LOONEY TOONS

It's time to put together the 1972 puzzle, but it's not going to be a lot of fun. Last year wasn't what you'd call a Killer Year for Rock'n"Roll, unless you were very, very much involved with black music. That's where all the action is, again, and except for little pockets — Bette Midler, Rod Stewart and always the Rolling Stones — we're gonna have tp live with it.

Of course, most of the really great black music was on singles, although Stevie Wonder, Ann Peebles, Denise LaSalle, the O'Jays and most of all Curtis Mayfield all made really fine albums. Which is more than can be said for most white rock groups. Exile On Main Street, Rock of Ages, Never A Dull Moment and then your pick is as good as everyone else's and just as personal. (The unique thing about those three albums, incidentally, is that almost everyone underestimated them when they came out; I think they'll keep on growing, too.)