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January 20, 1972

January 20, 1972, was a Thursday. It was 52 years, 11 months, and 4 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Aquarius.

Song charts

Top songs

These songs were on top of the music charts in the United States and the United Kingdom on January 20, 1972:

  • United States: "American Pie" by Don McLean
  • United Kingdom: "I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing" by New Seekers

The Billboard Hot 100 on January 20, 1972

These songs were dominating the music charts:

  • American Pie (Parts I & II) - Don McLean
  • Brand New Key - Melanie
  • Let's Stay Together - Al Green
  • Sunshine - Jonathan Edwards
  • Family Affair - Sly & The Family Stone
Play the top songs from 1972
A Spotify playlist of songs from 1972. Take a trip back to the days of Elton John, Lou Reed, Al Green and Don McLean.
Diamonds Are Forever

Top movie

The top movie on this day was "Diamonds Are Forever".

Facts

This date was 19,332 days ago. Approximately 644 months have passed. It was the 20th day of 1972, in week 03. The decade was the seventies. People born on this day are currently 52 years old and belong to the Generation X generation. 1972 had 366 days because it was a leap year. 215 seasons of weather have come and gone since then.

Take me back to January 20, 1972

Let's take a walk down memory lane.

It is Thursday, January 20, 1972. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Aquarius. The holiday season of 1971 seems like a distant memory. New year's resolutions are already being abandoned, and many are eagerly awaiting their first paycheck after Christmas

In America, the song "American Pie" by Don McLean is at the top of the singles charts, while "I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing" by New Seekers is the number-one song in the UK. Richard Nixon is the President of the United States, and the movie Diamonds Are Forever is at the top of the box office. Edward Heath is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

In fashion, the hippie look from the 1960s is still popular. Clothing items such as tie dye shirts, bell-bottoms, midi skirts, gauchos and Mexican blouses are being worn by women. Meanwhile, men are wearing dark satin shirts, ethnic-looking tunics, bell bottom jeans, tweed sports jackets and turtlenecks. It's 1972, so radio stations are playing songs from artists such as Don McLean, Harry Nilsson, Hot Butter, Neil Young, The Moody Blues, Roberta Flack, Bill Withers and Johnny Nash. If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as J. Edgar Hoover, Jackie Robinson, Janet Munro, and Harry S. Truman would all still be alive.

On TV, people are watching popular shows such as "Gunsmoke", "Medical Center", "The Odd Couple", and "The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour". Children and teenagers are watching television shows such as "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!", "Josie and the Pussycats", "Groovie Goolies", and "The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show". Popular toys at the moment include Lite-Brite, Crissy (doll), VertiBird (toy helicopter), and Uno (card game).

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on January 20, 1972, will have the star sign Aquarius.
  • Zodiac Element: Air.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1972 was the year of the Rat (Yang Wood).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 4.
  • Native American Zodiac: January 20, 1972 falls under the Otter.
  • Birthstone: A person during the month of January will have the birthstone Garnet.
  • Birth flower (January): The Carnation and the Snowdrop.
News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on January 20, 1972.

  • Music cassette tapes are becoming popular.

    Music cassette tapes are becoming popular

    Audio cassettes started becoming widespread from about 1972 onward. Although they lacked the sound quality of vinyl records, they were far more convenient and portable.
  • Color TV surpasses black-and-white.

    Color TV surpasses black-and-white

    Sales of color TV sets were beginning to surpass sales of the older black-and-white models. By this stage, almost all of the popular daytime networks were broadcasting in color.
  • The US is winding down its involvement in the Vietnam War.

    The US is winding down its involvement in the Vietnam War

    During 1972, the war in Vietnam was still ongoing. However, the US had greatly reduced their presence in the country. Between 1971 and 1972, the number of US troops in Vietnam fell from 156,800 to 24,200. Instead of keeping soldiers on the ground, the US shifted its focus to providing air support while negotiators in Paris tried to hammer out a peace agreement.
  • Who were the best NBA players in 1972?

    Who were the best NBA players in 1972?

    The best NBA players in 1972 were Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, John Havlicek, Spencer Haywood, Jerry West and Walt Frazier.
  • Best soccer players.

    Best soccer players

    In 1972, the best soccer players were Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Müller, Günter Netzer, Johan Cruyff, Piet Keizer, Kazimierz Deyna, Gordon Banks, Barry Hulshoff, Włodzimierz Lubański and Bobby Moore.
  • The Godfather.

    The Godfather

    "The Godfather" won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1972.
  • Roberta Flack - "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"

    Roberta Flack - "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"

    "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" by Roberta Flack would go on to win a Grammy for 1972's Song of the Year.
  • 1972 in movies.

    1972 in movies

    Movies released in 1972 included The Godfather, The Poseidon Adventure, "What's Up, Doc?", Behind the Green Door, Deliverance, Super Fly, Cabaret, The Getaway, Fritz the Cat, The Legend of Boggy Creek, Jeremiah Johnson, Blacula and Silent Running.
  • Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger.

    Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger

    US President Richard Nixon and his National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger were both named Time Person of the Year in 1972. Nixon and Kissinger had made history by traveling to China to "open up a dialogue."
  • 1972 in music.

    1972 in music

    The Billboard Charts in 1972 were dominated by Don McLean, Roberta Flack, Gilbert O'Sullivan, America, Joe Tex, Looking Glass and Al Green.
  • Have a nice day!

    Have a nice day!

    The smiley face and phrases such as "Have a nice day!" and "Have a happy day!" were being plastered onto t-shirts, mugs, and badges.
  • Bell-bottoms.

    Bell-bottoms

    Bell-bottoms (flares) were in fashion.
  • Wallpaper.

    Wallpaper

    Wallpaper was extremely common in people's homes throughout the 1970s and 1980s. It wasn't until the mid-late 1980s that "modernism" started to creep in.
  • Office workers are using typewriters.

    Office workers are using typewriters

    Although personal computers began to emerge during the 1970s, typewriters were still the norm for most office workers.
  • The Volkswagen Beetle.

    The Volkswagen Beetle

    The Volkswagen Beetle was one of the most common cars on the road. Sales of the vehicle increased following the release of the 1968 film The Love Bug (and its subsequent spin-offs).
  • The Hippie movement.

    The Hippie movement

    The hippie counterculture reached its peak during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The movement, which sprung up in opposition to the Vietnam War, was centered around peace, psychedelic music, sexual liberation, bright colors, and drugs such as LSD and marijuana.
  • Lava lamps are all the rage.

    Lava lamps are all the rage

    Sales of lava lamps increased in the late 1960s. It wasn't until the second half of the 1970s that they started to go out of fashion.
  • The afro hairstyle is at its peak in popularity.

    The afro hairstyle is at its peak in popularity

    The afro hairstyle took off during the 1960s and early 1970s. Public figures such as Angela Davis, Pam Grier, Jimi Hendrix, and the Jackson 5 were among those who sported the style.
  • The push-button telephone.

    The push-button telephone

    Push-button telephones were beginning to replace the older rotary-style landlines.

Personality traits

Check out our personality summary for people who were born on January 20, 1972.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

View Personality Summary

Events

What happened around this time?

Notable events that happened close to January 20, 1972.

  • December 23, 1971:
    • Jimmy Hoffa is released from prison after serving five years for jury tampering and wire fraud.
    • The action-thriller film "Dirty Harry" is released in movie theaters.
  • December 25, 1971: 158 people are killed when a fire breaks out at a hotel in South Korea.
  • December 27, 1971: The last episode of the sitcom "Nanny and the Professor" is aired on TV.
  • December 31, 1971: American actor Pete Duel dies of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
  • January 4, 1972: The first scientific hand-held calculator is released.
  • January 7, 1972: 104 people are killed when Iberia Airlines Flight 602 crashes into the island of Ibiza.
  • January 14, 1972: The sitcom "Sanford and Son" makes its debut on NBC.
  • January 16, 1972: Super Bowl VI: The Dallas Cowboys defeat the Miami Dolphins at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans.
  • January 17, 1972: Seven Provisional IRA members escape from the prison ship HMS Maidstone in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
  • This date: January 20, 1972
  • January 24, 1972:
    • Japanese soldier Shoichi Yokoi is discovered after having spent 28 years living in a jungle in Guam.
    • Michael Jackson releases his debut solo album "Got to Be There".
  • January 26, 1972: Yugoslavian flight attendant Vesna Vulovic survives a 10,160 meter fall after a bomb explodes on JAT Flight 367.
  • January 27, 1972: New York police officers Gregory Foster and Rocco Laurie are murdered by the Black Liberation Army.
  • January 30, 1972: The Bloody Sunday incident occurs in Northern Ireland when 13 unarmed civilians are shot dead by British soldiers.
  • February 2, 1972:
    • The British Embassy in Dublin is burned to the ground.
    • Stanley Kubrick's dystopian crime film "A Clockwork Orange" is released in movie theaters.
  • February 7, 1972: Elton John releases the single "Tiny Dancer".

1970s fashion

Photographs of 1970s fashion and hairstyles.

1970s fashion

Television shows

TV series on January 20, 1972

People in January 1972 were watching the following TV series:

TV shows from January 1972.

Emergency!
Emergency!
Sanford and Son
Sanford and Son
Upstairs, Downstairs
Upstairs, Downstairs
Soul Train
Soul Train
McMillan & Wife
McMillan & Wife
The Persuaders!
The Persuaders!
The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
The Two Ronnies
The Two Ronnies
All in the Family
All in the Family
Alias Smith and Jones
Alias Smith and Jones
The Partridge Family
The Partridge Family
The Odd Couple
The Odd Couple

Cars in 1972

1972 saw the introduction of cars such as the Honda Civic, the Chevrolet LUV, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the BMW 5 Series, the Ford Thunderbird (sixth generation), and the Renault 5.

Cars in 1972.

Children TV shows

Kids TV shows on January 20, 1972

Cartoons and TV shows that children and teenagers were watching on this day in 1972:

The Electric Company
The Electric Company
Help!... It's the Hair Bear Bunch!
Help!... It's the Hair Bear Bunch!
Archie's TV Funnies
Archie's TV Funnies

The Funky Phantom
The Funky Phantom
The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show
The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show
All in the Family
All in the Family
Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Groovie Goolies
Groovie Goolies
Josie and the Pussycats
Josie and the Pussycats
The Clangers
The Clangers
Sesame Street
Sesame Street
Toys

Popular toys and games in 1972

Toys and games that were popular in 1972:

Big Jim (action figure)
Big Jim (action figure)
Uno (card game)
Uno (card game)
The Rock Flowers dolls
The Rock Flowers dolls
Weebles
Weebles
VertiBird (toy helicopter)
VertiBird (toy helicopter)
G.I. Joe Adventure Team
G.I. Joe Adventure Team
Nerf Balls
Nerf Balls
Frisbee
Frisbee
Crissy (doll)
Crissy (doll)
Clackers
Clackers
Battleship (game)
Battleship (game)
Lite-Brite
Lite-Brite

Were you born on January 20, 1972?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 1972.

This is because humans find it difficult to retrieve memories of their early childhood.

If you are looking for some childhood nostalgia, then you should check out January 20, 1978, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on January 20.

Jeffrey Epstein

Jeffrey Epstein

Financier Deceased
Born on January 20, 1953
He turned 19 on this day in 1972.

Bill Maher

Bill Maher

Talkshow host
Born on January 20, 1956
He turned 16 on this day in 1972.

James Denton

James Denton

Actor
Born on January 20, 1963
He turned 9 on this day in 1972.

Rainn Wilson

Rainn Wilson

Actor
Born on January 20, 1966
He turned 6 on this day in 1972.

Nicky Wire

Nicky Wire

Manic Street Preachers
Born on January 20, 1969
He turned 3 on this day in 1972.

Gary Barlow

Gary Barlow

Singer
Born on January 20, 1971
He turned 1 on this day in 1972.

Evan Peters

Evan Peters

Actor
Born on January 20, 1987
He was born exactly 15 years after this date.

Blueface

Blueface

Rapper
Born on January 20, 1997
He was born exactly 25 years after this date.

USA

US President

Richard Nixon was the President of the United States on January 20, 1972.

UK

UK Prime Minister

Edward Heath was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Ireland

Irish Taoiseach

Jack Lynch was the Taoiseach of Ireland.

Conception

Conception dates

Conception estimates for this date.

  • A baby that was born on January 20, 1972 was most likely conceived around April 29, 1971.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on January 20, 1972 is close to October 12, 1972.

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Stats for January 20, 1972

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about January 20, 1972:

  • 19,332 days have passed since this date.
  • 2,761 weeks have passed.
  • 1,670,284,800 seconds have passed since January 20, 1972.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,948,665,600 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 861,866,956,800 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 278,380,800 times.
  • You have taken approximately 143,644,493 steps. That's roughly 63,842 miles.
  • 20,043,418 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1972?

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