
Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player is the sixth studio album by English singer-songwriter Elton John. Released January 22,1973 by DJM Records, it was John’s sixth normal studio album release, first of his two studio albums released in 1973 (second one was Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, released nine months later), and was his second straight No. 1 album in the US and first No. 1 album in the UK.
The lead single “Crocodile Rock” yielded John his first No. 1 single in both the US and Canada. “Daniel” was also a major hit from the album, giving him his second Canadian No. 1 single on the RPM Top Singles Chart and No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reaching No. 4 in the UK, one place higher than achieved by “Crocodile Rock”.
- “Daniel” 3:55
- “Teacher I Need You” 4:10
- “Elderberry Wine” 3:34
- “Blues for My Baby and Me” 5:39
- “Midnight Creeper” 3:52
- “Have Mercy on the Criminal” 5:58
- “I’m Going to Be a Teenage Idol” 3:56
- “Texan Love Song” 3:33
- “Crocodile Rock” 3:55
- “High Flying Bird” 4:12
- “Screw You (Young Man’s Blues)” 4:43
- “Jack Rabbit” 1:50
- “Whenever You’re Ready (We’ll Go Steady Again)” 2:51
- “Skyline Pigeon” (Piano version) 3:56
Elton John – vocals, Fender Rhodes (1, 5), mellotron (1, 2), acoustic piano (2-4, 6, 7, 9, 10), harmonium (8), Farfisa organ (9)
Ken Scott – ARP synthesizer (1)
Davey Johnstone – acoustic guitar, electric guitar and Leslie guitar (All tracks); banjo (1), backing vocals (2, 7, 10), sitar (4), mandolin (8)
Dee Murray – bass (All tracks), backing vocals (2, 7, 10)
Nigel Olsson – drums (All tracks), maracas (1), backing vocals (2, 7, 10)
Gus Dudgeon – brass arrangements (3, 5, 7)
Paul Buckmaster – orchestral arrangements (4, 6)
Jean-Louis Chautemps – saxophone (3, 5, 7)
Alain Hatot – saxophone (3, 5, 7)
Jacques Bolognesi – trombone (3, 5, 7)
Ivan Jullien – trumpet (3, 5, 7)