Machine Head album out now…?

So, when was Machine Head released in Britain then? Postings elsewhere on the web to the effect that March 1st marked the release caused some response, so I thought we’d see what we could add to the story.
The DTB archives have a copy of an internal EMI memo dated March 13. which clearly gives a release date of Thursday, March 30. At the time most major labels (some budget labels ignored this as they were not eligible for the album charts) had settled on Thursday as the main release day for new full-price albums. The reason was to make sure of maximum sales prior to the compilation of the album charts, including the very important Saturday sales.
The chart figures were usually dated for week ending on the following Saturday. Obviously there was some delay in collecting sales figures, which I think were still entered on chart return sheets manually at the time and posted in.
Machine Head first entered the UK album chart on (week ending) April 15. 1972. This fits the pattern of a two week gap between album release dates and first chart entry (Nigel Young has checked others and they match this pattern). So I think we can confirm the 30th as release day.
On the April 15. album charts Machine Head debuted as a new release at number 4. It reached the number 1 spot the following week. It stayed there for two weeks, dropping to number 2 on May 6. replaced by (of all things) a rerelease of two old Tyrannosaurus Rex albums back to back. EMI reissue department’s triumph was short lived though, and Machine Head was back at number 1 the next week (though overall EMI won either way as they also owned the old T. Rex catalogue). From there it was a slow downward trend overall, with the album last placed at 44 in October having been going back up for a time thanks to the effect of the September UK tour.
At the time the album charts were important and fans took a certain pride I think in seeing bands they admired up there, though for the general public the singles charts probably had more resonance and certainly more publicity.
Shown above is the first news about the album appended to a longer press release, and below the famous French chart entry – three singles and the album! See the original UK full page press advert on the site here.