17-11-70 Remastered from the Original Tapes by Bob Ludwig and Cut at Abbey Road Studios: Elton John in Analog As His Music Is Supposed to Sound

17-11-70, Elton John's first live album was named after the date on which it was recorded in front of an intimate audience at famed A&R Studios in New York, with his original band of piano, bass and drums, and was released in 1971. Capturing six of the concert's tracks on a single platter, it became his fourth album to simultaneously appear in the Billboard Top 100 charts in the US – a feat that had not been accomplished by any artist since The Beatles. 

"The album 17-11-70 was not meant to be a live one at all; we did one of the first ever stereo radio broadcasts live at A&R Recording Studios in New York City in 1970 on the 17th of November. It was Phil Ramone's studio, one of the greatest producers of all time, and we just went in the booth and played it as a three-piece: Nigel Olsson on drums and vocals, Dee Murray on bass and vocals, and myself.

"There was a studio audience of about 100 sitting outside the booth, hearing it coming through the loud speakers, and we just played. I'm astonished by how good we were, listening to this record. It wasn't initially coming out as a live album, but there were so many bootlegs in those days that the record company put it out. I'm glad they did because it really is something I'm very very proud of." – Elton John