On This Day in 1973: Elton John Dropped His Sixth Studio Album That Brought “Crocodile Rock” and “Daniel”
Photo by Los Angeles Times, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A Landmark Release
On January 26, 1973, Elton John released his sixth studio album, Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player, on DJM Records in the United Kingdom and a few days earlier in the United States. It was his second straight No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 and his first to top the U.K. Albums Chart. The record also reached No. 1 in Australia, Canada, Italy, and Norway, reflecting John’s growing global appeal.
The album was recorded in June 1972 at Château d’Hérouville in France, the same studio where John had recently made Honky Château. Producer Gus Dudgeon and engineer Ken Scott worked with John and his band to shape a sound that blended pop rock with touches of nostalgic rock ’n’ roll.
Breakout Singles
Two songs from the album became hits that helped define this era of Elton’s career. “Crocodile Rock,” released as a single before the album, became his first chart-topping hit in the United States and Canada in early 1973. The song’s look back at early rock ’n’ roll proved irresistible to listeners, and it stayed at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks.
Another standout was “Daniel,” a softer, more reflective track. It reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and climbed to No. 4 on the U.K. singles chart. The song also hit No. 1 on Canada’s RPM Top Singles chart and No. 1 on the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart, showing John’s range as a songwriter and performer.
These hits helped the album earn multi-platinum sales and kept Elton John in the spotlight as he prepared to release his next major record, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road later that year.
Making and Meaning
The record’s title comes from a phrase popularized by comedian Groucho Marx, which reportedly made John laugh and stick in his mind when naming the album. The diverse track list, featuring songs like “Teacher I Need You,” “Elderberry Wine,” and “Midnight Creeper,” also shows the productive pairing of John and lyricist Bernie Taupin, who continued to craft lyrics that fit John’s evolving musical style.
Overall, Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player stands as a key chapter in Elton John’s career, marking both commercial success and artistic growth in the early 1970s.
