|
Elton and his two cohorts, the late Dee Murray, and the totally amazing Nigel Olson on drums, created something magic here. This was one of his very early recordings, the live karma produced by the musicians and the small audience, can be felt right through the vinyl. It blows my mind to the moon and back, buy it, and strap yourself in for the ride, it is a grand one. Elton John is the Piano King, bar none. He also has a great soulful voice.
I never understood why the original broadcast, in it's entirety, complete with full introduction, joking and bantering and encore was never produced. I was fortunate to have heard, and recorded, the original live broadcast that supplies the content of 11-17-70. I'd pay a fair price for a bootleg copy, as my old reel-to-reel version was lost in 1975. I remember Elton remarking that he had cut his hand and saying something about possibly bleeding to death before he finishes the next song. I was 15 years old. I recorded it onto a 7" reel-to reel tape deck at 15fps and must have listened to it a hundred times.
I can't even thing of a weak spot on the original, and although the addition of all the stuff culled from 11-17-70 has kind of weakened the package, Elton-Nigel-Davey nail it with possibly the best live recording of all time. Reginald is young and full of energy, but without the bling that kinda clouded things a few years later. really. This is NOT your father's Elton John. Powerful, raw and spontaneous, this captures the true essence of what turned everyone on to Elton John in the first place.
Fabulous was what we got in his place. By 1974-75 the original hard rockin' EJ was gone and The Eternally Mr. This album gives today's listener an idea of what the deal was about Elton John. Unusual melodies and harmonic chords which grabbed you; quirky subjects and off-beat, often intelligent lyrics (thanks to Bernie Taupin), and some wonderfully manic and physical piano pounding.
It is my fond hope that this recording will someday be restored to as close to its original form as possible. Gus Dudgeon should spend the rest of his life on Earth trying to make up for the nearly complete ruination of one of the best live albums of all time. I would most certainly box his ears if I every met him, because he is obviously NOT using them.
|
