THE HIT HAMMER: Elton John's "Crocodile Rock"

(The Hit Hammer is where I'm reviewing each #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100. Starting from when the chart started in 1958 and eventually working my way to the present. To see my inspiration and more information about this blog, please CLICK HERE)

Elton John - "Crocodile Rock"

Hit Number 1: February 3, 1973

Stay at Number 1: 3 Weeks

One thing that's occurred to me is how nostalgic people in the '70s were for '50s culture. Not only did we already see a song about the death of Buddy Holly ("American Pie"), but later in the decade, old stars like Neil Sedaka and Frankie Valli were suddenly big pop stars again. Those guys will even appear in this series again. Here's another case of 1950s nostalgia finding its way to the top of the pop charts in the '70s, but this time it came from an unlikely source. Elton John, a name I'm sure many of you are familiar with, was a piano prodigy from Middlesex, England. The big thing in England in the 1950s was "skiffle music." "Crocodile Rock" is a song about a man who recalls his teenage years in the '50s, and the song's title is the dance he remembers doing at a restaurant back in the day, but the song isn't about the skiffle music that John likely grew up listening to.

One of the references to '50s culture is to the 1955 smash hit "(We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley & His Comets, which was a #1 single on the pre-Hot 100. (It would've been a 10) The line in the song that does that is "while the other kids were rocking around the clock." Of course, John doesn't have any valuable recollection of teen life in the '50s, let alone in America. When "Rock Around the Clock" was a smash hit, he was only 8 years old. John's long time songwriting partner, Bernie Taupin, who also was responsible for the songwriting on "Crocodile Rock", was only 5 when "Rock Around the Clock" hit big. There was no real nostalgia being felt here on the parts of John and Taupin, it was all simply a song scrapped together that was meant to be catchy and relatable for an older generation.

Anyway, to this point, John was already a star in the music world somewhat. He started out as a pub pianist, but before long started writing songs with Taupin that were then being recorded and released on the MCA label in the U.S. He emerged in the top ten twice before "Crocodile Rock", with the spotless ballad "Your Song", which peaked at #8 in 1971, and "Honky Cat", which also peaked at #8 in 1972. (They are an 8 and a 4, respectively) But John had a unique personality that was meant to be shown off, and neither of those songs showed it. He was a flashy character; he liked to dress in exotic outfits, he wanted to jam out on a piano and he wanted to have great loads of fun doing it. "Your Song" is a good song, but that's not what I think of when I think "Elton John." "Honky Cat" is just an extremely mediocre song, and far from the best thing John released. "Crocodile Rock" was the first one of his songs that showed what this man was about. The music-buying public didn't know it yet, but they were getting their first taste of a rising music juggernaut.

As for what I think of it, I think me and Bernie Taupin have similar opinions of "Crocodile Rock". Taupin has said before that he's always thought "Crocodile Rock" was a fun song, but he doesn't ever want people to associate him with this song. He's thought of it as being too "silly," and it personally wouldn't be anything he'd listen to in his spare time. For me, I've always enjoyed the song for its lighthearted attire, but it's not among my favorite of Elton John's songs. I like how we get a glimpse into John's fun personality, and I also like to hear John playing the hell out of that piano. (Something we'll get to hear more of as this series continues on) Though it's obvious John is not singing about his own memories, the song does tell a cool story, albeit a sad one. This narrator is reflecting on his past love, Suzie, and how much fun they used to have doing the "crocodile rock." However, the '60s came, rock died, his girlfriend broke up with him, and he was left with his memories only. (It's really kind of a sad song once you dig into it!)

We all have our nostalgic moments, reflecting on the fun times in our lives. But the song is pretty cheesy, and John's "las" after the chorus are something I can live without. So at the end of the day, "Crocodile Rock" is a fun, enjoyable, even relatable song, but not some amazing piece of songcraft. But as this series continues on, we'll get to see just how popular this man became. Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player, the album "Crocodile Rock" was on, was just the tip of the iceberg. We'll definitely hear a lot more from Elton John.

GRADE: 7/10

10 ALERT!!!:

Steely Dan's jazz lounge banger "Do It Again" peaked at #6 behind "Crocodile Rock". I'll definitely go back, Jack, and listen to it again. It's a 10.