Nov 20th in Pop History
On this day, November 20th, in…
(1972 • 49 years ago today)
Elton John releases Crocodile Rock.
In those early years, as a radio listener, I was continually amazed at Elton John’s diverse range of styles. He did Your Song, Levon, Tiny Dancer, Rocket Man, Benny and the Jets, and Honky Cat, all in a wide range of diverse musical styles and stylings. Now, in a nostalgia-driven moment of the early-mid 70s, Elton does a 50s song! Everyone was longing for the 50s, TV shows like Happy Days, reruns of Lucy and the Beaver, and movies like American Graffiti. Now, everywhere there seemed to be pop music covers of Buddy Holly, the Everly Brothers, Ben E. King, and many doo-wop hits from back in the day. But with Elton, he doesn’t need to cover an old 50s song - he creates his own! Crocodile Rock! It becomes his first # 1 hit in the U.S!
Crocodile Rock is a song written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, and recorded in the summer of 1972 at the “Strawberry Studios" in France, where John and his team had previously recorded the Honky Chateau album. Crocodile Rock was released on October 27, 1972 in the UK and November 20th in the U.S., 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. It was certified Gold on February 5, 1973 and Platinum on September 13, 1995.
Collaborating with lyricist Bernie Taupin since 1967 on more than 30 albums, John has sold over 300 million records, making him one of the best selling artists of all time. He has more than fifty Top 40 hits, including seven number ones in the UK and nine in the US, as well as seven consecutive number-one albums in the US. Enjoy this one — I know you’ll love it!
Elton John Greatest Hits 1970-2002
Attached here are a couple of videos of Elton John classics, starting with Crocodile Rock
Here is Elton John performing Crocodile Rock live At Madison Square Garden
Here is Elton John’s official music video for the great song Tiny Dancer
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Also, on this day, November 20th, in…
• 1965 - I Hear A Symphony by The Supremes goes to # 1 in The U.S. for the first of two weeks
• 1965 - Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass had the top Easy Listening song for a fourth week with A Taste Of Honey
• 1971 - Have You Seen Her by the Chi-Lites was the # 1 R&B song on this day
• 1971 - Bread reached the top of the Easy Listening chart with Baby I'm-a Want You
• 1976 - Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr., on this day, reached # 1 on the R&B chart with their great song You Don't Have To Be A Star (To Be In My Show)
