Billboard #1 Hits: #289: “Crocodile Rock”- Elton John. February 3, 1973. #1 for 3 weeks in Billboard Hot 100.
- Single: “Crocodile Rock”- Elton John
- Record Company-MCA
- Genre: Rock and Roll
- Written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin
- Time: 3:23
- B-side:” Elderberry Wine”
- Album-Don’t Shoot Me I”m Only The Piano Player
- Grade: C
- Peaked at #1 3 weeks in Billboard Hot 100. #5 in UK Singles Chart, #1 in Canada, Italy, New Zealand and Switzerland.
Elton’s first #1 hit in the U.S.- he would eventually score eight. I always thought it was rather lame- one of my least favorite Elton hits.
From songfacts-
Elton has described this song as “disposable pop.” Bernie Taupin gave his thoughts in a 1989 interview with Music Connection. Said Taupin: “I don’t want people to remember me for ‘Crocodile Rock.’ I’d much rather they remember me for songs like ‘Candle In The Wind’ and ‘Empty Garden’ songs that convey a message. Well, they don’t really need to convey a message, as long as they can convey a feeling. But there are things like ‘Crocodile Rock,’ which was fun at the time, but it was pop fluff. It was like, ‘Okay, that was fun for now, throw it away, and here’s the next one. So there’s a certain element of our music that is disposable, but I think you’ll find that in anybody’s catalog.”
I like it, although I wouldn’t put it in my top 5or 6 Elton songs. Loved it as a kid, it seemed so fun and different. But I do know other people who in general like Elton but really dislike this one.
I completely agree with your ‘C’ grade, as I quickly tired of this song.
I generally like Elton’s 70’s singles- this is one I never cared much for- and its one of this most famous. Go figure.
While it’s not my favorite Elton John tune, I actually always liked “Crocodile Rock”, even though its chord progression has been used a million times.