Elton John Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player First U.S Pressing Vinyl Rip Flac With Bonus
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Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player
Studio album by Elton John
Released 26 January 1973
Recorded Château d'Hérouville, Hérouville, France, June 1972
Genre Piano rock, Glam rock
Length 42:45
Label MCA Records
(US/Canada)
DJM Records
Producer Gus Dudgeon
Professional reviews
* Allmusic 4/5 stars link
* Robert Christgau (C+) link
* Rolling Stone (favourable) link
Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player is the sixth studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John.
This was Elton's second straight #1 album in America and yielded his first #1 single in both the U.S. and Canada - "Crocodile Rock".[1] "Daniel" was also a major hit from the album, giving him his second Canadian #1 single on the RPM Top Singles Chart[2] and just missing the top slot south of the border, stalling at #2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and reaching #4 in the U.K., one place higher than achieved by Crocodile Rock. According to writer Philip Norman in his early 1990s authorized biography, "Elton," during a party in Los Angeles, Elton's friend Groucho Marx jokingly pointed his index fingers at the singer, as if holding a pair of six-shooters. John is reported to have put up his hands and said, "Don't shoot me, I'm only the piano player," so naming the album.[citation needed] (The album's cover photograph, which shows a young couple going to see a fictional movie, "Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only The Piano Player, starring Elton John," also includes a movie poster of the Marx Brothers' "Go West," though whether this was an intentional subtle tribute to Groucho is uncertain.)
Once again, the team returned to France to record at the Château d'Hérouville, also known at the time as "Strawberry Studios," which was how the studio was credited in the album's sleeve. The album featured horns arranged by producer Gus Dudgeon on "Elderberry Wine" (the b-side to "Crocodile Rock"), "Midnight Creeper" and "I'm Gonna Be A Teenage Idol," the latter of which was inspired by Elton's friend, T-Rex frontman Marc Bolan. The horn players were the same ones, in fact, 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, Elton lauded Buckmaster's work on songs such as "Have Mercy On The Criminal," calling the string arrangements "revolutionary."
The album was a huge hit on both sides of the Atlantic, topping the UK and US album charts and selling about 14 million copies worldwide. It is one of only two albums to feature just the core band of Elton, Davey Johnstone, Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson, without percussionist Ray Cooper. The other album is Breaking Hearts.
One of the only outtakes of note was a re-recording of "Skyline Pigeon," which became the b-side to the single of "Daniel."
Critics at the time called some of the performances, especially "Crocodile Rock," derivative, which Elton freely acknowledged years later. In "His Song: The Musical Journey of Elton John" by author Elizabeth Rosenthal, Elton said "Crocodile Rock" was written as an overt homage to '50s records, and his vocal intentionally mimicked Bobby Vee. "High Flying Bird" was designed to sound like a Van Morrison record, and "Midnight Creeper" was a tip of the hat to the Rolling Stones.
"Don't Shoot Me ..." was also, according to John, the first album during which he felt comfortable experimenting with his vocal performances and style.
Contents
Track listing
All songs written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin
Side one
1. "Daniel" – 3:54
2. "Teacher I Need You" – 4:10
3. "Elderberry Wine" – 3:33
4. "Blues for Baby and Me" – 5:42
5. "Midnight Creeper" – 3:55
Side two
1. "Have Mercy on the Criminal" – 5:57
2. "I'm Going To Be A Teenage Idol" – 3:55
3. "Texan Love Song" – 3:33
4. "Crocodile Rock" – 3:58
5. "High Flying Bird" – 4:12
Also Included "Skyline Pigeon" [Piano version / Vinyl SOurced] – 3:56
When MCA Records re-issued this album on cassette tape in the 1980s, "Midnight Creeper" and "High Flying Bird" were swapped in the album running order.
Rolling Stone Magazine very favourable http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/dont-shoot-me-im-only-the-piano-player-19730315
B-sides
"Skyline Pigeon" (Piano Version) Daniel 7" (US/UK)
Personnel
* Elton John - Piano, electric piano, Leslie piano, Farsifa organ, harmonium, mellotron
* Davey Johnstone - Acoustic, electric, and Leslie guitars, banjo, sitar, mandolin
* Dee Murray - Bass
* Nigel Olsson - Drums, maracas
Additional musicians
* Davey, Dee, Nigel - Backing vocals (tracks 2, 7, 10)
* Ken Scott - A.R.P. synthesizer (track 1)
* Gus Dudgeon - Brass Arrangement (tracks 3, 5, 7)
* Paul Buckmaster - Orchestral Arrangement (tracks 4 and 6)
* Jacques Bolognesi - Trombone
* Ivan Jullien - Trumpet
* Jean-Louis Chautemps & Alain Hatot - Saxophones
Charts
Album
Year Chart Position
1973 UK Album Chart 1
1973 US Billboard Pop Albums 1
1973 Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart 1
1973 Canadian RPM 100 Top Albums Chart 1
Singles
Year Single Chart Position
1973 "Crocodile Rock" UK Singles Chart 5
1973 "Crocodile Rock" US Billboard Pop Singles 1
1973 "Crocodile Rock" Canadian RPM Top Singles Chart 1
1973 "Daniel" UK Singles Chart 4
1973 "Daniel" US Billboard Adult Contemporary 1
1973 "Daniel" US Billboard Pop Singles 2
1973 "Daniel" Canadian RPM Top Singles Chart 1
Certifications
Organization Level Date
RIAA – United States Gold 12 February 1973
RIAA – United States Platinum 23 March 1993
RIAA – United States Double Platinum 23 March 1993
RIAA – United States Triple Platinum 11 October 1995
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