In 1973, Elton launched his own record label, Rocket Records. This year saw the release of the poppy, hit-filled ‘Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only the Piano Player’ and the more thoughtful, album-oriented double-LP ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’.

22nd January and 26th January, saw the release, in the US (MCA 2100) and the UK, respectively, of Don’t Shoot me, I’m only the Piano Player. Recorded at Strawberry Studios France, it was re-mixed at Trident Studios, London.

Don't Shoot Me, produced the hits "Crocodile Rock" and "Daniel"; the former became his first U.S. number one hit. Crocodile Rock reached number one in the Billboard chart on February 3, 1973, having entered the chart at number 73 on December 9, 1972. It stayed at the number one position for three weeks until February 24, 1973 (Ironically this, like his other famous 1970s solo hits, would be popular in his native land but never top the UK Singles Chart; this achievement would have to wait two decades). Both the album and "Crocodile Rock" were the first album and single, respectively on the consolidated MCA Records label in the USA, replacing MCA's other labels including Uni. The UK LP released on DJM DJLPH 427 charted for 42 weeks and hit Number 1.

January 1973 -Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only the Piano Player DJM DJLPH427

CD - Don't Shoot me (I'm Only the Piano Player) - 827690-2

January 1973 - UK Cassette -Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only the Piano Player DJM ZCDJL 427

In January, Elton gave an interview for Melody maker magazine on the upcoming album. Elton: "We made the album last June, and it seemed like it would never come out. But I wanted a long gap and we only had one LP out last year. I didn't want the situation where every few months there was an Elton John album out."
"I really believe fame can make you into a withdrawn case. Look at George Harrison, Dylan, Presley, Lennon and Cassidy - they rarely go out. I love success. If I don't enjoy it what would be the point? But I know a lot of stars who don't get enjoyment out of it and are really miserable. I love going out - I'm not going to become a hermit for anyone. Mind you, when you get plagued by autograph hunters, and you are right in the middle of a meal - that's a bit of an aggravation."

Early in the month, Elton released the UK single "Daniel"  (Jan 10 1973) on DJM DJS 275. With the B-side of Skyline Pigeon it stayed in the UK chart for 10 weeks, peaking at number 4.
Elton recalls: “Dick James said he didn't want another single released to detract from sales of the new album, so I've more or less forced him to put it out. He has disowned it, so I am having to pay for all the advertising. But he says he will pay for the adverts if the single makes the Top Ten. Isn't that nice?"

January 10th 1973 - UK single - Daniel/Skyline Pigeon- DJM DJS275

The concert schedule for Elton, in January, included Carnegie Hall, New York City and the New Musical Express conducted an interview about touring.
Elton: "I've never really done a major British tour so I really would like to do one of about three and a half weeks and do ballrooms and places like that. There's definitely going to be a big tour, either in February or March. We do neglect England but it is just finding the places and the time to play. I find touring rather boring, not the gigs, but driving to Bolton isn't quite as glamorous as driving to Santiago. But we really have got to get our finger out to do it. We did a short tour of England just before we came on this one and it was really amazing. There were great crowds and we owe it to them to go out there and do it again."

January finished with Elton performing on stage with the British icon, Dusty Springfield

On February 3rd 1973, full page newspaper ads were promoting his MCA-distributed label The Rocket Record Company. The most notable acts to sign were Neil Sedaka ("Bad Blood", on which he sang background vocals) and Kiki Dee, in which he took personal interest. The firm was co-owned by Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Gus Dudgeon, John Reid and Steve Brown.

It never takes Elton long to resume his performances and touring schedule, so, on February 20th he performs on the UK TV show, The Old Grey Whistle Test and on 25th, launches his 19 show British tour. The band features Elton (piano), Dee Murray (bass), Davey Johnstone (guitar) and Nigel Olsson (drums). At one venue, the band is kept barricaded in the building for an hour after the show as they are mobbed by fans.

The tour includes: Scotland: Greens Playhouse, Glasgow
ENGLAND: Birmingham Town Hall, Birmingham, De Montfort Hall, Leicester, Liverpool Empire, Liverpool, Guildhall, Preston; City Hall, Newcastle Upon Tyne; City Hall, Sheffield; Leeds University, Leeds; Colston Hall, Bristol; The Dome, Brighton; Winter Gardens, Bournemouth; Guildhall, Southampton; Sundown Theatre, Mile End Road ; Sundown Theatre, Edmonton (Rod Stewart presents Elton with a birthday bouquet of flowers onstage during the show!); Sundown Theatre, Brixton and the Coventry Theatre, Coventry. The tour continued into March and included the Hard Rock, Manchester, which was the last of show of the British tour.

March 26th 1973 was the US release of Daniel (b/w Skyline Pigeon)
It was released on MCA 40046 and charted for 15 weeks, peaking at number 2.

A long time friend and fellow recording artist, Kiki Dee, released her US LP in April, titled: ' Loving and Free' on MCA 395. Elton plays piano and provides backing vocals on most of the tracks. Elton also co-produced the album.
As a reciprocal show of support, Kiki Dee provides backup vocals for Elton’s 7 show concert tour in Italy. This includes:  Naples, Rome, Bologna, Florence, Turin, Genoa and Milan.

During May (27th), Elton performs an impromptu performance with his friend Paul McCartney. It was the "End Of The UK Tour" party held at the reception hall of the Cafe Royal in Regent Street, London for Paul’s band, Wings. Paul played guitar and drums while Elton joins in on piano.

In May 1973, Elton and the band were in Strawberry Studios, France for the recording of 'Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting', ' Jack Rabbit', 'Whenever You're Ready', 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road', 'Screw You', ' Candle In The Wind', ' Bennie And The Jets', and ' Harmony'.

A single from these sessions was released in the UK on June 29th. The UK, 45 released on DJM DJX 502 was Saturday Night's All Right For Fighting, with the B-side of Jack Rabbit and Whenever You're Ready (We'll Go Steady Again). It charted for 9 weeks and reached number 7.

June 29, 1973 -Saturday Night's Alright- DJM DJX 502

Elton said at the time, “I'm getting a bit fed-up with singer-songwriter records. They drive me mad. I was labelled a singer-songwriter and did four LP's in that syndrome. But I've always fought against the Elton John syndrome. People take it too seriously. I'd like us to be a band. On the first albums we used a lot of session men, but we could never do it that way now, planning it down to the last flute."
July 16th was the US release of the same single. MCA 40105 charted for 12 weeks and reached number 12.
 
July and August was Elton’s radio time. In Canada there was a radio documentary titled, The Elton John Story, broadcast on 28th with part 2 broadcast on the 29th (Canada Radio - CJOM FM)

Following this, in the UK, Elton was interviewed for a documentary, The Beatles Story on UK radio – BBC, August 8th.

August 15th to October 21st 1973, Elton performed an extensive US tour. The 43 show American tour that begins in Mobile, Alabama on August 15 and ends October 21 in Gainesville, Florida. Elton broke the stadium attendance records set by Elvis Presley. During the Atlanta tour stop, Elton and Iggy Pop made an impromptu club appearance at Richard's.

During August Elton was featured in the US magazine, Rolling Stone. The Cover story on Elton was an interview by Paul Gambaccini and featured Bernie Taupin.
Elton said: "Bowie is having a hit with 'Space Oddity' because I had a hit with ' Rocket Man”

More radio coverage in August sees Elton featured in a UK radio documentary, ‘The Story Of Pop”. It aired on 22nd August on BBC Radio 1. The accompanying magazine featured Elton on the cover.

August 30th 1973 was ‘The Poet And The Pub Pianist’. Also BBC Radio 1. The interview was by Brian Matthews with Part 2 being broadcast on September 15.

In September (7th), it was time for the next single. The UK release of 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road', on DJM DJS 285 had the B-side Screw You . It charted for 16 weeks and reached number 6)

September 7, 1973 -Goodbye Yellow Brick Road- DJM DJS 285

Also on September 7th Elton performed at the Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles. This show was recorded and is available on vinyl with the title "All The Young Girls Love Alice". During the show, a live crocodile crawled across the stage while Clive Franks (Elton John's sound engineer) played electric piano dressed as a crocodile!

Elton’s showmanship excels during this show. Linda Lovelace introduces him following several look-alikes (The Beatles, Frankenstein, Marilyn Monroe, the Pope, Groucho Marx and Queen Elizabeth) and the stage consisted of five coloured grand pianos, palm trees and a staircase. The piano tops were raised together, spelling ‘ELTON’ and releasing hundreds of white doves. Chris Charlesworth, in Melody Maker's September 15th issue, calls this show “Elton's finest hour”.

September and October continue with Elton sell out US tour. The U.G.A. Coliseum, Atlanta (October 25th), was the Final night of the American tour.
Whilst on tour in America, DJM released Goodbye Yellow Brick Road in the UK. DJM DJLPO 1001, charted for 84 weeks reaching number 1. Recorded at Strawberry Studios, France and Remixed at Trident Studios, London it has been regarded as one of Eltons best albums.

October 1973 -Goodbye Yellow Brick Road DJM DJLPO 1001

CD - 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' - DJM 821747-2

October 1973 - UK Cassette -Goodbye Yellow Brick Road- DJM ZCDJD 1001

Other vinyl copies owned include; DD20011/2 (Dutch), L70.025 (UK) and DJE 29001 (UK)

The cover art by Ian Beck has become legendary. It gained instant critical acclaim and topped the chart on both sides of the Atlantic. It also temporarily established Elton John as a glam rock star. It contained the #1 hit "Bennie and the Jets", along with the popular and praised "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", "Candle in the Wind", "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting", "Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding" and "Grey Seal". The US version was released on MCA MCA2-10003 and contained the same layout and songs as the UK release. Rolling Stone magazine reviewed the album in issue #148.

The first single from the album was released in the US on October 15th. MCA 40148 reached number 2 and charted for 17 weeks. The B-side was called 'Young Man's Blues' as ‘Screw You’ was deemed inappropriate for North America.

Back in the studio during October, Elton played piano on the Jackson Browne album For Everyman. Released on ASYLUM SD5067. Elton played on 'Red Neck Friend' and was credited to the pseudonym: Rockaday Johnnie.

More studio work during November was in Trident Studios, London where Elton recorded ' Step Into Christmas' and ' Ho! Ho! Ho! Who'd Be A Turkey At Christmas', soon to be released as a single on November 26th – in time for Xmas! The UK release on DJM DJS 290 only reached number 24. The US release on MCA 65018 did not chart!

November 26, 1973 -Step Into Christmas- DJM DJS 290

Late November (27th) until Xmas eve, Elton was on tour in the UK.
The 14 show England Christmas Tour, concluded with 5 nights in London at the Hammersmith Odeon. Elton performed with "The Kiki Dee Band" at Colston Hall, Bristol; King's Hall Belle Vue, Manchester; Empire Theatre, Liverpool; Apollo Theatre, Glasgow, City Hall, Newcastle; American School, London and The Town Hall, Birmingham.

A rare recording session took place on December 18th when Elton entered the BBC Langham 1 Studio. He recorded the following songs on “pub” piano with the studio staff clowning around.
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer / White Christmas / Jingle Bells; Blowin' In The Wind / She Belongs To Me / Mr. Tambourine Man; Don't Dilly Dally On The Way / Lilly Of Laguna / Down At The Old Bull & Bush / Knees Up Mother Brown / Hokey-Cokey. Daniel / Your Song medley.

This was broadcast on the John Peel, Sounds Of The Seventies Christmas Day Special on December 25, 1973. 

December 20th to 24th Elton and the band performed six Christmas shows in five days in Hammersmith, London. The band consists of Dee Murray, Nigel Olsson, Davey Johnstone, Ray Cooper and Clive Banks. The Hammersmith Odeon (22nd) gig, broadcast on BBC radio 1, produced vinyl recordings titled ' Elderberry Wine', '21 Years Of Fun' and 'Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer'. It has also produced many CD recordings such as those by Element of Crime in 1997 (Catalog Number: ELEMENTS-028) and Black Panther in 1998 (Catalog Number: ABP-036).

A double album charting the Story of Pop was released in germany during 1973. Titled 'Pop Cronic' it is a compilation of Eltons work to date.