17-11-70
Encyclopedia
17-11-70 is a live album
by British singer/songwriter Elton John
, released in 1971. The recording was taken from a live radio broadcast on 17 November 1970, hence the album's title. The US release was renamed 11-17-70 in keeping with the standard US 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 bootlegger
of the whole 60-minute aircast rather than the 40 minutes selected by Dick James Music significantly cut into the US 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 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 for another year or so.
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
by British singer/songwriter Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
, released in 1971. The recording was taken from a live radio broadcast on 17 November 1970, hence the album's title. The US release was renamed 11-17-70 in keeping with the standard US 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
Gus Dudgeon
Angus Boyd Dudgeon , most commonly known as Gus Dudgeon was an English record producer, most notable for production of many of Elton John's recordings.-Early career:...
, eventually prompted the record label to release it as an album. It has been said that the release by an eastern bootlegger
Bootleg recording
A bootleg recording is an audio or video recording of a performance that was not officially released by the artist or under other legal authority. The process of making and distributing such recordings is known as bootlegging...
of the whole 60-minute aircast rather than the 40 minutes selected by Dick James Music significantly cut into the US 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
Amoreena
"Amoreena" is a song written by singer/songwriter Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin, and is the eighth track on John's 1970 Tumbleweed Connection album. A live version is also available on the 1995 reissue of the 11-17-70 album. The song accompanied the opening credits of the 1975 film Dog Day...
," 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
I Need You to Turn To
I Need You to Turn To is a song by Elton John with lyrics by Bernie Taupin. It is the second track off his 1970 album, "Elton John".-Musical structure:...
," "Your Song
Your Song
"Your Song" is a ballad composed and performed by English musician Elton John with lyrics by his long-time collaborator Bernie Taupin. It appeared on John's self-titled second album in 1970....
," "Country Comfort," "Border Song
Border Song
"Border Song" is a gospel ballad originally performed by British musician Elton John. Lyrics are credited to Bernie Taupin . The music was composed by John....
," "Indian Sunset
Indian Sunset
"Indian Sunset" is a 1971 song, written and recorded by Elton John, with lyrics by his long-time songwriting partner, Bernie Taupin. It was from John's album Madman Across the Water...
," and "My Father's Gun
My Father's Gun
"My Father's Gun" is a song by Elton John with lyrics by Bernie Taupin. It's the fifth track on his third studio album, Tumbleweed Connection. The song tells the story of a young Confederate whose father has just been killed during the American Civil War...
."
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 for another year or so.
Side one
- "Take Me To The PilotTake Me to the Pilot"Take Me to the Pilot" is a rock song performed by British musician Elton John. The song was written by Bernie Taupin and composed by John for his eponymous second album in 1970....
" – 6:43 - "Honky Tonk WomenHonky Tonk Women"Honky Tonk Women" is a 1969 hit song by The Rolling Stones. Released as a single on 4 July 1969 in the UK and a week later in the US, it topped the charts in both nations.-Inspiration and Recording:...
" (Mick JaggerMick JaggerSir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
, Keith RichardsKeith RichardsKeith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting...
) – 4:09 - "Sixty Years OnSixty Years On"Sixty Years On" is a song written and performed by Elton John which first appeared on his eponymous album, Elton John. The lyrics were written by long-time writing partner Bernie Taupin....
" – 8:05 - "Can I Put You On" – 6:38
Side two
- "Bad Side of the MoonBad Side of the Moon"Bad Side of the Moon" is a song by Elton John with lyrics by Bernie Taupin. It is the B-side of his single "Border Song", and was originally released in 1970. It was included on the reissue of his self-titled album in 1995 and on his live album, 17-11-70...
" – 4:30 - Medley – 18:20
- "Burn Down The MissionBurn Down the Mission"Burn Down the Mission" is the tenth and final song on Elton John's album Tumbleweed Connection, released in 1970.-Song information:"Burn Down the Mission" is musically driven by the story told by Bernie Taupin's lyrics, as is common in John/Taupin collaborations.The lyrics themselves, while...
" - "My Baby Left MeMy Baby Left MeMy Baby Left Me is a rhythm and blues song written by blues singer Arthur Crudup in the late 1940s.It gained further exposure in covers by Elvis Presley, who placed his version on the b-side to his 1956 single "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You"; by Creedence Clearwater Revival, who recorded it as...
" (Arthur CrudupArthur CrudupArthur "Big Boy" Crudup was an American Delta blues singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known outside blues circles for writing songs such as "That's All Right" , "My Baby Left Me" and "So Glad You're Mine", later covered by Elvis Presley and dozens of other artists.-Career:Arthur Crudup...
) - "Get BackGet Back"Get Back" is a song by The Beatles, composed by Paul McCartney and frequently attributed to Lennon–McCartney. The song was originally released as a single on 11 April 1969, and credited to "The Beatles with Billy Preston." A different mix of the song later became the closing track of Let It Be ,...
" (John LennonJohn LennonJohn Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
, Paul McCartneyPaul McCartneySir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
)
- "Burn Down The Mission
1995 Mercury and 1996 Rocket reissue
- "Bad Side of the MoonBad Side of the Moon"Bad Side of the Moon" is a song by Elton John with lyrics by Bernie Taupin. It is the B-side of his single "Border Song", and was originally released in 1970. It was included on the reissue of his self-titled album in 1995 and on his live album, 17-11-70...
" – 4:57 - "AmoreenaAmoreena"Amoreena" is a song written by singer/songwriter Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin, and is the eighth track on John's 1970 Tumbleweed Connection album. A live version is also available on the 1995 reissue of the 11-17-70 album. The song accompanied the opening credits of the 1975 film Dog Day...
" – 4:54 (on 1996 reissue only) - "Take Me To The PilotTake Me to the Pilot"Take Me to the Pilot" is a rock song performed by British musician Elton John. The song was written by Bernie Taupin and composed by John for his eponymous second album in 1970....
" – 5:55 - "Sixty Years OnSixty Years On"Sixty Years On" is a song written and performed by Elton John which first appeared on his eponymous album, Elton John. The lyrics were written by long-time writing partner Bernie Taupin....
" – 7:22 - "Honky Tonk WomenHonky Tonk Women"Honky Tonk Women" is a 1969 hit song by The Rolling Stones. Released as a single on 4 July 1969 in the UK and a week later in the US, it topped the charts in both nations.-Inspiration and Recording:...
" (Mick JaggerMick JaggerSir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
, Keith RichardsKeith RichardsKeith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting...
) – 4:07 - "Can I Put You On" – 6:10
- Medley – 18:27
- "Burn Down The MissionBurn Down the Mission"Burn Down the Mission" is the tenth and final song on Elton John's album Tumbleweed Connection, released in 1970.-Song information:"Burn Down the Mission" is musically driven by the story told by Bernie Taupin's lyrics, as is common in John/Taupin collaborations.The lyrics themselves, while...
" - "My Baby Left MeMy Baby Left MeMy Baby Left Me is a rhythm and blues song written by blues singer Arthur Crudup in the late 1940s.It gained further exposure in covers by Elvis Presley, who placed his version on the b-side to his 1956 single "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You"; by Creedence Clearwater Revival, who recorded it as...
" (Arthur CrudupArthur CrudupArthur "Big Boy" Crudup was an American Delta blues singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known outside blues circles for writing songs such as "That's All Right" , "My Baby Left Me" and "So Glad You're Mine", later covered by Elvis Presley and dozens of other artists.-Career:Arthur Crudup...
) - "Get BackGet Back"Get Back" is a song by The Beatles, composed by Paul McCartney and frequently attributed to Lennon–McCartney. The song was originally released as a single on 11 April 1969, and credited to "The Beatles with Billy Preston." A different mix of the song later became the closing track of Let It Be ,...
" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney)
- "Burn Down The Mission
- The 1996 edition changed the running order and added "Amoreena" as a bonus track. This version is also different from its 1992 CD 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.
Full set list
- I Need You To Turn To
- Your Song
- Bad Side Of The Moon
- Country Comfort
- Can I Put You On
- Border Song
- Sixty Years On
- Indian Sunset
- Honky Tonk Women
- Amoreena
- Take Me To The Pilot
- Burn Down The Mission (including My Baby Left Me & Get Back)
- My Father's Gun (encore)
Personnel
- Elton JohnElton JohnSir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
– piano, vocals - Dee MurrayDee MurrayDee Murray was an English bassist, best known as a member of Elton John's original rock band.-Biography:Murray was born David Murray Oates in Southgate, London in 1946...
– bass, backing vocals - Nigel OlssonNigel OlssonNigel Olsson is an English rock drummer, who is best known for his work with Elton John. Olsson helped establish the Elton John sound as one of the first members of John's band, on drums, percussion and backing vocals. When not working with Elton, Olsson has taken up the role of a session musician...
– drums, backing vocals
Production
- Producer: Gus DudgeonGus DudgeonAngus Boyd Dudgeon , most commonly known as Gus Dudgeon was an English record producer, most notable for production of many of Elton John's recordings.-Early career:...
- Engineer: David HentschelDavid HentschelDavid Hentschel is an English recording engineer, writer and music producer who engineered on George Harrison's All Things Must Pass and Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, as well as with artists including Genesis, Elton John, Ringo Starr, Queen, Marti Webb, Andy Summers, Mike Oldfield, Peter...
, Phil RamonePhil RamonePhil Ramone is a South-African violinist, composer, recording engineer, and record producer.-Biography:As a young child in South Africa, Ramone was a musical prodigy, beginning to play the violin at age three and performing for Queen Elizabeth II at age ten... - Coordination: Steve Brown, Joe Disabato
- Design: David Larkham
- Photography: David Larkham
- Liner notes: Gus Dudgeon, John ToblerJohn ToblerJohn Hugen Tobler is a British rock music journalist, writer, occasional broadcaster, and record company executive.With Pete Frame, he was one of the founders of ZigZag magazine in April 1969...
- Emcee: Dave HermanDave HermanDave Herman is a former American collegiate and professional football offensive tackle. He played collegiately for Michigan State University and began his professional career with the American Football League's New York Jets, for whom he played from 1964 through 1969 and for the same team in the...
Charts
Album| Year | Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | UK Album Charts | 20 |
| 1971 | Billboard US Pop Albums | 11 |
| 1971 | Canadian RPM 100 RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... Album Chart |
10 |