Elton John: Crocodile Rock Single (1972)

A Retro Rock 'n' Roll Romp

The 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 October 27, 1972 in the UK and November 20, 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 February 3, 1973, and staying there for three consecutive weeks.

In the U.S., it was certified Gold on 5 February 1973 and Platinum on September 13, 1995 by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In Canada, it topped the chart as well, remaining at number one on the RPM 100 national singles chart for four weeks from February 17 through March 10 . 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.)

"Crocodile Rock" is dominated by a Farfisa organ riff, 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, include Davey Johnstone on guitars, Dee Murray on bass and Nigel Olsson on drums, were also performers on the song. John performed all the vocals, including the falsetto backing vocals.

Inspiration

Inspiration:

The song was inspired by John's discovery of leading Australian band Daddy Cool and their hit single "Eagle Rock", which was the most successful Australian single of the early 1970s (with 1,000,000 sold), remaining at No.1 for a record of 10 weeks. John heard the song and the group on his 1972 Australian tour and was greatly impressed by it. A photo included in the album packaging features John's lyricist, Bernie Taupin, wearing a "Daddy Who?" promotional badge. The song also includes a lyrical reference to the 1950s hit record "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley and his Comets ("While the other kids were rocking around the clock...").

Taupin also stated in an Esquire magazine interview that "Crocodile Rock" was a funny song in that he did not mind creating it, but it would not be something he would listen to; it was simply something fun at the time. John has dismissed criticism of the song that it was "derivative", quoted in the booklet for the 1995 reissue of Don't Shoot Me ... as saying, "I wanted it to be a record about all the things I grew up with. Of course it's a rip-off, it's derivative in every sense of the word."

Billboard reviewed the single, stating that it "is a clever easy beat rocker with a sound and flavor of the 50's hits." Record World called it a "loving homage to revival rock and roll" with "a solid, infectious beat, funny and clever Taupin lyrics, and brilliant Gus Dudgeon production.

Single Overview:

A-Side: “Crocodile Rock” (3:56, Elton John/Bernie Taupin)

B-Side: “Elderberry Wine” (3:34, Elton John/Bernie Taupin)

Release Details:

Label: DJM Records (UK pressing, 45 RPM).

Formats:

7-Inch Vinyl (DJS 271): “Crocodile Rock” / “Elderberry Wine.” In a DJM company sleeve.

No cassette or CD formats for this single in 1972; later included in CD reissues of Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player (1995).

Notes: ℗ & © 1972 This Record Co. Ltd. Recorded at Château d’Hérouville, France, June 1972. Matrix numbers (e.g., DJS 271 A-1) confirm authenticity.

7-Inch Vinyl was released as a Knockout Centre and Solid Centre in the U.K.

UK Chart Data:

Entry Week October 29-November 4, 1972; Peaking at No. 5 for 3 weeks (November 19-December 9, 1972)

14 weeks on the chart in total.

Single Chart Performance

“Crocodile Rock” reached No. 5 in the UK, charting for 14 weeks, and achieved massive international success.

Country

Chart (1972–1973) Peak Position

Australia 2

Belgium 3

Canada Top Singles (RPM) 1

Germany 3

Ireland 10

Italy 1

Netherlands Dutch Top 40 11

Norway 3

New Zealand (Listener) 1

South Africa (Springbok) 6

Switzerland 1

UK Singles Chart 5

US Billboard Hot 100 1

US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) 11

US Cash Box Top 100 1

Zimbabwe (ZIMA) 2

Personnel:

Elton John – vocals, piano, Farfisa organ

Davey Johnstone – electric guitar

Dee Murray – bass

Nigel Olsson – drums

Legacy and Collectibility

“Crocodile Rock” is an Elton John classic, with its catchy organ riff and nostalgic vibe, while “Elderberry Wine” adds a rare, boozy gem. Original UK 7-inch vinyls fetch £3–£10 on eBay/Discogs, with Japanese pressings (£8–£20) prized for obi strips. Verify catalogue DJS 271. Streams on Spotify via Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player deluxe editions preserve the analog bounce. This single is a must-have for Elton fans and glam rock collectors.

Have you snagged this Elton classic in your vinyl collection? Does “Crocodile Rock” get you jiving? Share in the comments!

Sources

Wikipedia: Crocodile Rock

Wikipedia: Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player

Wikipedia: Elton John Discography

YouTube: Crocodile Rock Official Audio (2011 upload, 5M+ views)