1 single, "Easy Loving.“ Hart followed it with three more number one singles in 1972.
Since Freddie was nearly 45 years old by the time he hit it big, he figured to have a relatively short shelf life at the top, although he continued to record throughout the 1970s and charted moderate hits into the 1980s. His final top-20 single, “Sure Thing” (No. 15, 1980), was on the Sunbird label. Freddie is in his mid-80s and hasn’t been an active performer in recent years. RJB: 9/2010
About My Hang Up Is You:
- Capital LP: My Hang Up is You, ST-11014 (2/1971)
- Capital Single: 3261 (1972)
- Writer: Freddie Hart
- Producer: Earl Ball
