Music
An Album You Should Hear
Elton John — 17–11–70
To roughly two generations now, Elton John is probably considered the flamboyant aging musician on his perennial last tour.
The part that is slowly slipping into the shadows is just how much of a bad ass he was.
If you need evidence, I would encourage the curious to drop the needle — or hit the play button — either way works on 17–11–70.
Released in April of 1971, this is Elton John’s fifth official release. To place that in context, his self-titled first album came out in 1969.
I’ll let the adventurous and mathematically motivated do the math. And I’ll let the more thought-motivated try to think of a modern artist who could parallel that.
Listening to this album through a modern lens, it may be a little confusing. Especially if you’re not familiar with such names like King Biscuit Flour Hour and Westwood One. Those were recorded live concerts that would air on FM radio stations, that music nerds like me would stay up and listen to.
A modern-day equivalent would be NPR’s Tiny Desk concerts.
This album was recorded, well, in 1970. More specifically, in November of 1970. And even more specifically, on the 17th of that…
