Around the late 1800's, if a cowboy was having a really bad day, he might take out his frustration on the saloon musician. In 1972, Elton John released an album whose title reflected that sentiment. What was it?

This 1972 album title is a direct and humorous reference to a popular trope from the American Old West. In the rough-and-tumble saloons of the late 1800s, the piano player provided the constant soundtrack for drinking, gambling, and brawling. As an easy and often defenseless target, the musician could become the scapegoat for a cowboy's bad luck at cards or general frustration. This idea became a cliché in countless Western films, where signs were often posted near the piano with a plea like, "Please don't shoot the piano player. He is doing his best."

Elton John, as one of the most famous piano-playing rock stars in the world, cheekily adopted this phrase for his sixth studio album. The title was a perfect piece of self-aware humor, casting himself as the vulnerable saloon musician. The album's cover art leaned into the concept, designed to look like a vintage movie poster advertising a film in which Elton John is the star. The record was a massive commercial success, spawning two of his most iconic hits, "Crocodile Rock" and "Daniel," and proving that far from wanting to shoot him, audiences couldn't get enough of this particular piano player.

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