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Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player

November 29, 2023

Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player is the sixth studio album by English musician Elton John.[7] Released in January 1973 by DJM Records, it was the first of two studio albums he released in 1973 (the second was Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, released nine months later), and was his second straight No. 1 album in the US and first No. 1 album in the UK.

Don't Shoot Me
I'm Only the Piano Player
Studio album by
Elton John
Released26 January 1973
Recorded10-19 June 1972
StudioChâteau d'Hérouville, Hérouville, France; mixed at Trident, London
GenrePop rock[1]
Length43:05
LabelMCA (US), DJM (UK)
ProducerGus Dudgeon
Elton John chronology
Honky Château
(1972) 		Don't Shoot Me
I'm Only the Piano Player
(1973) 		Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
(1973)
Singles from Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player
  1. "Crocodile Rock"/"Elderberry Wine"
    Released: 27 October 1972
  2. "Daniel"
    Released: 20 January 1973
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Christgau's Record GuideC+[3]
Rolling Stone(favourable)[4]
The Daily VaultB+[5]
Tom Hull – on the WebB[6]

The lead single "Crocodile Rock" yielded John his first No. 1 single in both the US and Canada.[8] "Daniel" was also a major hit from the album, giving him his second Canadian No. 1 single on the RPM Top Singles Chart[9] and No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reaching No. 4 in the UK, one place higher than achieved by "Crocodile Rock".

Background edit

The album was recorded in France, at Château d'Hérouville, also known at the time as "Strawberry Studios", which was how the studio was credited in the album's sleeve; Honky Château, the previous Elton John album, had been recorded there.[10]

The album featured horns arranged by producer Gus Dudgeon on "Elderberry Wine" (the B-side to "Crocodile Rock"), "Midnight Creeper" and "I'm Going to Be a Teenage Idol", the latter of which was inspired by John's friend, T-Rex frontman Marc Bolan. The horn players were the same ones who were used on Honky Château. Paul Buckmaster returned to add strings on "Blues for Baby and Me" and "Have Mercy on the Criminal". During his Australian concerts with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in 1986, John lauded Buckmaster's work on songs such as "Have Mercy on the Criminal", calling the string arrangements "revolutionary".

It is one of only three albums to feature just the core band of John on pianos and keyboards, Davey Johnstone on guitars, Dee Murray bass and Nigel Olsson on drums, without percussionist Ray Cooper. The other two are Honky Château (1972) (bar a performance by Cooper on congas on the song "Amy") and Breaking Hearts (1984).

An outtake of note was a re-recording of "Skyline Pigeon", which became the B-side to the single of "Daniel".

John toured Australia during 1971 and was so inspired by Daddy Cool's hit single "Eagle Rock" that, with Taupin, he wrote "Crocodile Rock". The cover of this album has a photo of lyricist Taupin wearing a "Daddy Who?" promotional badge.

Don't Shoot Me... was also, according to John, the first album during which he felt comfortable experimenting with his vocal performances and style.

Packaging edit

The album's title came from an incident with legendary comedian Groucho Marx. Elton was playing the piano at a party at Groucho's home; Groucho, after an evening of constant ribbing (he referred to Elton John as 'John Elton'), held out his middle and index finger in the style of a pistol, pointed at John. John then raised his hands and said "Don't shoot me, I'm only the piano player" at Marx's gun imitation.[11][12]

The title is also a play on the 1960 François Truffaut film Shoot the Piano Player and the original Oscar Wilde quote "Don't shoot the piano player, he's doing his best", which Wilde said he saw in a saloon on a visit to the U.S.[13]

The album's cover photograph, which shows a young couple outside a movie theatre whose marquee reads: Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player starring Elton John; on the wall is a movie poster advertising the Marx Brothers' 1940 film Go West as a tribute to Groucho Marx.

Reception edit

The album was a huge hit on both sides of the Atlantic, topping the UK and US album charts.

Critics at the time called some of the performances, especially "Crocodile Rock", derivative, which John freely acknowledged years later. In His Song: The Musical Journey of Elton John by author Elizabeth Rosenthal, John said "Crocodile Rock" was written as an overt homage to '50s records, and his vocal intentionally mimicked singer Bobby Vee. "High Flying Bird" was intended to sound like a Van Morrison record, and "Midnight Creeper" was a tip of the hat to the Rolling Stones.

Track listing edit

All tracks are written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Daniel"3:55
2."Teacher I Need You"4:10
3."Elderberry Wine"3:34
4."Blues for My Baby and Me"5:39
5."Midnight Creeper"3:52
Side two
No.TitleLength
6."Have Mercy on the Criminal"5:58
7."I'm Gonna Be a Teenage Idol"3:56
8."Texan Love Song"3:33
9."Crocodile Rock"3:55
10."High Flying Bird"4:12
Total length:42:45
Bonus tracks (1995 Mercury and 1996 Rocket reissue)
No.TitleLength
11."Screw You (Young Man's Blues)"4:43
12."Jack Rabbit"1:50
13."Whenever You’re Ready (We’ll Go Steady Again)"2:51
14."Skyline Pigeon" (Piano version)3:56
Total length:56:23

Personnel edit

Track numbers refer to CD and digital releases of the album.

Production edit

  • Producer – Gus Dudgeon
  • Engineer – Ken Scott
  • Remixed at Trident Studios (London, UK).
  • Coordinator – Steve Brown
  • Art Direction and Sleeve Design – David Larkham and Michael Ross
  • Cover Photo – Ed Caraeff
  • Booklet Photography – Ed Caraeff, Bryan Forbes, Maxine Taupin and Michael Ross.

Charts edit

Certifications edit

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[32] 3× Platinum 150,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[33] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[34] 3× Platinum 3,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References edit

  1. ^ "Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player - Elton John - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic.
  2. ^ "Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  3. ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: J". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 27 February 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  4. ^ Holden, S. (15 March 1973). "Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  5. ^ Clutterbuck, Jeff (2019). "The Daily Vault Music Reviews : Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player". dailyvault.com. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  6. ^ Hull, Tom (22 June 2021). "Music Week". Tom Hull – on the Web. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  7. ^ John Tobler (1995). "Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player". albumlinernotes.com.
  8. ^ . Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 30 July 2017. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  9. ^ . Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  10. ^ Willsher, Kim (4 August 2013). "For sale: 'honky château' where Elton and Bowie recorded classic hits". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  11. ^ "Elton John's Magic Year - US Today News". July 2023.
  12. ^ Buckley, David (2007). Elton The Biography. Chicago Review Press. ISBN 978-1556527135.
  13. ^ "Please Do Not Shoot the Pianist. He Is Doing His Best – Quote Investigator". 17 June 2017.
  14. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  15. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4902". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  16. ^ "adnskehitlister.dk".
  17. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Elton John – Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  18. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  19. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Elton John – Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  20. ^ "Classifiche". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 23 February 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Elton John".
  21. ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  22. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Elton John – Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player". Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  23. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  24. ^ "Elton John | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  25. ^ "Elton John Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  26. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  27. ^ (in Dutch). Archived from the original (ASP) on 17 April 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  28. ^ (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. 1973. Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  29. ^ "Hit Parade Italia – Gli album più venduti del 1973" (in Italian). hitparadeitalia.it. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
  30. ^ . Archived from the original on 17 December 2007. Retrieved 17 December 2007.
  31. ^ "adnskehitlister.dk".
  32. ^ "Elton John Australian Award". 20 February 2023.
  33. ^ "Golden Moments" (PDF). Cash Box. 19 May 1973. p. 54. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  34. ^ "American album certifications – Elton John – Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player". Recording Industry Association of America.

External links edit

  • Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player at Discogs (list of releases)

November 29, 2023
shoot, only, piano, player, sixth, studio, album, english, musician, elton, john, released, january, 1973, records, first, studio, albums, released, 1973, second, goodbye, yellow, brick, road, released, nine, months, later, second, straight, album, first, albu. Don t Shoot Me I m Only the Piano Player is the sixth studio album by English musician Elton John 7 Released in January 1973 by DJM Records it was the first of two studio albums he released in 1973 the second was Goodbye Yellow Brick Road released nine months later and was his second straight No 1 album in the US and first No 1 album in the UK Don t Shoot MeI m Only the Piano PlayerStudio album by Elton JohnReleased26 January 1973Recorded10 19 June 1972StudioChateau d Herouville Herouville France mixed at Trident LondonGenrePop rock 1 Length43 05LabelMCA US DJM UK ProducerGus DudgeonElton John chronologyHonky Chateau 1972 Don t Shoot MeI m Only the Piano Player 1973 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road 1973 Singles from Don t Shoot Me I m Only the Piano Player Crocodile Rock Elderberry Wine Released 27 October 1972 Daniel Released 20 January 1973Professional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingAllMusic 2 Christgau s Record GuideC 3 Rolling Stone favourable 4 The Daily VaultB 5 Tom Hull on the WebB 6 The lead single Crocodile Rock yielded John his first No 1 single in both the US and Canada 8 Daniel was also a major hit from the album giving him his second Canadian No 1 single on the RPM Top Singles Chart 9 and No 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reaching No 4 in the UK one place higher than achieved by Crocodile Rock Contents 1 Background 2 Packaging 3 Reception 4 Track listing 5 Personnel 6 Production 7 Charts 7 1 Weekly charts 7 2 Year end charts 8 Certifications 9 References 10 External linksBackground editThe album was recorded in France at Chateau d Herouville also known at the time as Strawberry Studios which was how the studio was credited in the album s sleeve Honky Chateau the previous Elton John album had been recorded there 10 The album featured horns arranged by producer Gus Dudgeon on Elderberry Wine the B side to Crocodile Rock Midnight Creeper and I m Going to Be a Teenage Idol the latter of which was inspired by John s friend T Rex frontman Marc Bolan The horn players were the same ones who were used on Honky Chateau Paul Buckmaster returned to add strings on Blues for Baby and Me and Have Mercy on the Criminal During his Australian concerts with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in 1986 John lauded Buckmaster s work on songs such as Have Mercy on the Criminal calling the string arrangements revolutionary It is one of only three albums to feature just the core band of John on pianos and keyboards Davey Johnstone on guitars Dee Murray bass and Nigel Olsson on drums without percussionist Ray Cooper The other two are Honky Chateau 1972 bar a performance by Cooper on congas on the song Amy and Breaking Hearts 1984 An outtake of note was a re recording of Skyline Pigeon which became the B side to the single of Daniel John toured Australia during 1971 and was so inspired by Daddy Cool s hit single Eagle Rock that with Taupin he wrote Crocodile Rock The cover of this album has a photo of lyricist Taupin wearing a Daddy Who promotional badge Don t Shoot Me was also according to John the first album during which he felt comfortable experimenting with his vocal performances and style Packaging editThe album s title came from an incident with legendary comedian Groucho Marx Elton was playing the piano at a party at Groucho s home Groucho after an evening of constant ribbing he referred to Elton John as John Elton held out his middle and index finger in the style of a pistol pointed at John John then raised his hands and said Don t shoot me I m only the piano player at Marx s gun imitation 11 12 The title is also a play on the 1960 Francois Truffaut film Shoot the Piano Player and the original Oscar Wilde quote Don t shoot the piano player he s doing his best which Wilde said he saw in a saloon on a visit to the U S 13 The album s cover photograph which shows a young couple outside a movie theatre whose marquee reads Don t Shoot Me I m Only The Piano Player starring Elton John on the wall is a movie poster advertising the Marx Brothers 1940 film Go West as a tribute to Groucho Marx Reception editThe album was a huge hit on both sides of the Atlantic topping the UK and US album charts Critics at the time called some of the performances especially Crocodile Rock derivative which John freely acknowledged years later In His Song The Musical Journey of Elton John by author Elizabeth Rosenthal John said Crocodile Rock was written as an overt homage to 50s records and his vocal intentionally mimicked singer Bobby Vee High Flying Bird was intended to sound like a Van Morrison record and Midnight Creeper was a tip of the hat to the Rolling Stones Track listing editAll tracks are written by Elton John and Bernie TaupinSide oneNo TitleLength1 Daniel 3 552 Teacher I Need You 4 103 Elderberry Wine 3 344 Blues for My Baby and Me 5 395 Midnight Creeper 3 52 Side twoNo TitleLength6 Have Mercy on the Criminal 5 587 I m Gonna Be a Teenage Idol 3 568 Texan Love Song 3 339 Crocodile Rock 3 5510 High Flying Bird 4 12Total length 42 45 Bonus tracks 1995 Mercury and 1996 Rocket reissue No TitleLength11 Screw You Young Man s Blues 4 4312 Jack Rabbit 1 5013 Whenever You re Ready We ll Go Steady Again 2 5114 Skyline Pigeon Piano version 3 56Total length 56 23Personnel editTrack numbers refer to CD and digital releases of the album Elton John vocals Fender Rhodes 1 5 mellotron 1 2 acoustic piano 2 4 6 7 9 10 Leslie piano 7 harmonium 8 Farfisa organ 9 Ken Scott ARP synthesizer 1 Davey Johnstone acoustic guitar electric guitar and Leslie guitar All tracks banjo 1 backing vocals 2 7 10 sitar 4 mandolin 8 Dee Murray bass All tracks backing vocals 2 7 10 Nigel Olsson drums All tracks maracas 1 backing vocals 2 7 10 Gus Dudgeon brass arrangements 3 5 7 Paul Buckmaster orchestral arrangements 4 6 Jean Louis Chautemps saxophone 3 5 7 Alain Hatot saxophone 3 5 7 Jacques Bolognesi trombone 3 5 7 Ivan Jullien trumpet 3 5 7 Production editProducer Gus Dudgeon Engineer Ken Scott Remixed at Trident Studios London UK Coordinator Steve Brown Art Direction and Sleeve Design David Larkham and Michael Ross Cover Photo Ed Caraeff Booklet Photography Ed Caraeff Bryan Forbes Maxine Taupin and Michael Ross Charts editWeekly charts edit Chart 1973 1975 PeakpositionAustralian Albums Kent Music Report 14 1Canada Top Albums CDs RPM 15 1Denmark Danish Albums Chart 16 4Dutch Albums Album Top 100 17 2Finnish Albums The Official Finnish Charts 18 2German Albums Offizielle Top 100 19 12Italian Albums Musica e Dischi 20 1Japanese Albums Oricon 21 4Norwegian Albums VG lista 22 1Spain Spanish Albums Chart 23 1UK Albums OCC 24 1US Billboard 200 25 1 Year end charts edit Chart 1973 PeakpositionAustralian Albums Chart 26 4Dutch Albums Chart 27 17German Albums Chart 28 35Italian Albums Chart 29 4UK Albums Chart 30 1U S Billboard Pop Albums 8Chart 1974 PeakpositionU S Billboard Pop Albums 67Chart 1975 PeakpositionDanish Album Charts 31 18Certifications editRegion Certification Certified units salesAustralia ARIA 32 3 Platinum 150 000 United Kingdom BPI 33 Gold 100 000 United States RIAA 34 3 Platinum 3 000 000 Shipments figures based on certification alone References edit Don t Shoot Me I m Only the Piano Player Elton John Songs Reviews Credits AllMusic AllMusic Don t Shoot Me I m Only the Piano Player AllMusic Retrieved 5 January 2012 Christgau Robert 1981 Consumer Guide 70s J Christgau s Record Guide Rock Albums of the Seventies Ticknor amp Fields ISBN 089919026X Retrieved 27 February 2019 via robertchristgau com Holden S 15 March 1973 Don t Shoot Me I m Only The Piano Player Rolling Stone Retrieved 29 February 2012 Clutterbuck Jeff 2019 The Daily Vault Music Reviews Don t Shoot Me I m Only the Piano Player dailyvault com Retrieved 29 January 2019 Hull Tom 22 June 2021 Music Week Tom Hull on the Web Retrieved 24 June 2021 John Tobler 1995 Don t Shoot Me I m Only The Piano Player albumlinernotes com Item Display RPM Library and Archives Canada Collectionscanada gc ca Archived from the original on 30 July 2017 Retrieved 5 January 2012 Item Display RPM Library and Archives Canada Collectionscanada gc ca Archived from the original on 20 October 2012 Retrieved 5 January 2012 Willsher Kim 4 August 2013 For sale honky chateau where Elton and Bowie recorded classic hits The Guardian Retrieved 17 January 2018 Elton John s Magic Year US Today News July 2023 Buckley David 2007 Elton The Biography Chicago Review Press ISBN 978 1556527135 Please Do Not Shoot the Pianist He Is Doing His Best Quote Investigator 17 June 2017 Kent David 1993 Australian Chart Book 1970 1992 illustrated ed St Ives N S W Australian Chart Book ISBN 0 646 11917 6 Top RPM Albums Issue 4902 RPM Library and Archives Canada Retrieved 22 February 2023 adnskehitlister dk Dutchcharts nl Elton John Don t Shoot Me I m Only the Piano Player in Dutch Hung Medien Retrieved 22 February 2023 Pennanen Timo 2006 Sisaltaa hitin levyt ja esittajat Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 in Finnish 1st ed Helsinki Kustannusosakeyhtio Otava ISBN 978 951 1 21053 5 Offiziellecharts de Elton John Don t Shoot Me I m Only the Piano Player in German GfK Entertainment Charts Retrieved 22 February 2023 Classifiche Musica e Dischi in Italian Retrieved 23 February 2022 Set Tipo on Album Then in the Artista field search Elton John Oricon Album Chart Book Complete Edition 1970 2005 in Japanese Roppongi Tokyo Oricon Entertainment 2006 ISBN 4 87131 077 9 Norwegiancharts com Elton John Don t Shoot Me I m Only the Piano Player Hung Medien Retrieved 22 February 2023 Salaverri Fernando September 2005 Solo exitos ano a ano 1959 2002 1st ed Spain Fundacion Autor SGAE ISBN 84 8048 639 2 Elton John Artist Official Charts UK Albums Chart Retrieved 22 February 2023 Elton John Chart History Billboard 200 Billboard Retrieved 22 February 2023 Kent David 1993 Australian Chart Book 1970 1992 St Ives NSW Australian Chart Book ISBN 0 646 11917 6 Dutch charts jaaroverzichten 1973 in Dutch Archived from the original ASP on 17 April 2014 Retrieved 2 April 2014 Top 100 Album Jahrescharts in German GfK Entertainment Charts 1973 Archived from the original on 23 May 2021 Retrieved 2 April 2022 Hit Parade Italia Gli album piu venduti del 1973 in Italian hitparadeitalia it Retrieved 3 October 2011 The Official UK Charts Company ALBUM CHART HISTORY Archived from the original on 17 December 2007 Retrieved 17 December 2007 adnskehitlister dk Elton John Australian Award 20 February 2023 Golden Moments PDF Cash Box 19 May 1973 p 54 Retrieved 23 February 2023 American album certifications Elton John Don t Shoot Me I m Only the Piano Player Recording Industry Association of America External links editDon t Shoot Me I m Only the Piano Player at Discogs list of releases Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Don 27t Shoot Me I 27m Only the Piano Player amp oldid 1182724002, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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