The recording was taken from a live radio broadcast on 17 November 1970, hence the album's title. According to John, a live album was never planned as a release.^[3] Recordings of the broadcast, however, were popular among bootleggers which, according to John's producer, Gus Dudgeon, eventually prompted the record label to release it as an album.^[4] It has been said that the release by an eastern bootlegger of the whole 60-minute air cast rather than the 48 minutes selected by Dick James Music significantly cut into the US sales of the live album.^[5] However, the entire concert was an 80-minute affair, and double-LPs containing the entire concert were more common than those containing only 60 minutes. 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 two full studio albums (Elton John and Tumbleweed Connection) and a movie soundtrack (Friends) when the live LP was issued. Nonetheless, it became 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 personality 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, the piano keys were 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 remained until 2017 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 until the release of Honky Château in 1972.

To commemorate the 10th Record Store Day, on 22 April 2017, John served as the first-ever worldwide Record Store Day Legend and released an expanded, double-vinyl version of the album. Retitled 17-11-70+, the release reinstates seven additional songs from the concert, making it the most complete official edition of the show available in any format. "Amoreena," previously available on the 1996 CD reissue, makes its first appearance on vinyl.^[6]

All songs by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, except where noted.

Original LP album edit

1995 Mercury and 1996 Rocket CD reissues edit

The 1996 Rocket Records edition changed the running order and added "Amoreena" as a bonus track. This version is also different from the earlier US releases in that album producer Gus Dudgeon remixed the tracks to create a notably different sound from the original US LP mixes. In addition to level changes, Dudgeon's version also added some echo and other effects not present in the earlier mixes, which has drawn mixed reactions from fans.

2017 Record Store Day 2-LP reissue edit

The 2017 Record Store Day special reissue features the six remained-unreleased songs from the concert, plus "Amoreena" (featured on the 1996 CD).

The track listing for the first two sides is the same as the original 1970 release.

1. "I Need You to Turn To"
2. "Your Song"
3. "Country Comfort"
4. "Border Song"
5. "Indian Sunset"
6. "Amoreena"
7. "Bad Side of the Moon"
8. "Take Me to the Pilot"
9. "Sixty Years On"
10. "Honky Tonk Women"
11. "Can I Put You On"
12. "Burn Down the Mission" (including "My Baby Left Me" & "Get Back")
13. "My Father's Gun" (encore)^[7]

Note

• An alternate version of the set list was presented on several 1970–1971 bootleg album issues of the concert. It presents a concert with a somewhat different flow, and although crossfades of the UNI/MCA/Mercury issues present applause where it did not occur in the original concert, the setlist as presented on these bootleg albums does seem to clear up a few problematic references in Elton's comments.

1. "I Need You to Turn To"
2. "Your Song"
3. "Bad Side of the Moon"
4. "Country Comfort"
5. "Can I Put You On"
6. "Border Song"
7. "Sixty Years On"
8. "Indian Sunset"
9. "Honky Tonk Women"
10. "Amoreena"
11. "Take Me to the Pilot"
12. "Burn Down the Mission" (including "My Baby Left Me" & "Get Back")
13. "My Father's Gun" (encore)^[8]

• Elton John – piano, lead vocals
• Dee Murray – bass, backing vocals
• Nigel Olsson – drums, backing vocals

Production

• Gus Dudgeon – producer
• Phil Ramone – recording engineer
• David Hentschel – reduction (mix) engineer (US LP)
• Clive Franks – reduction (mix) engineer (UK LP)
• Matt Howe – reduction (mix) engineer (Rocket reissue)
• Coordination: Steve Brown – coordination
• Joe Disabato – coordination
• David Larkham – design, photography
• Gus Dudgeon – liner notes
• John Tobler – liner notes
• Dave Herman – emcee

• 17-11-70 at Discogs (list of releases)