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Elton John became a true superstar with 1972's Honky Chateau. He followed that album with Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player, his most direct, pop-oriented album to date. Designed as a pastiche of classic and contemporary pop styles, the album almost sounds like an attempt to demonstrate the diversity of the John/Taupin team. Though the hits are remarkable -- "Daniel" is a moving ballad and "Crocodile Rock" is a sly take on '50s rock & roll -- the album is slightly uneven. Several of the album tracks, particularly the knowing "I'm Going to Be a Teenage Idol" and the rocking "Elderberry Wine," are as strong as anything John had recorded, but there are too many melodies that simply don't catch hold. Nevertheless, the singles were strong enough to keep the album at the top of the charts, and at its best, it is a very enjoyable piece of well-crafted pop/rock.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Piano, Vocals, Mellotron, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Banjo, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Maracas, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Scott, Engineer, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1973 This Record Company Ltd.
Bernie Taupin, Author - Elton John, Composer, Piano, Vocals, Mellotron, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Davey Johnstone, Acoustic Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Scott, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1972 This Record Company Ltd.
Bernie Taupin, Author - Elton John, Composer, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Davey Johnstone, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer, Horn Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Scott, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ivan Jullien, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jean Louis Chautemps, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Jacques Bolognesi, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Alain Hatot, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1972 This Record Company Ltd.
Paul Buckmaster, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Sitar, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Scott, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1972 This Record Company Ltd.
Bernie Taupin, Author - Elton John, Composer, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Davey Johnstone, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer, Horn Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Scott, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ivan Jullien, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jean Louis Chautemps, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Jacques Bolognesi, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Alain Hatot, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1972 This Record Company Ltd.
Paul Buckmaster, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Scott, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1972 This Record Company Ltd.
Bernie Taupin, Author - Elton John, Composer, Keyboards, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Davey Johnstone, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer, Horn Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Scott, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ivan Jullien, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jean Louis Chautemps, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Jacques Bolognesi, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Alain Hatot, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1972 This Record Company Ltd.
Bernie Taupin, Author - Elton John, Composer, Vocals, Harmonium, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Davey Johnstone, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Scott, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1972 This Record Company Ltd.
Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Organ, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Scott, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1972 This Record Company Ltd.
Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Scott, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1972 This Record Company Ltd.
Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Gus Dudgeon, Producer
℗ 1972 This Record Company Ltd.
Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Gus Dudgeon, Producer
℗ 1973 This Record Company Ltd.
Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Gus Dudgeon, Producer
℗ 1973 This Record Company Ltd.
Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Gus Dudgeon, Producer
℗ 1972 This Record Company Ltd.
Album review
Elton John became a true superstar with 1972's Honky Chateau. He followed that album with Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player, his most direct, pop-oriented album to date. Designed as a pastiche of classic and contemporary pop styles, the album almost sounds like an attempt to demonstrate the diversity of the John/Taupin team. Though the hits are remarkable -- "Daniel" is a moving ballad and "Crocodile Rock" is a sly take on '50s rock & roll -- the album is slightly uneven. Several of the album tracks, particularly the knowing "I'm Going to Be a Teenage Idol" and the rocking "Elderberry Wine," are as strong as anything John had recorded, but there are too many melodies that simply don't catch hold. Nevertheless, the singles were strong enough to keep the album at the top of the charts, and at its best, it is a very enjoyable piece of well-crafted pop/rock.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 14 track(s)
- Total length: 00:55:54
- Main artists: Elton John
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: EMI
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 1995 Mercury Records Limited This Compilation ℗ 1973 This Record Company Ltd.
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