from the album Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player
B-side
"Elderberry Wine"
Released
UK: 27 October 1972
US: 20 November 1972
Recorded
June 1972
Studio
Château d'Hérouville (France)
Genre
Rock and roll[1]
glam rock[2]
pop rock[2]
Length
3:56 (album version, US 45 version)
3:23 (single version)
Label
DJM (UK)
MCA (US)
Songwriter(s)
Elton John
Bernie Taupin
Producer(s)
Gus Dudgeon
Elton John singles chronology
"Honky Cat" (1972)
"Crocodile Rock" (1972)
"Daniel" (1973)
"Crocodile Rock" is a song written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, and recorded in summer 1972 at the Château d'Hérouville studio in France (it was listed as "Strawberry Studios" in the album's credits), where John and his team had previously recorded the Honky Château album. It was released on 27 October 1972 in the UK and 20 November 1972 in the U.S., as a pre-release single from his forthcoming 1973 album Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player, and became his first U.S. number-one single, reaching the top spot on 3 February 1973, and staying there for three consecutive weeks. In the U.S., it was certified Gold on 5 February 1973 and Platinum on 13 September 1995 by the RIAA.[3]
In Canada, it topped the chart as well, remaining at number one on the RPM 100 national singles chart for four weeks from 17 February through 10 March. It was the first song released as a single on the MCA label (catalogue #40000) after MCA was created (John had previously been with the Uni label.)[4]
"Crocodile Rock" is dominated by a Farfisa organ, played by John. The lyrics take a nostalgic look at early rock 'n' roll, pop culture, dating and youthful independence of that era. John's band members, including Davey Johnstone on guitars, Dee Murray on bass and Nigel Olsson on drums, were also performers on the song. John, however, did all the vocals, including the falsetto backing vocals.
^Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player – Elton John | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 August 2019. 'Daniel' is a moving ballad and 'Crocodile Rock' is a sly take on '50s rock & roll – the album is slightly uneven.
^ abGuarisco, Donald A. "Elton John Crocodile Rock". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
^Dean, Maury (2003). Rock N' Roll Gold Rush. Algora. p. 46. ISBN 0-87586-207-1.
^"Crocodile Rock". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 19 March 2009.
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