It has been stated that when Neil Young recorded his Unplugged set, he had to redo one of his songs twice, and Wikipedia reports that each time he gave his drummer a hard time for playing too fast!Įric Clapton’s 1996 performance was a revelation – the blues veteran completely reworked his material to fit the format. However, not all artists are as carefree about their performance as McCartney. It’s also this off-the-cuff informality that has proved a winning formula along with hearing the songs you love in a different format. He halts the band, laughs and tries it again – this time getting them right. Sir Paul commits the ultimate faux pas and forgets the words to The Beatles’ We Can Work It Out. McCartney’s Unplugged is fun, and highlights the fact that even the greatest of musicians can get it wrong. It was a platform for everyone to excel and show off in an understated fashion, from Paul McCartney to Pearl Jam, from REM to Nirvana. It seemed to be a way for loud rock bands to say: “Look, we have a sensitive side, our songs can hold up to rigorous reinterpretation.” It offered a platform for established artist to reintroduce themselves to a new MTV audience without having to embarrass themselves with a dodgy promo clip (which, chances are, the network wouldn’t play anyway).įor the old guard (sorry guys), Unplugged performances brought the likes of Neil Young, Eric Clapton and Bob Dylan firmly back to centre-stage. However, once the Unplugged programme was up and running, it seemed that anyone who was anyone wanted a piece of it. Just think of Led Zeppelin: a big part of their appeal had always been based upon their ability to mix light and shade, and they had been performing a wholly acoustic segment as part of their shows since the early 70s. After all, grabbing a couple of acoustics and performing has long been a staple of rock bands on the road, be it in hotel rooms or on tour buses.īut, again, even in the late 70s this wasn’t necessarily a new concept. The crowd went nuts, and some bright MTV executive spark realised that they could make a fully-fledged programme if they harnessed this idea. Popular opinion has it that the genesis of the Unplugged programme harks back to the 1989 MTV Music Video Awards, where Bon Jovi (well, frontman JBJ and guitarist Richie Sambora) took to the stage armed with only their acoustics and delivered a sparkling new ‘unplugged’ version of Wanted Dead Or Alive and a slower, more melancholic take on their monster hit Livin’ On A Prayer. ( music publisher), Chrysalis Songs, EMI Music Publishing Ltd., RZO Music Ltd, Screen Gems-EMI, Screen Gems–EMI Music, Inc.The premise was extraordinarily simple – take one rock band (the louder the better), force them to leave their electric guitars and Marshall stacks at the door and then allow them to perform their songs in an acoustic manner, the new arrangements often providing a startling insight into the songs themselves and, by extension, the band. ( USA, affiliated with BMI) and Tintoretto Music cover recording of: The Man Who Sold the World lyricist and composer: David Bowie publisher: BMG Blue, Chrysalis Music Ltd. ( music publisher), Chrysalis Songs, EMI Music Publishing Ltd., RZO Music Ltd, Screen Gems-EMI, Screen Gems–EMI Music, Inc. ( company credits only do NOT use as release label) (in 1994) recorded at: Sony Studios ( NYC) in Hell's Kitchen, New York, New York, United States (on ) part of: AUX: 10 Cover Songs Better Than The Orignials and Indie 88: Top 500 Indie Rock Songs (number: 238) live cover recording of: The Man Who Sold the World (on ) lyricist and composer: David Bowie publisher: BMG Blue, Chrysalis Music Ltd. Bass guitar: Krist Novoselic (on ) cello: Lori Goldston ( American cellist) (on ) drums (drum set) and background vocals: Dave Grohl (on ) guitar: Kurt Cobain (on ) and Pat Smear (on ) lead vocals: Kurt Cobain (on ) phonographic copyright (℗) by: Geffen Records, Inc.