Customer Reviews

Unplugged

5 star:		(112)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

The debate whether, when learning to play the guitar, you should begin with an acoustic or an electric instrument, is probably as old as the history of the electric guitar itself; regardless which event you associate most strongly with its invention, and which of the enterprising souls who began experimenting with the amplification of the six-string sound way back in the 1930s you most credit therewith. Many find the sound of an electric guitar more impressive than that of an acoustic; and I'll freely admit that few pieces of music make my inner membranes resonate as instinctively as those featuring a really well-played e-guitar solo. Purists, however, argue passionately in favor of the acoustic guitar, and maintain that you're simply not going to learn to play "cleanly" if you don't start out that way. And there is definitely something to be said for that, because it is much easier to conceal a sloppily-played chord behind an electric guitar's amplified volume or a clever-sounding solo (or behind both) than in the unadulterated sound of an acoustic guitar. The discussion about the early 1990s' trend towards "unplugged" recordings centers around similar arguments. Some pieces of music are of course simply not meant to ever be played on an acoustic guitar. Others, however, live from their amplified soundeffects more than from their intrinsic musical values, and they simply fizzle when reduced to their core and performed acoustically.

And then there is that rare category of pieces which sound equally fantastic both ways, and that rare category of players who manage to dazzle you regardless what type of instrument they're playing. Eric Clapton is such a musician, and some of the songs on the playlist of his "Unplugged" album are such pieces of music. Most notable among those, of course, is "Layla," Clapton's intensely personal dedication to one-time wife Patty Boyd; written in 1970 and at a time when he saw no chance of ever winning her for himself. From the memorable opening riff of the song's original recording to its guitar solos, screaming with despair, it is extremely hard to imagine how this song could ever work in an acoustic version. Yet on a whim and at the last minute, Clapton decided to include it in the "Unplugged" playlist. And transposed by a full octave, reduced to a languid and almost upbeat, somewhat jazzy blues rhythm, it works out wonderfully; and Layla/Patty finds herself miraculously transformed from an object of desire to one of reflection instead. In fact, that track alone, which won the 1992 Grammy as Best Rock Song, turned out to be responsible for a good share of the enormous popularity of this album which (together with 1989's "Journeyman") reestablished Clapton as an artist to reckon with, after his career had threatened to slump over the course of much of the previous decade. And similarly responsible for the success of "Unplugged" was the inclusion of another and more recent piece performed from the bottom of Clapton's soul, the triple Grammy winning "Tears in Heaven;" dedicated to his son Conor who had tragically died after falling from the open window of a 53rd floor apartment in New York City the preceding year. (The studio version of the song is contained on the soundtrack of the movie "Rush," likewise released in 1992.)

But "Unplugged" is to large extents a classic blues album, from the twelve-bar rhythm of Bo Diddley's "Before You Accuse Me" (featuring only Eric Clapton himself and one of the most modest and supremely talented living guitarists, Clapton's trusted friend and touring partner Andy Fairweather Low) to Jimmy Cox's "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out" (the second cut besides "Layla" from the famous album recorded under the name Derek and the Dominos), Delta Blues king Robert Johnson's "Walkin' Blues" and "Malted Milk," Jesse Fuller's upbeat "San Francisco Bay Blues," and the traditionals "Alberta" and "Rollin' and Tumblin'" (the latter, here attributed to the great Chess blues man M[cKinley] Morganfield a/k/a Muddy Waters, who made it famous). Three more of Eric Clapton's own compositions stand out among the songs which round up the album's playlist: the introductory lighthearted "Signe," which reflects his love of Brazilian music, the melancholic "Lonely Stranger" and finally "Old Love," a cut from 1989's "Journeyman."

Few white artists understand as well as Eric Clapton that the blues thrives, first and foremost, on a live atmosphere - preferably in a smaller setting like the one used for this recording, which allows for plenty of spontaneous interaction between stage and audience. And few artists are as unafraid of the gaffes that are almost invariably associated with a live appearance, even in the case of Clapton and his outstanding backup band; and manage, time and again, to turn them into a light moment. The garbled beginning of "Alberta" is an excellent example here; you can almost hear Clapton grinning when he says "Hang on, hang on, hang on" and simply starts over. Similarly, "Layla" is merely introduced with the words "See if you can spot this one" - and instantly greeted with the enthusiastic cheers of an audience which doesn't even need to hear the famous five notes of the song's introductory riff to recognize it.

Asked whether he, too, would ever consider an "unplugged" appearance, e-guitar legend Jeff Beck, who with Eric Clapton and Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page forms the trinity of "guitar gods" that emerged from Great Britain's famous Yardbirds, reportedly once responded that he couldn't imagine such a thing because it would make him feel "naked." And listening to Eric Clapton's "Unplugged" album, you can't shake the impression that Beck does have a point. These are pure, naked blues songs, supremely performed - and a pure joy to listen to.

Also recommended:
Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs
Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert
Crossroads
One More Car: One More Rider (CD & DVD Set)
Riding with the King

Clapton plays guitar. His fingers dance across the strings in "Signe," with the kind of virtuosity fans of his rougher bluesy stuff might not get to hear.

Every one of these songs has new life breathed into them. While songs like "Layla" from Clapton's 'Derek and the Dominos' days hardly lacked life, his unplugged versions seem to recreate the songs anew. For as good as the original versions are, Clapton shows, just as Bob Dylan often captures in his concerts, an old classic approached a new way can be a worthy thing.

This a CD that is best enjoyed with headphones. Fancy stereo tricks aren't the element of beauty, but careful finger picking in the midst of a tight steel string guitar bring out the notes like salt on an already tasty meal. The whole thing is enhanced when the listener gets a chance to sit down and hear all of it.

My personal favorites "Hey Hey" and the contemplative "Tears in Heaven," but, here at my keyboard late some evening, I'm finding "Nobody Knows When You're Down and Out" makes for great grooving as I write a few reviews. Get down low with "Walkin' Blues" and his slide guitar, and sadder still with "Malted Milk," a song that pierces the heart until it hurts.

"Alberta" is the weakest of the tracks, sounding like he's trying to hard. "San Francisco Bay Blues" is a cool tune, but could've used a little better mixing. He seems to struggle grabbing a couple notes in the difficult, slightly Spanish-and jazz influenced "Old Love" but he pulls it out.

The sum of it all is an album that's better with each year. It is among my favorites. I fully recommend "Unplugged" by Eric Clapton.

Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com

Unplugged is a fine complement to Eric Clapton and his talents. Taking away the twang of his Fender with twenty odd amps attatched, you can really begin to appreciate this fine man.

'Signe', is a superb instrumental piece, that demonstrates his skills well. Onto his classic blues pieces 'Before you accuse me', 'hey hey', 'Nobody knows you', and 'Alberta', add a friendly tone to this live performance.

Eric's touching tribute to his deceased son, Conor, in 'Tears in Heaven' is fantastic, and a slower version of 'Layla' will leave you pleased. Well worth buying!

This album created a trend that wouldn't go away, at least for a couple of years. This is the finest work of Clapton, and one of the most mesmorizing performances ever. My sophmore year of high school I listened to this disc for the first time, and it still is quite captivating today.

All the tracks on here are worthy of listening to. They are wonderfully constructed pieces, and very easy to listen to. They defined what "unplugged" was supposed to be. And they made Eric Clapton thrust back into the limelight where he belonged. Among the discs best tracks are "Before You Accuse Me", the wonderful sad song about his son's death "Tears in Heaven", the slow version of "Layla" (this is the first version I actually heard so I am partial to this one instead of the version by Derek & the Dominoes), "Runnin' on Faith", and "Malted Milk". This is Eric Clapton at his best, and a great testament to a great guitar player. And it's a great introduction to blues music along with Stevie Ray Vaughan's Greatest Hits, Jimi Hendrix Electric Ladyland, and BB King & Eric Clapton's Riding with The King. Almost any recording by John Lee Hooker, Robert Johnson, or Muddy Waters as well. Pick up this disc today you will not regret it.

Plugged or unplugged, Eric always delivers. This CD shows a very relaxed Clapton, with a great band backing him. His selection of songs is great, with new material (Signe, Lonely Stranger), old blues (Alberta, Walkin' Blues, Hey Hey), and some favorites with a new spin. Layla in particular is great; even though the electric version, with its passionate playing and singing, is better, this slower take on the song is great, showing how powerful a song Layla is. Best cuts: Layla, his emotional version of Tears In Heaven, Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out, Rollin' And Tumblin' , Before You Accuse Me, and San Francisco Bay Blues.

Clapton sheds all his electric crutches and strides forth on this album with all his musical talent bared for our enjoyment. The tempo and mood of his selections varies from soulful renditions of "Tears in Heaven" and "Lonely Stranger" to the light and upbeat "Alberta" and "San Fransico Bay Blues". Every song is a treasure.

Of particular note is his rendition of "Layla". It is a long way from the big, rockin' version he did with Derek and the Dominoes. It is almost a ballad here, relaxed and refined like a fine wine coming of age.

Clapton shows his musical maturity, relying on finely crafting his work, rather than overwhelming us with big productions and lots of riffing and fast picking. His voice is sure and strong, unlike some other old rockers who can barely talk anymore. His emotional renditions can be compared with the best of Bluesmen, past and present. He has shown us in the past that he can do anything; here he shows us can do what is appropriate for the setting.

If you are looking for a great CD to relax with and do a little foot-tapping; here it is. This is one I still reach for weekly after all these years.

MTV's Unplugged series started out as a curiosity to viewers who tuned in to see artists play their songs in acoustic versions. Many artists rose to the challenge of unplugging and playing their songs in the barest of forms. In alot of cases, the results were not only entertaining, but inventive and groundbreaking. Eric Clapton's Unplugged appearance falls into that category. Stripping away many songs to their core and reinterpreting old blues numbers, Mr. Clapton. The most startling song is "Layla". The original is a classic rock staple, thanks in large part to one of the most memorable guitar solos and codas in rock history. Stripped down to a shuffling blues riff, the song takes on a new meaning. The original was about unrequited love and you could feel the singers pain through the music. The new version is more of a man begging for a second chance. The big hit from the album is the haunting and beautiful elegy to his son, "Tears In Heaven". The song became a huge hit peaking at number two and went on to win Grammies for Record & Song of the Year. Other standout tracks include "Running On Faith" that has some wicked dobro playing, a Layla and blues chestnut "Nobody Knows You When You're Down & Out", "Malted Milk", & "San Francisco Bay Blues". The album became his first top ten hit since 1981's Another Ticket and his first number one album since 1974's 461 Ocean Boulevard in addition to "Tears In Heaven's" Grammies, it won Album of the Year.

Still one of the best in the business; can play anything but what wonderful sounds from acoustic guitar. Every cut on this album (oops, showing my age!) is fine. Mellow, moving, fun, and incredible playing. Whoever coined the phrase "and on the eighth day, God created Clapton" was so right!

Eric Clapton Unplugged(1992). Eric Clapton's First Acoustic Live Album.

In 1992, at the height of the Grunge and Alternative scene, guitar virtuoso Eric Clapton, who lost many fans and critics during his 80's career, burst back onto the music scene with 'Eric Clapton Unplugged', a performance that marketed such hits as 'Tears For Heaven' and an alternate version of 'Layla', and earning him an armful of Grammy's in the process. Many other groups, including Nirvana and Alice In Chains, produced legendary 'Unplugged' albums, but none matched the success of Clapton's, which sold millions and millions of copies, becoming the most successful release of his career, which was previously '451 Ocean Boulevard'. To this day, any Classic Rock aficianado owns 'Eric Clapton Unplugged', and, it is remarkable to achieve such sucess with one man just sitting down and playing an acoustic guitar. So, is 'Unplugged' just an overrated borefest, or a great success? Read on to find out!

Track Ratings-

Signe- 'Unplugged' is opened up by "Signe", a short instrumental track that is a nice little jazz and folk influenced jam.

Before You Accuse Me- A cover of Bo Diddley's classic blues tune, "Before You Accuse Me" is a powerful, sarcastic blues song with a piercing blues guitar riff. Clapton does a great job with the singing and guitarwork here, and his cover easily lives up to the original.

Hey Hey- Another blues classic, "Hey Hey" is a slower, jazzier blues tune, complete with Eric Clapton's lustful vocals and his fiery blues licks. Hard not to like!

Tears In Heaven- The song that caused 'Unplugged's popularity to skyrocket, "Tears In Heaven" finds Clapton mournfully remembering his son Conor. "Tears In Heaven" is a jazzy song, but has Clapton playing a classical guitar melody, and reminds me a little of "Dust In The Wind". Although overrated, definitely one of Clapton's strongest.

Lonely Stranger- A song that stands out, "Lonely Stranger" is a jazzy, R&B-ish tune that finds Clapton playing a folk-styled guitar and brooding in his gravelly vocals. Another track that stands out!

Nobody Knows When You're Down & Out- A jazzy rocker with influences of Soul and Blues, "Nobody Knows When You're Down & Out" combines Clapton's acoustic jazz with a very Broadway style piano to create a song that sounds oddly like Toy Story's "You've Got A Friend".

Layla- A huge hit to begin with, this alternate acoustic version of "Layla" has gained almost as much legend status as the original. This version combines Clapton's sultry acoustic guitarmanship with the very jazzy keyboard melody, not to mention Clapton's lovelorn singing.

Runnin' On Faith- "Runnin' On Faith" is a Country and Soul type song, with an out-of-tune guitar melody and an uplifting keyboard harmony. Clapton sings his heart out, and his emotion lifts up this slow tune to great heights.

Walkin' Blues- After a few folk and country rockers, Eric Clapton hits back with "Walkin' Blues", a typical blues song, with slurred vocals, unfortuneate lyrics, and in-your-face guitarmanship. While I may like the Blues, this song seems just a little too repetitive. Not bad.

Alberta- An 'Unplugged' highlight, "Alberta" is a jazzy show tune type song that's infected with a touch of Gospel and R&B. Clapton pours his heart out over Alberta, and around his swirling mix of guitar chords and piano melodies, his emotion can be felt.

San Francisco Bay Blues- Eric Clapton continues with what he does best on "San Francisco Bay Blues", strumming all the right notes on his guitar and letting his emotion truly be felt through his voice on this bluegrass-influenced blues song. How can you resist the digiredo solo?

Malted Milk- Another blues song, Clapton relates malted milk to "his loving" on "Malted Milk", a slow blues song that has very little to offer other than Clapton's singing and a nice little blues guitar solo. Not his best.

Old Love- A track with a striking resemblance to "Layla", "Old Love" is a rock ballad, leaving out some of Clapton's blues influences, instead focusing on the mix of his pulsing acoustic guitarwork, hard hitting keyboards, and growly vocals. A nice addition.

Rollin' & Tumblin'- Instead of those slow blues ballads, Clapton dishes out a fast and guitar-driven blues rocker that'll be sure to get your feet tapping. Clapton's addictive guitar melody fits perfectly with his gravelly blues vocals. One of the best songs on 'Unplugged'.

Overall, 'Unplugged', while being a great look into one of Rock and Blues' guitars greatest heroes, and showing more emotion than almost every "nu" band has, Clapton's performance is sometimes redundant and marred by weak covers. Although many songs here would have been better changed to Clapton's own pieces, 'Unplugged' is still a decidedly good album, yet its loftly place in Rock N' Roll lore might be just a little too high. Clapton is in top shape here, and his acoustic guitar and voice shine, even without the massive production values. If Clapton had put more of his own popular centerpieces here instead of slow blues tracks, I would be a bigger fan of 'Unplugged', yet it fails to touch his Cream or most of his solo material.

RECOMMENDED TO FANS OF THE BLUES OR ERIC CLAPTON! IF YOU DON'T LIKE BLUES, DO NOT(DO NOT!) GET THIS ALBUM, AS THERE IS ALMOST NONE OF CLAPTON'S ROCK MATERIAL! OVERRATED, YET STILL VERY GOOD!

Killer Kuts- Tears In Heaven, Before You Accuse Me, Layla, Rollin' & Tumblin', and Hey Hey.

Thanks For Reading!

I've had this album since it came out in the early 90s, and it has lost none of its appeal. Sometimes you'll listen an album to death within six months, but I still go back to Eric Clapton's "Unplugged" now and then, and it's as fresh as it was fourteen years ago. And that's rare praise.

This is Eric Clapton's most succesful album, a multiple grammy winner, and one of his three or four best records (alongside "From The Cradle", "Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs", and "Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert"). Containing some of the finest music Clapton had recorded for many years, the straighforward "Unplugged" session was freed from the slick pop-production of his 80s albums, alternating between electric songs recast in acoustic arrangements, and classic blues songs by the likes of Robert Johnson and Jesse Fuller.

Acoustic music really leaves no place for a mediocre musician to hide, and there were no mediocre musicians accompanying Eric Clapton for his "Unplugged" session...second guitarist Andy Fairweather-Low and former Allman Brothers pianist Chuck Leavell are particularly superb, and then there's Clapton himself, of course. If anyone doubted that this guy is actually a pretty decent guitar player, this album should set them straight...he plays acoustic slide guitar like he'd never done anything else, and the concert goes from highlight to highlight:

"Tears In Heaven" is here, and a jazzy, acoustic "Layla", but most of these tracks are pure blues. Slow, mournful blues like "Malted Milk", swinging, up-tempo numbers, including an irresistable "San Francisco Bay Blues", and tough, mid-tempo grooves like Bo Diddley's "Before You Accuse Me", and a superb "Alberta" (with a magnificent solo by Chuck Leavell).
Clapton's slide playing is particularly good on "Rollin' And Tumblin'", and on a wonderful rendition of "Running On Faith", and I would kill (or at least maim) in order to be able to play the piano like Chuck Leavell does on the classic "Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out".

The sound is excellent, very clear and realistic, and the separation is great. Sure, some will prefer to hear Robert Johnson playing Robert Johnson, but don't hold that against Eric Clapton. He does very well by Johnson, Big Bill Broonzy, Jimmy Cox, and the rest, and "Unplugged" is a superb hour of real music played on real instruments, and arranged by a great professional.
There is nothing bad to say about this album at all, actually.
How about that?