🔘 17‑11‑70 – Album: Apr. 1971

Elton John’s first live album captured the raw power of his early trio — piano, bass, and drums — recorded during a WABC‑FM broadcast in New York. The performance showcased a harder, more improvisational side of Elton, contrasting sharply with the lush studio productions of his early ’70s albums. Over time, the record became a cult favourite and a definitive document of his pre‑superstardom live sound.

Released on April 9 1971 by DJM Records (DJLPS 414), the album marked Elton’s first official live release. Produced by Gus Dudgeon, it showcased extended improvisations, rock‑and‑roll medleys, and the tight musicianship of the classic Murray–Olsson rhythm section. Though initially overshadowed by Elton’s rapid output, the album later earned acclaim for its intensity and authenticity.

Label: DJM

Catalogue Number: DJLPS 414

Format: LP (12")

Released: 9 April 1971 (UK)

🔘 Track List

UK LP — DJM – DJLPS 414 — 1971

Side A

• Take Me to the Pilot — 6:43

• Honky Tonk Women — 4:09

• Sixty Years On — 8:05

• Can I Put You On — 6:38

Side B

• Bad Side of the Moon — 4:30

• Burn Down the Mission — 18:20

• My Baby Left Me — (within medley)

• Get Back — (within medley)

Writing Credits

• Elton John & Bernie Taupin — “Take Me to the Pilot,” “Sixty Years On,” “Can I Put You On,” “Bad Side of the Moon,” “Burn Down the Mission”

• Mick Jagger & Keith Richards — “Honky Tonk Women”

• Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup — “My Baby Left Me”

• Lennon–McCartney — “Get Back”

Production Credits

• Produced by: Gus Dudgeon

• Arranged by: Elton John Trio

• Recorded: 17 November 1970, A&R Recording Studios, New York

• Reduction Mix: Dick James Studio, London

🔘 Key Highlights

• Released 9 April 1971

• No lead single — album built from a live radio broadcast

• Chart performance: UK #20, US #11, Canada #10, Australia #20

• Recorded at A&R Studios, New York

• Notable collaborators: Phil Ramone, Gus Dudgeon, Dee Murray, Nigel Olsson

• Era significance: the only official document of Elton’s pre‑1972 live trio

🔘 The Story

17‑11‑70 originated from a live WABC‑FM broadcast intended only for radio. Bootlegs of the performance circulated widely, prompting DJM and Uni Records to release an official version. The album captured Elton at his most unfiltered — no orchestra, no overdubs, just a three‑piece band delivering explosive, extended performances.

Phil Ramone engineered the broadcast, famously noting that Elton cut his hand during the show, leaving blood on the piano keys by the finale. The original LP included only six tracks from the 80‑minute concert, with the remainder unreleased until decades later.

Despite competing with multiple Elton releases in 1971, the album became his fourth record to appear simultaneously in the US Top 100 — a feat not achieved since The Beatles. Elton has repeatedly cited this as one of his finest live performances, and a definitive showcase of Murray and Olsson’s musicianship.

In 2017, for Record Store Day, Elton issued 17‑11‑70+, restoring seven additional songs and presenting the most complete version of the concert ever released.

🔘 Personnel

• Elton John — piano, lead vocals

• Dee Murray — bass, backing vocals

• Nigel Olsson — drums, backing vocals

Production

• Gus Dudgeon — production

• Phil Ramone — recording engineer

• Clive Franks — UK reduction engineer

• David Hentschel — US reduction engineer

• Steve Brown — coordination

• Joe Disabato — coordination

• David Larkham — sleeve design, photography

• Gus Dudgeon & John Tobler — liner notes

• Dave Herman — emcee

🔘 Variants (UK)

• LP — DJM – DJLPS 414 — UK — 1971

• 8‑Track — DJM – Y8DJL 414 — UK — 1971

• Cassette — DJM – ZCDJL 414 — UK — 1971

• Issued in standard DJM sleeve with Garrod & Lofthouse printing

🔘 Sleeves

• Primary sleeve: live‑performance portrait of Elton at the piano

• Back cover: tracklist, credits, DJM branding

• Record label: yellow DJM labels with black text

• Regional variants: US retitled 11‑17‑70

🔘 Chart Performance

UK — Official Albums Chart

Peak Position: 20

Total Weeks: 4

First Chart Date: April 1971

US — Billboard 200

Peak Position: 11

Canada — RPM

Peak Position: 10

Australia — Kent Music Report

Peak Position: 20

2017 Reissue (17‑11‑70+)

• Scotland — #86

🔘 Context & Notes

• Album era: early Elton John trio period

• Singles: none

• Production: Gus Dudgeon

• Sleeve notes: David Larkham

• Historical placement: Elton’s first live album; widely regarded as his best early performance

• Reissues: 1996 CD (adds “Amoreena”), 2017 17‑11‑70+ expanded edition

🔘 Related Material

View tags at foot of page

🔘 Discography

Friends — 1971

17‑11‑70 — 1971

Madman Across the Water — 1971

🔘 Mini‑Timeline

✦ 17 Nov 1970 — Concert recorded at A&R Studios

✦ 9 Apr 1971 — UK album release

✦ 1971 — Album charts in UK, US, Canada, Australia

✦ 2017 — Expanded 17‑11‑70+ issued for Record Store Day

🔘 Glam Flashback

A stripped‑down Elton, pounding the piano with bloodied hands, proving he could rock as hard as any glam‑era titan.

#ReleaseChronicle #EltonJohn #171170 #1971 #DJM

🔘 Sources

Primary reference sources: DJM Records, Discogs, Official Charts Company, Billboard, RPM, archival documentation.

🔘 Copyright Notice

All album artwork, liner notes, and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non‑commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership is claimed or implied