Crocodile skirt

Crocodile skirt
Elton John
publication	UK October 27th 1972, USA November 20th 1972
length	3:58 album version, 3:23 single version
Genre (s)	Pop rock
text	Bernie Taupin
music	Elton John
album	Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player

Crocodile Rock (Eng. "Crocodile Dance") is a music track by the British singer and composer Elton John , the lyrics were written by Bernie Taupin .

For John, Crocodile Rock was not only the first number one single in the US and Canada , but also the cause of a plagiarism lawsuit against him and Taupin. In 1974 the lawyer Donald Barnett went to the US court in Los Angeles on behalf of the composer Buddy Kaye. The accusation was that John and Taupin had copied chords for the head voice in Crocodile Rock without a license from his song Speedy Gonzales . However, the parties reached an out-of-court and amicable agreement, whereupon the lawsuit was dropped.

background

The story is about a young rock 'n' roll man of the 1950s and 1960s who regularly went to a pub where a dance called crocodile rock was very popular. Over the years, however, his girlfriend, who was very hot ("burning up") on the crocodile rock, leaves him and the little dance is forgotten forever.

John later said that Crocodile Rock had numerous allusions to early rock 'n' roll that he liked very much himself, such as Little Darlin ' , At The Top and Oh! Carol , but also titles from The Beach Boys and Eddie Cochran . The song title itself plays with that of Bill Haley 's See You Later, Alligator , the song Rock Around the Clock is even mentioned as a song that others listen to. In contrast to crocodile rock, the alligator dance actually existed.

John was quoted 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 should be a piece about all the things I grew up with. Of course everything is stolen ”).

The inspiration for composing Crocodile Rock came from John during a tour of Australia. He attended a concert by the then leading Australian band Daddy Cool and was very impressed by their hit Eagle Rock , the most successful single of 1970 in Australia. In the photos of the album Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player , Taupin can be seen wearing a plaque with the words “Daddy Who?” On it.

John described crocodile rock as one-way pop and Taupin said in a 1989 interview with Music Connection that he did not want people to be remembered for this song. He would rather be remembered for his songs with a message, and Candle In The Wind and Empty Garden were examples. Crocodile Rock was just a pop, a bit of fun at the time.

The title was recorded in June 1972 in the music studio Château d'Hérouville in France , where John had previously recorded his album Honky Château .

review

Crocodile Rock is a strong pop rocker who mixes nostalgic retro rock with energetic glam rock . Taupin's text inspires with a fine look back at the rock 'n' roll era. The breathtaking pop melody transforms the tearful lyric poetry of a ballad into its rousing opposite.

B side

On the back of the single is the title Elderberry Wine , which was also released on Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player .

occupation

• Elton John - vocals, piano, Farfisa organ
• Davey Johnstone - electric guitar
• Dee Murray - bass guitar
• Nigel Olsson - drums

production

• Gus Dudgeon - producer

Charts

Year	single	Chart	position
1972	"Crocodile Rock"	German single chart	3
1972	"Crocodile Rock"	Austrian single chart	6th
1972	"Crocodile Rock"	Swiss single chart	1
1972	"Crocodile Rock"	UK single chart	5
1972	"Crocodile Rock"	US Billboard 100	1

Awards

organization	status	date
RIAA - USA	gold	5th February 1973
RIAA - USA	platinum	September 13, 1995

Individual evidence

1. ↑ http://elton-john.wikia.com/wiki/Crocodile_Rock
2. ↑ http://www.get-in-line.de/dances/Rock_The_Alligator_-_Krueger.htm
3. ↑ http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=2037
4. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/song/crocodile-rock-mt0036872966
5. ↑ Elton John / Discography # Chart placements
6. ↑ http://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/