MTV Unplugged ~ Tony Bennett [LIVE]

Tony Bennett

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 28, 1994)
• Original Release Date: June 28, 1994
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Columbia
• ASIN: B000002AON
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  DVD
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #169,611 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Pop > Live Albums > Vocal Pop

Track Listings

1. Old Devil Moon

2. Speak Out

3. It Had to Be You

4. I Love a Piano

5. It Amazes Me

6. Girl I Love (The Man I Love)

7. Fly Me to the Moon

8. You're All the World to Me

9. Rags to Riches

10. When Joanna Loved Me

11. Good Life/I Wanna Be Around

12. I Left My Heart in San Francisco

13. Steppin' out with My Baby

14. Moonglow - Tony Bennett, k.d. lang, Ralph Sharon Trio

15. They Can't Take That Away from Me - Tony Bennett, Tony Bennett, Elvis Costello, Ralph Sharon Trio

16. Foggy Day

17. All of You

18. Body and Soul

19. It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)

20. Autumn Leaves/Indian Summer

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This CD won Grammy Awards in 1995 for Album of the Year and Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance. Recorded live with Tony Bennett's long-standing accompanists Ralph Sharon on piano, Doug Richeson on bass, and Clayton Cameron on drums, the set includes more than 20 songs, many of them standards Bennett has sung for years, such as "Old Devil Moon," "I Wanna Be Around," "I Left My Heart in San Francisco," "All of You," and "Body and Soul." Guest artists k.d. lang and Elvis Costello appear on, respectively, "Moonglow" and "They Can't Take That Away from Me." It's a joyful romp for Frank Sinatra's favorite singer. --Stanley Booth

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Tony is still one of the best!, July 19, 2000

By	C. E. Miles (O'Fallon, IL United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

About six years ago I had the pleasure of seeing Tony Bennett in concert at the Fox Theatre in St. Louis. Man, what a show he put on, backed by the Ralph Sharon trio. After that concert I ran out and purchased the "Unplugged" cd that Tony recorded while taping for MTV. I have never been a real fan of live recordings, but this one is exceptional. Tony has really flourished since young people have re-discovered his work, and even though he is getting older his work is still terrific.

The opening track "Old Devil Moon" gets the mood swingin' and the rest of the album fly's by until you find yourself wishing there was one more track. Of course Tony covers his signature tune "I left my heart in San Francisco" but he also adds duets with k.d. Lang and Elvis Costello. He also proves he still has what it takes by belting out "Fly me to the Moon" without the aid of a microphone.

Like all of us, Tony is getting older, but he still puts on a great show and sings every song with the same emotion he did years ago. I guess what I like about this album is that you can tell that Tony is enjoying what he's doing. He loves singing theses great old songs to a brand new audience. If you want a Tony Bennett album this is a very good one, and I definitely recommend it. No, it's probably not the best, but it is a lot of fun no matter how many times you listen to it.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Maybe Bennett's Most Essential Live Recording (3.5 stars), April 20, 2003

By	Antonio Robert (Slovakia, Europe) - See all my reviews

To win the Album of the Year Grammy for an MTV Unplugged two years after Eric Clapton did with his classic unplugged album, to win the Grammy when acoustic shows were not near that much in vogue -- it must indicate something. And it does. Tony Bennett's comeback in 1990's could not have a better place to solidify.

Second only to Frank Sinatra on the all-time list of standard 'crooners', Bennett (67 at the time) was here singing his signatures and favourites accompanied by efficient Ralph Sharon trio, of which especially the pianist Sharon deserves special attention (listen to "I Love A Piano" or his glorious solo on "Steppin' Out With My Baby").

Bennett's shoes fit best on ballads, like "It Amazes Me", "It Had To Be You" and his signature "I Left My Heart In San Francisco". k.d. lang and Elvis Costello offer guest vocals on two subtle duets. Probably unrehearsed, as a nice misstep with Elvis shows.

Intimacy between Tony and the audience is almost tangible on this record. Tony sings, the audience cheers. Oh, what a night it was. Billie Holiday was right when she predicted a career for the young Italian-American Bennett back in 1950's.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars like a fine wine...., August 24, 2000

By	tim camas (ft lauderdale, fl United States) - See all my reviews

he gets better with age. i have 3 cd's by mr. bennett: steppin' out, greatest hits and unplugged. the enthusiasm of the crowd and mr. bennett's method of treating the audience like an old friend makes it all worth while. some may say his voice isn't what it used to be but i totally disagree. his voice has the character of a seasoned pro who has made his mistakes and learned his craft to perfection. i envision mr. bennett as a long-time companion telling a story by the fireplace on a cold winter's night, a drinking buddy at your favorite watering hole or your grandfather bouncing you on his knee. there are few artists who can make even the gaps between words seem like a part of the experience but you will savor every fluctuation in tone from one of the masters.