Single:
Crocodile Rock entered the Australian singles chart* on 1 January 1973 and peaked at #2. It was #12 on the Top 100 of 1973.
Album:
The song is on Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player which entered the Australian albums chart* on 5 March 1973. The album was #1 for 3 weeks from 30 April 1973 until being dethroned by Hot August Night.
Songwriters:
Elton John, Bernie Taupin
Producer:
Gus Dudgeon
Record label of Australian release:
DJM
*Kent Music Report / Australian Chart Book. See About.
Crocodile Rock performed live during Elton’s One Night Only show at Madison Square Garden, New York, in October 2000:
Wikipedia:
Crocodile Rock was written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, and recorded in 1972 at the Château d’Hérouville studio in France (listed as “Strawberry Studios” in the album’s credits), where John and his team had previously recorded the Honky Château album. It was a pre-release single from his forthcoming album Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player.
Read more: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crocodile_Rock
Wikipedia – the Daddy Cool connection:
The song was inspired by John’s discovery of leading Australian band Daddy Cool and their hit single Eagle Rock, which was the most successful Australian single of the early 1970s (with 1,000,000 sold), remaining at #1 for a record of 10 weeks. John heard the song and the group on his 1972 Australian tour and was greatly impressed by it. A photo included in the album packaging features John’s lyricist, Bernie Taupin, wearing a “Daddy Who?” promotional badge.
Read more: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crocodile_Rock
Lyrics:
I remember when rock was young
Me and Susie had so much fun
Holding hands and skimming stones
Had an old gold Chevy, and a place of my own
Click for full lyrics
This song is also on our Spotify playlist Bang a Gong – the 70s
Find more songs to enjoy: Bang a Gong song finder
New to Bang a Gong? Click HERE to learn more about us.