17 11 70

Background

The recording was taken from a live radio broadcast on 17 November 1970, hence the album's title. The recording was originally popular among bootleggers which, according to Gus Dudgeon, eventually prompted the record label to release it as an album. It has been said that the release by an eastern bootlegger of the whole 60-minute aircast rather than the 48 minutes selected by Dick James Music significantly cut into the US sales of the live album. However, the entire concert was an 80-minute affair, and double-LPs containing the entire concert were more common than those containing only 60 minutes. Another contributing factor to the original album's soft sales could have been the glut of Elton John product on the market at the time. John also had in release 2 full studio albums (Elton John and Tumbleweed Connection) and a movie soundtrack (Friends) when the live LP was issued. Nonetheless, it became the fourth of John's records to simultaneously land in the Top 100, making him the first act to do so since The Beatles.

According to longtime NYC radio personality Dave Herman (who can be heard at the beginning and end of the album), Elton John cut his hand at some point during the performance, and by the end of the show, the piano keys were covered with blood.

John and his band performed 13 songs during the radio broadcast. The original album included only six of the songs; a seventh, "Amoreena," appeared as a bonus track on the album's 1996 CD reissue. The other six performances remain officially unreleased: "I Need You to Turn To", "Your Song", "Country Comfort", "Border Song", "Indian Sunset" and "My Father's Gun".

John has stated in several interviews that he believes that this recording is his best live performance. He has also cited the album as a great showcase for the musicianship of drummer Nigel Olsson and bassist Dee Murray. It is also the only officially released example of what John's live band sounded like prior to the arrival of guitarist Davey Johnstone, who wouldn't be a member until the release of Honky Château in 1972.

Track listing

All songs by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, except where noted.

Side one

1. "Take Me to the Pilot"  – 6:43
2. "Honky Tonk Women" (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards)  – 4:09
3. "Sixty Years On"  – 8:05
4. "Can I Put You On"  – 6:38

Side two

1. "Bad Side of the Moon"  – 4:30
2. Medley  – 18:20
3. "Burn Down the Mission"
4. "My Baby Left Me" (Arthur Crudup)
5. "Get Back" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney)

1995 Mercury and 1996 Rocket reissue

1. "Bad Side of the Moon"  – 4:57
2. "Amoreena"  – 4:54 (on 1996 reissue only)
3. "Take Me to the Pilot"  – 5:55
4. "Sixty Years On"  – 7:22
5. "Honky Tonk Women" (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards)  – 4:07
6. "Can I Put You On"  – 6:10
7. Medley  – 18:27
8. "Burn Down the Mission"
9. "My Baby Left Me" (Arthur Crudup)
10. "Get Back" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney)

Full set list

1. I Need You To Turn To
2. Your Song
3. Country Comfort
4. Border Song
5. Indian Sunset
6. Amoreena
7. Bad Side of the Moon
8. Take Me to the Pilot
9. Sixty Years On
10. Honky Tonk Women
11. Can I Put You On
12. Burn Down the Mission (including My Baby Left Me & Get Back)
13. My Father's Gun (encore)

Note

1. I Need You to Turn To
2. Your Song
3. Bad Side of the Moon
4. Country Comfort
5. Can I Put You On
6. Border Song
7. Sixty Years On
8. Indian Sunset
9. Honky Tonk Women
10. Amoreena
11. Take Me to the Pilot
12. Burn Down the Mission (including My Baby Left Me & Get Back)
13. My Father's Gun (encore)

Personnel

Production

Charts

Album