53 Years Ago Today: Elton John’s “Crocodile Rock” Hits #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100
Photo by Heinrich Klaffs, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Elton John Reaches New Heights
On February 3, 1973, Elton John scored his first #1 hit in the United States with the single “Crocodile Rock.” The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks and was a pre-release from his upcoming album Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player. Recorded at the Château d’Hérouville studio in France, known as the Honky Château, the track highlighted Elton’s flair for blending nostalgia with energetic pop-rock sounds.
The song is dominated by a Farfisa organ played by Elton himself. He performed all the vocals, including falsetto backing parts. Reflecting on the track years later, John admitted, “Of course it’s a rip-off, it’s derivative in every sense of the word.” Despite this, the song captured the public’s imagination and became one of the defining hits of his career.
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Musical Influences and Nostalgia
“Crocodile Rock” draws heavily from late 1950s and early 1960s music. Influences include Del Shannon’s 1962 hit “Cry Myself to Sleep” and “Little Darlin’,” recorded in 1957 by The Diamonds and The Gladiolas. The lyrics also nod to Bill Haley & His Comets’ “Rock Around the Clock”, referencing the carefree spirit of teenage life in early rock ‘n’ roll: “While the other kids were rocking around the clock…”
Lyricist Bernie Taupin described the song as lighthearted and fun. He said it was “a funny song in that he didn’t mind creating it, but it wouldn’t be something he’d listen to; it was simply something fun at the time.” The playful energy of the track, combined with Elton’s catchy hooks, made it a favorite among fans across the globe.
Controversy and Legal Issues
In 1974, the song became the subject of a lawsuit in the US District Court of Los Angeles. Attorney Donald Barnett, representing Buddy Kaye, the composer of “Speedy Gonzales,” claimed that John and Taupin had illegally used chords from the 1962 track to create the falsetto effect in “Crocodile Rock.” The dispute was later settled out of court, and the case was dismissed.
Despite the legal challenges, “Crocodile Rock” has endured as one of Elton John’s most iconic songs. Its blend of nostalgia, humor, and rock energy set the stage for his future hits and cemented his reputation as a major force in the pop-rock world.
The song remains a vivid snapshot of the early 1970s, celebrating the joy and innocence of early rock while establishing Elton John as a major international star.
