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

After the success of Honky Chateau, Elton John decided to once again use Strawberry Studios in France to record his next album, titled Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only the Piano Player released in January 1973.

The album opens with "Daniel," a mellotron and electric piano driven number featuring a lyric which Bernie Taupin has described as "one of our most mis-interpreted lyrics." The reason for this was when the lyric was written, Elton deciding the song was too long crossed out the last verse which explained the whole song. The song was conceived as a tribute to the many young men returning from the Vietnam War only to find their whole world changed by their experience. It is told from the point of view of the title character's younger brother as the title character flies off to Spain to find peace. Years later, for Elton's Las Vegas based Red Piano show, photographer and filmmaker David LaChappele created a moving visual accompaniment to the song explaining the story the song was trying to tell.

"Teacher I Need You" is a pretty straightforward love song from a pupil to a teacher that, while cute in 1973, probably would not fly in today's world due to the amount of real-world instances of teachers having inappropriate relationships with students.

"Elderberry Wine" was the B-side of the "Crocodile Rock" single released before the album in late 1972. It's a rocking number with a full brass section complimenting the instrumental bed of Elton's piano, Daveys' guitar, Dee's bass and Nigel's drums.

"Blues For Baby And Me" is a standout underrated track and it is a pity that Elton has never performed it live. (To the best of my knowledge) It would make a wonderful addition to the set-list. Paul Buckmaster once again works his magic with lush string arrangements and an unexpected touch with Davey Johnstone on sitar. Nigel's epic drum fills are also a highlight of this song. It really is one of Elton and Bernie's finest love songs and deserves more attention than it gets.

Coming off the high of "Blues For Baby And Me," "Midnight Creeper" is a decent album track featuring heavy use of brass arranged by producer Gus Dudgeon. It is a nice upbeat funky song but not a particularly memorable one.

"Have Mercy on the Criminal" is a song with a very fat groove courtesy of Nigel Olsson, another great orchestral backing by Paul Buckmaster and fine bass work by Dee and electric guitar work by Davey.

"I'm Gonna Be a Teenage Idol" is a funky piano driven tune, once again propelled by a strong brass arrangement along with great work from the rhythm section. Of course, this song was somewhat auto-biographical because at this point in his career Elton was fast becoming a teenage idol on both sides of the pond.

"Texan Love Song" is pretty much lyrically just a parody of stereotypes about Texas, featuring Elton on Harmonium and Davey Johnstone once again playing mandolin.

"Crocodile Rock" is Elton's love song to the rock and roll songs of the 1950s. It manages to be derivative yet also quite original. In addition to piano, Elton adds further sweetening to the song with a farfisa organ. It is very reminiscent of the "Jerry Lee Lewis" piano style that Elton so admired in his youth

"High Flying Bird" is another very soulful number about a girl who dies by suicide, lyrically reminiscent of "Skyline Pigeon" from Empty Sky (which was also re-recorded during the sessions for Don't Shoot Me).

Don't Shoot Me was a confident second LP in the trilogy created at the Chateau. Expectations were high for his next LP and Elton would deliver.