Keno's Classic Rock n Roll Web Site

ALBUM REVIEW

ELTON JOHN

Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player

Released - December 1972, MCA Records. Produced by Gus Dudgeon

Elton John - Lead & Backing Vocals, Piano, Organ, Mellotron, Harmonium
Davey Johnstone - Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Mandolin, Sitar, Backing Vocals
Dee Murray - Bass Guitar and Backing Vocals
Nigel Olsson - Drums, Percussion and Backing Vocals

Additional Personnel - Jacques Bolognese, Ivan Julien, Jean-Louis Chautemps, Alain Hatot

All songs written by Elton John and Berine Taupin

REVIEW

Maybe the album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road was what made Elton John a big star, but Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player is my favorite EJ album. No question a classic piece of work!

"Daniel" is one beautiful song, about a wounded Viet Nam Vet, with some great use of the old mellotron by Elton. Next best song is "Crocodile Rock", with a happy go-lucky 1950's feel to it, one of those types of tunes that just makes you smile. "Elderberry Wine" is another happy sounding song, even if its lyrics don't seem to point in that direction. Then there's the tongue-in cheek "Texan Love Song", taking a redneck's point of view. No question, this song is country rock at its best!

"Teacher I Need You" is another good one on here. It laid the foundation years later for Van Halen's "Hot For Teacher". But even if Van Halen ripped off Elton and Berine Taupin's lyrics on "Hot For Teacher", Elton himself does the same thing on "Midnight Creeper". If you take it for what it is, not a bad song at all. But you can't tell me that the lyrics are just too close to the Stones' "Midnight Rambler". But yes, it seems that all artists borrow from one another, so no big deal.

This album also showed the growing importance of guitarist Davey Johnstone to Elton's success, as he shows here why even today, some 30 years later, he's still EJ's main guitar man.  

- Keno 2000

To listen to some soundclips from Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player or to purchase it, click on this link: Elton John: Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player