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| 10/11 Sat Oct 11 2008 | 6:00 PM |
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| Date | Time | |
| 10/11 Sat Oct 11 2008 | 6:00 PM |
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| Date | Time | |
| 8/29 Fri Aug 29 2008 | 7:30 PM |
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| Date | Time | |
| 8/29 Fri Aug 29 2008 | 7:30 PM |
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| Date | Time | |
| 11/29 Sat Nov 29 2008 | 7:00 PM |
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| 9/20 Sat Sep 20 2008 | 7:00 PM |
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| 9/24 Wed Sep 24 2008 | 7:00 PM |
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| 9/24 Wed Sep 24 2008 | 7:00 PM |
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| 10/14 Tue Oct 14 2008 | 7:00 PM |
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| 10/5 Sun Oct 05 2008 | 8:00 PM |
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| 9/30 Tue Sep 30 2008 | 7:00 PM |
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| Date | Time | |
| 9/30 Tue Sep 30 2008 | 7:00 PM |
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Crocodile Rock" is a song written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, and recorded in June 1972 at the Strawberry Studios, Chateâu d’Hierouville in France. It was released November 20, 1972 in the US and October 27, 1972 in the UK, as a pre-release single from his forthcoming 1973 album Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player, and became his first U.S. number-one single, reaching the top spot on February 3 1973, and stayed there for three weeks.
"Crocodile Rock" was a celebration, of sorts, of rock's earlier days, and in many respects echoed the sounds and styles of Elton's lifelong idols. From a construction standpoint, it was akin to early sixties records, such as those of Neil Sedaka. Elton gave it a carnival feel by playing the farfisa organ, strongly reminiscent of Del Shannon's "Runaway."
The story line concerns happy, carefree teenage years, as fictitious (at least in Elton's case) as the dance the song "recalls." "I had such a miserable time as a child and a teenager," said Elton, who spent much of his youth as a fat, lonely kid. "That's why I'm making up for it now. I regard myself as a teenager today, even though I'm in my mid-twenties," he said at the time.
In America, Elton's career was ignited on August 25, 1970, the night of a remarkable showcase performance at the Troubadour in Los Angeles. Many members of the pop press were there, and they quickly spread the word about "England's brilliant new superstar" (Bernie elected to remain in the background). That first U.S. album, Elton John, featured the hit "Your Song," which went Top 10 in January 1971.
The floodgates were open, and five more albums were rapidly released: Tumbleweed Connection, 11-17-70 (a radio soundtrack), Friends (a movie soundtrack), Madman Across the Water, and Honky Chateau. As his popularity snowballed, Elton took a few weeks out to record another album -- Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only the Piano Player. He cut it in Paris at the "Honky Chateau" -- his name for the Chateau d'Herouville.
"Crocodile Rock" was issued about two months ahead of the album it came off, and broke in the U.S. in early December 1972. By March of '73, it was a million-seller, and the number-one single in America. Elton's record company had an extra reason to celebrate, as it was also their first release under a new name -- MCA Records. With one swoop, both the label and the song were established in the marketplace
"Crocodile Rock" is dominated by a Farfisa organ, played by John. The Farfisa is instantly recognizable by its cheesy, carnival-like sound. The tune features an instantly recognisable honky-tonk rhythm, while the lyrics take a nostalgic look at early rock 'n' roll, and a relationship with a woman named Suzie, which the writer instantly associates with the music of the era. Regular Elton John band members, such as Davey Johnstone and Nigel Olsson, are among the song's performers.
The song is reported to have been inspired by John's discovery of leading Australian band Daddy Cool and their hit single "Eagle Rock", which was one of the most successful Australian singles of the early 1970s. John heard the song and the group on his 1972 Australian tour and was apparently greatly impressed by it. The cover of John's 1973 album Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player (the album on which "Crocodile Rock" is included) features a photo of John's lyricist Bernie Taupin wearing a "Daddy Who?" promotional badge. The song also appears to have been strongly influenced by the hit "Little Darlin'", most famously recorded in 1957 by The Diamonds (although the original version was recorded by The Gladiolas.)
On the tribute album Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin recorded in 1991 by a symposium of eminent performers as the soundtrack of the documentary film Two Rooms, the song "Crocodile Rock" is covered by The Beach Boys. Their interpretation emphasizes the vocal reminiscence of the Rock and Roll era and tones down the honky tonk and cha-cha-cha ambiance of the original.
The Crocodile Rock Cafe has more shows than the Allentown Fair and Musikfest put together. Crocodile Rock has brought the Lehigh Valley many National Acts over the past 7 years.
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