17-11-70 (US title 11-17-70) is a live album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1971. The recording was taken from a live radio broadcast on November 17, 1970, hence the album's title. The U. S. release was renamed 11-17-70 in keeping with the standard U. S. format of listing the month before the day in this style of writing a specific date. 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 bootleg of the whole 60-minute aircast rather than the 40 minutes selected by Dick James Music significantly cut into the U.S. sales of the live album.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 become 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 DJ 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, his piano keyboard was 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 said in interviews (several in fact) that he's not sure he's ever played as well live as he did on that particular night. 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 Elton's live band sounded like prior to the arrival of guitarist Davey Johnstone, who wouldn't be a member for another year or so.

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
   • "Burn Down the Mission"
   • "My Baby Left Me" (Arthur Crudup)
   • "Get Back" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney)

1990 Polygram and 1996 MCA 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
   • "Burn Down the Mission"
   • "My Baby Left Me" (Arthur Crudup)
   • "Get Back" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney)

• The 1996 edition kept the original recorded sequence and added "Amoreena" as an additional bonus track. This version is also different from its 1990 counterpart, in that album producer Gus Dudgeon remixed the tracks to create a notably different sound from the original LP mix by Phil Ramone and Dave Hentschel, which was used for the Polygram CD release. In addition to level changes, Dudgeon's version also added some echo and other effects not present in the earlier mix, which has drawn mixed reactions from fans.

Personnel

• Elton John - piano, Vocals
• Dee Murray - bass, backing vocals
• Nigel Olsson - drums, backing vocals

Production

• Producer: Gus Dudgeon
• Engineer: David Hentschel, Phil Ramone
• Coordination: Steve Brown, Joe Disabato
• Design: David Larkham
• Photography: David Larkham
• Liner notes: Gus Dudgeon, John Tobler
• Emcee: Dave Herman

Charts

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1971	UK Album Charts	20
1971	Billboard US Pop Albums	11

References