Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player

Dont Shoot Me Im Only the Piano Player

Amazon.com essential recording

One of the best entries from Elton John and Bernie Taupins remarkably successful mid-70s run, this album still holds up well over a quarter of a century after its release. Even casual fans will recognize "Daniel," "Elderberry Wine," and "Crocodile Rock," but "Teacher I Need You," "Have Mercy on the Criminal" and "Im Going to Be a Teenage Idol" are equally good. Eltons backing band at the time (guitarist Davey Johnstone, bassist Dee Murray, and drummer Nigel Olsson) was easily his best, and producer Gus Dudgeon and orchestral arranger Paul Buckmaster bathed the tracks in a warm and enticing glow. The only complaint is that, due to its size, the CD reissue doesnt remotely do justice to the colorful packaging of the original album. --Dan Epstein

Album Description

Japanese-only SHM-CD (Super High Material CD) paper sleeve pressing of this classic album from the British singer/songwriter and entertainer, originally released in 1973. SHM-CDs can be played on any audio player and delivers unbelievably high-quality sound. You wont believe its the same CD! Includes four bonus tracks. Universal. 2008.
Rate Points :4.5
Binding :Audio CD
Label :Island
Manufacturer :Island
MPN :528154
ProductGroup :Music
Studio :Island
Publisher :Island
UPC :731452815422
EAN :0731452815422
Price :$9.98USD
Lowest Price :$4.90USD
Customer ReviewsJapans SHM-CD is the same sound quality as the 1996 Gus Dudgeon remaster
Rating Point :5 Helpful Point :2
The Japan LP replica edition SHM-CD is no improvement in sound over the 1996 Gus Dudgeon remaster - in fact if you lay out the wav file on cool edit pro, youll find theyre exactly the same.

Eltons Best
Rating Point :5 Helpful Point :0
Ive always regarded this as Eltons best and I also think it has aged better than Yellow Brick Road. On this album, Elton had just come into his full creative powers as a songwriter and the album is near perfect. Elton was not especially regarded as a great singer up to this album and at this point, he started regularly writing great songs that were perfect for his voice. The two hits-"Daniel" and "Crocadile Rock"-are a little overplayed but within the context of the strong album material, I continue to include them on my MP3 player and I like listening to the album as a whole. I would even venture to say that "Teacher, I need you", "Eldeberry Wine", "Midnight Creeper" and "Blues for Baby and me" are some of my favorite Elton John songs.

Elton John - Continues His Commercial Rise
Rating Point :4 Helpful Point :0
After "Honky Chateau" became Eltons first album to top the charts, he continued on with this next release in a still more commercial direction. This album gets mixed reviews from John fans. Fans of Johns older material cried sell out, as Elton continued to gain more and more commercial success, while this and the previous album gained Elton a whole new following of fans at the same time. For me "Piano Player" is a solid album and although not Eltons best, it is mostly quite good. Of the two hit singles I like "Daniel" a lot better than "Crocodile Rock" which never really clicked with me. Of the album tracks there are several good to great ones including "Teacher I Need You" (which pre-dated Van Halens "Hot For Teacher" by about a decade), the funky pop rock of "Elderberry Wine", "Blues For My Baby And Me", the epic "Have Mercy On The Criminal" which is my favorite song on the disc, and the album closer "High Flying Bird". Elton was on a commercial role at this time and "Dont Shoot Me" remains one of his classics.

Classic Elton
Rating Point :5 Helpful Point :0
This album includes a number of Eltons 45s that my mother and uncle listened to as kids. Good sound and quality. This is still early in Eltons career and it is interesting to see how much different he sounds in this album from more recent albums. Elton John fans should have this album.

Great SHM-CD Sound!
Rating Point :5 Helpful Point :0
Since most of us can sing this soundtrack of our youth word-for-word in its entirety, and since others here have detailed the songs with much more detail and authority than I can, Ill just stick to the SHM sound quality. (Thats what many of you who are thinking of repurchasing the CD are probably wondering about anyway.)

I own a few of these CDs and am a big fan of them. The sound is crisp and clear, and theres a lot of air in the reproduction. Its true that they are pricey, but to me, its worth the few extra dollars. I dont think you will be blown away by the technology, but if clean sound and subtle nuances are important to you, then I think youll be satisfied with this CD. I certainly am.

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