Elton John 11-17-70 CD

Personnel includes: Elton John (vocals, piano); Dee Murray (bass); Nigel Olsson (drums).
Recorded live at A&R Recording Studios, New York, New York on November 17, 1970 for a live radio broadcast on WABC-FM, New York, New York. Includes liner notes by John Tobler.
Digitally remastered by Tony Cousins (Metropolis Mastering, London, England).
The great thing about this early live record is its obscurity -- not just that this isn't one of his better-known records, but that the set list is a fanboy's dream, heavy on album tracks, covers, and the kinds of song that make Elton John's early work so individual. It's not just that there are no hits here, but it's that these six (seven, on the CD reissue) songs emphasize the spare, hard-rocking bluesy singer/songwriter that may not have written his own words, but always sang them with conviction and melodies that made them seem like his own. This may be a minor effort in his catalog, but that's part of its pleasure -- it's certainly a record from the time before Elton the superstar, as he tears through Tumbleweed Connection tracks prior to the record's release, does a phenomenal reworking of "Honky Tonk Women," hauls out B-sides like "Bad Side of the Moon," and gives a fierce, infectious performance. It's not essential for anyone but obsessives, but if you want any indication of what Elton sounded like prior to his big break, this is an excellent, even intoxicating, summary. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Recorded live on WABC-FM, 11-17-70 would become the fourth of John's records to simultaneously land in the Top 10, making him the first act to do so since The Beatles. Drawing mostly from his self-titled second album, John's set included a sweeping "Sixty Years On," a gospel-soaked reading of "Take Me To The Pilot" and a funked-up "Honky Tonk Women." Dee Murray and Nigel Olson's background vocals and solid rhythmic support on songs such as "Bad Side Of The Moon" and "Can I Put You On" made this a particularly potent trio that would set the stage for such groups as Ben Folds Five 25 years later. The centerpiece of this show was a roof-raising, 20-minute version of "Burn Down The Mission" that found John throwing in covers of Arthur Crudup's "My Baby Left Me" and The Beatles' "Get Back."