Customer Reviews

Unplugged...and Seated (Collector's Edition - CD and DVD)

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Superstar Rod Stewart made this Unplugged for MTV back in Feb. of 1993 in Los Angeles. He reunites with old partner Ron Wood from the Stones; they played together with the Faces way back in the 60's. The reunion magic and sincerity show. Rod doesn't mind poking fun at his age and how long he has been performing.

The MTV unplugged and seated was a splendid performance with an array of very talented musicians. The best thing that happened was the release as a CD, because the video was a classic, it was one of Rod's best performances.

Here, are a great mixture of older classics including the best song on the CD, this version of "Maggie May." Also done wonderful are "First Cut is the Deepest" and Sam Cooke's "Having A Party", an uptempo energetic, fun timepiece.

There is lively conversation in between the songs. Slow and fast songs fill this CD. However, there aren't any lyrics or booklet.

Stewart's raspy voice remains true, never slipping and sharply unique; he looked very primed at this historic event. If you haven't educated yourself to this master of show, do so now! ...........Rizzo

It really has surprised me when MTV really exceeded their expectations with the feel of their classic series MTV Unplugged. Yet, it is just a absolute shame that they haven't really been able to revamp that well recieved series that came out during the 80's and 90's. There are so many well accepted acts that have absolutely made great stripped doen performances including Nirvana, Elton John, L.L. Cool J, and the legendary Rod Stewart. During the early 90's Rod was on a double revived trail with his album Vagabond Heart, and his lovelife with his then wife Rachel Hunter. His appearance on MTV Unplugged really was the talk of the town.

Rod Stewart's 1993 album Unplugged... and Seated is a very intimate live performance that really lets Rod's voice really excel and the songs as well. Most of the album reflects on Rod performing classic when he performed in the 70's. The songs here are very intimate here, and the feeling of the record also speaks very well, as one of Rod's best live performances. The highlights that are featured on this record include classic performances of standards like Maggie May, Reason To Believe, which became a hit nearly 20 years after Rod launched it to #1, a very wonderfully tearjerking version of Have I Told You Lately, Having A Party & one of Rod's boldest songs not featured on any of his studio albums, People Get Ready.

Out of all of the live records that Rod Stewart has recorded, none of has been able to capture what Unplugged... and Seated has. For anybody who hasn't heard this record, it is well worth the listen. It is also a shame Rod hasn't released a live record since. This is a must have for any Rod Stewart fan.

Album Cover: B

Songs: B+

Mastering: B

Price: A-

Overall: B+

This excellent album has all the grit and feeling of Rod Stewart's delightful early-70s LPs.
Accompanied by a great combo which includes former bandmate Ronnie Wood, he returns to the acoustic rock n' roll and folk that marked his greatest recordings, and even if "Unplugged" can't quite match "Gasoline Alley" or the sublime "Every Picture Tells A Story", it's really amazing how close it comes at times.

Rod Stewart sounds fine, if a little bit ragged at first, and the set opens with a wonderfully tough acoustic rendition of the sleazy rocker "Hot Legs", and the unplugged versions of the Faces' only hit, "Stay With Me", and Sam Cooke's "Having A Party" are equally superb.
"The First Cut Is The Deepest" is a bit too saccharine for my taste, and a clumsy rendition of "People Get Ready" never gets off the ground. But everything else is good, and most of it is great, like the swinging blues "Highgate Shuffle", the country-rock of "Cut Across Shorty", the melancholy "Handbands And Gladrags", and the 70s classic "Maggie May".

Great sound, great songs, great arrangements and a whole lot of feeling and character.
4 1/2 stars - highly recommended.

This is a great concert and has many varied collection of songs its great.There is also different versions of someof his classics.GREAT!

I've never been a Rod Stewart fan, having hated his mid-period 'If you think I'm sexy' stuff and then just gave up on him until I heard this. A superb unplugged session from the early 1990's.

Starting with a fiery version of 'Hot Legs', you know immediately this is Rod Stewart going back to his early 70's rock 'n' roll best. Track three is 'Handbags and Gladrags', now very familiar in the UK as the theme to 'The Office' that it came as quite a shock to here somebody sing it. I haven't heard the original version but this must push it close.

Its not a perfect album though. Rod should have left Tom Waits 'Tom Traubert's blues (walting matilda)' well alone. Once you've heard Tom Waits original version nothing else is worth listening to. If you don't know Tom Waits, he has a voice that makes Rod Stewarts sound like an operatic soprano!

Fortunately Rod saves the best until last and 'Mandolin Wind', 'Highgate Shuffle' and 'Stay with Me' are all rock 'n' roll Rod from the early 70's - absolutely superb. Sadly the DVD of this isn't available, but it was filmed, and hopefully it will be released one day.

Like the new Rod Stewart, but love the old Stewart. The more I listen to Unplugged, the more I appreciate his talent and place in R&R pantheon.

Every Picture Tells A Story, Gasoline Alley were two tremendous albums, which, contributed greatly to the Soundtrack of my life. High School, with a girl friend who played these two albums over and over again. At first, I wasn't a big fan, but hey, I wanted the girl. After we broke up, I found myself listening to those two albums on my own. Sadly Rod and The Faces split, and disco was right around the corner, Rod succumbed.

From time to time, he had a decent song here and there, Downtown Train, People Get Ready, Forever Young to name the majority.

When I first was exposed to this album, I was taken back in time, Rod's vocals were excellent, the Band, including Ronnie Wood tight, you could tell the audience was enjoying something special. Than, Rod had to make one mistake, mentioned during one of the Face's number that his wife wasn't even born yet. Boy did I feel old.

But if you are interested in hearing what are basically the best of Rod, but sung live, this is the album to get. You won't be disappointed.

This cd is a must buy for any true Rod Stewart fan! Rod is at his best going through many of his hits done wonderfully. The songs sound wonderful. A very good version of Maggie May is included where he starts slow and then gets going into it. Songs like hot legs sound better than ever because of the acoustic sound instead of the heavy electric guitar. I cant express enough how good this cd is.

Sometimes performers get so caught up in the studio that they forget their business is to entertain. Rod Stewart apparently remembers how to entertain well as is proven by this excellent CD recorded back in 1993. Rod Stewart clearly enjoys himself and the crowd enjoys Rod as he rocks his way through a string of classic songs.

The range of songs is quite good. There is the classic "Hot Legs," with Rod Stewart growling his way in a gritty fashion that rarely comes across in the studio. There is an excellent rendition of "Tonight's the Night" that feels more honest and sensual than the studio recording. "Handbags and Gladrags" shows a poignant side of Rod Stewart.

For a change of pace Stewart rocks his way through "Cut Across Shorty," an upbeat song that gets everyone moving. After this song everyone is pumped and Stewart keeps up the pace with another rocker, "Every Picture Tells a Story." The studio version of "Maggie May" is as good as any studio version is, but the live version here is far superior. For some reason Rod Stewart comes across better in this live regarding. If you have ever been a fan of this song you should buy this CD for this song.

Remaining consistent with the quality of the other songs is "Reason to Believe." This version is again, in my opinion, better than the studio version. I think Rod Stewart's voice matches this venue better than a studio. Or perhaps Rod Stewart's voice has reached the point where he sounds great.

"People Get Ready" has wonderful strings backing Rod Stewart's vocals. Rod Stewart does justice to Curtis Mayfield's song. I usually object to the backing vocals in live performances, but the backing vocals on this song are performed well. The pace remains steady in the love song "Have I Told You Lately," yet another winner on this CD. "Tom Traubert's Blues (Waltzing Matilda)" is gloriously poignant and can easily affect your mood, and is yet another in a series of mellow songs. The pace remains slow with the tear-jerker "The First Cut Is the Deepest."

The pace picks up slightly with "Mandolin Wind," particularly as this song gets into the fourth minute, when the speed picks up substantially and Stewart manages a few yells reminiscent of the 1960s. "Highgate Shuffle" is a blues song that Stewart and the band have a lot of fun with, as evidenced by the casual style of the song. I suspect that had they been allowed to go on the song could have been much longer.

The CD finishes with "Stay with Me" and "Having a Party." The former song has dynamic vocals and a fast pace. The last song is a fun song and though Stewart sounds a little tired at the end, it seems to me that he is enjoying himself.

As I have expressed in a number of previous reviews, I am usually not a fan of live albums. However, with improved technology, the right venue and the right artist, the results can be surprising. I consider myself a casual fan of Rod Stewart, but this CD is worthy of having in any pop-rock fan's collection. Rod Stewart sounds very good throughout this CD, and I consider many of these performances to exceed his studio recordings. Stewart is enthusiastic and animated, and the quality of his voice is perfect for the songs and the environment. Fans of live pop albums will want this CD. Fans of Rod Stewart will absolutely require this album.

Since I am a fan of Rod Stewart, it may not be quite fair to throw accolades. However, there continues to be a need for serious music in the world, and going into the future I think that this collection of music contributes to the edification and stability of our youth.