5 Man Acoustical Jam [Live]

Tesla | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 8, 1990)
• Original Release Date: November 13, 1990
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Geffen Records
• ASIN: B000000OS2
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,559 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The album that turned many onto "unplugged" performances, October 26, 2005

By 

Gitters (Allendale, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 5 Man Acoustical Jam (Audio CD)

Tesla's Five Man Acoustical Jam, may not have been the first band to try the unplugged thing, but Tesla were the one's that made the unplugged performance the popular trend that it was in the early ninties. After Five Man Acoustical Jam, a lot of artists starting releasing cds from MTV Unplugged appearances. Springsteen and Nirvana, to just name a few.

Tesla's Five Man Acoustical Jam is not your typical live album. With this cd you can tell everybody's having a goodtime. The band and the fans are really enjoying themselves, not taking things to seriously. The intimatcy of the performance is great. Many highlights from Tesla's first two albums and great oldies covers make this a great cd.

Tesla turns Five Man Electrical Band's "Signs" into their own song. What a great rendetion. Other covers Tesla performs include Truckin' and Lodi. The Five Man Acoustical Jam really shows off the talents of Tesla and is an excellent and rewarding album.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The ORIGINAL unplugged album, August 31, 2001

By 

Brad (CT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 5 Man Acoustical Jam (Audio CD)

One of the more annoying trends of the early '90's (along with the dominance of grunge) was to have artists "unplug" their music and show a more "sensitive" side to things. It was so contrived and unspontaneous that it became downright tedious. However, before any of that happened, one of the greatest, most underrated hard rock bands in history decided to unplug--and did so with great success. This album is anything but contrived, and despite it's unplugged nature is still quite rocking. I was instantly blown away when I heard the opening track "Comin' Attcha Live" break into "Truckin'" (and I'm not even a Grateful Dead fan). Same thing when "We Can Work It Out"--a great Beatles' cover--turns into the classic "Signs", which Tesla has made a legendary hit of their own. It is remarkable to hear the way such songs as "Before My Eyes" and "Paradise" came across accoustically as compared to their electronic counterparts. Just an incredibly spirited performance from a band that has always done it right. Now, 11 years after this release, I look forward to an electric double-CD set from this band that will be out soon. Tesla is indeed back together! For me, they never truly went away, with masterpieces such as this.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars highly enjoyable, September 10, 2006

By 

Scott B. Saul "opinionated, yet truthful, mu... (COOPER CITY, FL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: 5 Man Acoustical Jam (Audio CD)

I am not a big Tesla fan but this is a great album. I think what hurt them is that they were categorized with the all the goofy hair metal bands but they were more in the vein of your classic 70's style rock and roll band. This live album, along with the accoustic format, helped to distinguish Tesla from the hair metal bands of the era.

Tesla did not do much after this cd so this acts as an excellent greatest hits compilation as well.

Besides their own work, the covers are good and interesting selections. They do not just play "Truckin", rather they segue into it. "Lodi" is done very well and then the song that essentially launched the cd, as well as the band, is "Signs". They take this marginal 60's era protest song and put their stamp of it. It still maintains a protest aura to it but the accoustic treatment makes it grittier and it rocks out harder. Tesla made the song their own!

As far as the accoustic format, the song "Love Song" showcases the musicianship of the band. I like how they could not resist plugging in for the guitar solo.

Overall, you do not have to be a fan of this band to enjoy this cd. If you like any classic rock Led Zep, CCR, Thin Lizzy, Deep Purple, Aerosmith etc. then you will like this.

Like I said, I am not a big fan but b/c of this cd, I would see them live any day!