Today, Elton John is being named the 1st Record Store Day Legend in celebration of its 10th Anniversary. Elton is releasing a special edition of my personal all-time favorite album 11-17-70. The entire setlist is on this new version and it is of course, on vinyl. Congratulations Sir Elton!

My record store flashback involves this same album. The year was 1995. I had (*FINALLY*) gone to my first Elton concert. Yes I know, hard to believe. I’ve been a hardcore Elton fan since I was 14. To my defense, he did not make stops in Seattle very often, so opportunity had been my biggest enemy.

Anyway, once I saw him live in concert, something switched in my brain, and I could not get enough live material, (read “bootlegs”). I was now on a mission. *looks all serious* I had to find more live stuff. More I tell you. More! So I started hitting all the record stores I could on a regular basis. Even started going to the record shows in Seattle. I did find plenty but that’s for another time.

I walked into a record store in Ballard and struck up a conversation with the owner. Since Elton is what I was looking for, that is of course what the topic was. He held up the newly released (1995) remastered CD of 11-17-70 and started singing its praises. I told him it was my favorite album. He said the remaster was so amazing. I argued with him. I told him there was no way it could be made better. I dug in my Taurus hooves and refused to believe him when he insisted it was *so* much better than the original.

Please. If I buy the CD, he makes