Maps of Music

Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player (1973)

Where the lyrics of Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player take you, and where it was really made.

The title came from Groucho Marx pretending to shoot at Elton John at a party, and John's reply became the name of the album.

Key places

Recorded at Château d'Hérouville (1973)

Recording site Château d'Hérouville — The album was recorded in France at Château d'Hérouville, also known at the time as Strawberry Studios. The previous Elton John album, Honky Château, was recorded there too. The point marks the studio at city-level position. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Remixed at Trident Studios (1973)

Recording site Trident Studios — The album was remixed at Trident Studios in London. The point marks the studio itself, not a specific session date. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player: sixth studio album by British musician Elton John
• Released 26 January 1973 by DJM Records
• First of two studio albums Elton John released in 1973
• The second was Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, released nine months later
• Second straight No. 1 on the US Billboard 200
• First No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart

Background

• Lead single "Crocodile Rock" gave John his first No. 1 single in the US and Canada
• "Daniel" reached No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 4 on the UK singles chart
• The previous Elton John album, Honky Château, was recorded at the same studio
• John toured Australia in 1971 and was inspired by Daddy Cool's hit "Eagle Rock"
• With lyricist Bernie Taupin, that inspiration led to "Crocodile Rock"
• According to John, this was the first album on which he felt comfortable experimenting with his vocal performances and style

Recording

• Recorded in France at Château d'Hérouville, also known at the time as Strawberry Studios
• Remixed at Trident Studios in London
• Producer Gus Dudgeon arranged horns on "Elderberry Wine", "Midnight Creeper" and "I'm Going to Be a Teenage Idol"
• Paul Buckmaster returned to add strings on "Blues for Baby and Me" and "Have Mercy on the Criminal"
• Core band of John, Davey Johnstone, Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson, without percussionist Ray Cooper
• A re-recording of "Skyline Pigeon" became the B-side to the "Daniel" single

Cover

• Cover photo by Ed Caraeff
• Shows a young couple outside a movie theatre with the album title on its marquee
• The photo was shot on the Universal backlot used for the Banacek television series

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Born Reginald Kenneth Dwight in Pinner, Middlesex, on 25 March 1947.
• Won a junior scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music at age 11.
• Formed the blues band Bluesology in 1962; took the name Elton John in 1967.
• Joined DJM Records as a staff songwriter with lyricist Bernie Taupin in 1968.

Members

• Partnered with lyricist Bernie Taupin since 1967; Taupin writes lyrics and John composes the music.
• Backing band over the years included Davey Johnstone, Nigel Olsson, Dee Murray and Ray Cooper.

Career

• Debut album Empty Sky (1969); Honky Château (1972) became his first US number-one album.
• Seven consecutive US number-one albums between 1972 and 1975.
• Composed The Lion King and Aida with Tim Rice; won Academy Awards and a Tony Award.
• Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour (2018–2023) was the highest-grossing tour at the time.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Critics at the time called some of the performances, especially "Crocodile Rock", derivative

Reappraisal

• John later freely acknowledged that criticism
• 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
• "Midnight Creeper" was a tip of the hat to the Rolling Stones

Records

• The album was a huge hit on both sides of the Atlantic
• Topped the UK Albums Chart and the US Billboard 200 album chart
• First No. 1 album on the UK Albums Chart and second straight No. 1 on the US Billboard 200
• "Crocodile Rock" gave John his first No. 1 single in both the US and Canada
• "Daniel" gave him his second Canadian No. 1 single on the RPM Top Singles Chart
• "Daniel" reached No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 4 on the UK singles chart

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The title came from an incident with Groucho Marx at a party at his home, where John was playing the piano
• The title also plays on the 1960 François Truffaut film Shoot the Piano Player
• The cover photo shows the tail end of a 1959 Plymouth Fury
• The lyrics booklet has a photo of Bernie Taupin wearing a "Daddy Who?" promotional badge
• One photo shows Elton wearing a Donald Duck badge, the first time he wore clothing featuring Donald Duck

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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