Mtv Unplugged Discography

[Michael]

MTVUnplugged is an American television series on MTV. It showcases recorded live performances of popular music artists playing acoustic or "unplugged" variations of songs. The show aired regularly from 1989 to 1999. From 2000 to 2009, it aired less frequently and was usually billed as MTV Unplugged No. 2.0. Since 2009, MTV Unplugged specials have aired occasionally, sometimes through online or subscription only. Episodes and specials have tended to showcase one artist or group, playing a combination of their hit songs and covers.

The term "unplugged" has come to refer to music that would usually be played on electrified instruments (such as an electric guitar or synthesizer) but is rendered instead on instruments that can be played without electricity, for example acoustic guitar or traditional piano, although a microphone is still used. In most cases, the bass (or bass guitar) is amplified, and a Hammond organ is sometimes used.

MTV launched MTV Unplugged in 1989.[3] The show featured musicians performing unplugged versions of their electric repertoire. Many of these performances were subsequently released as albums, often featuring the title Unplugged. It was believed that the show was inspired by a 1989 MTV Video Music Awards acoustic performance by Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora; however, the show was already in production.[3]

The MTV show titled Unplugged, drawing on this phenomenon, was created by producers Robert Small and Jim Burns.[1] Songwriter Jules Shear hosted the first 13 episodes.[4] The pilot and first seven episodes were produced by Bruce Leddy, after which Associate Producer Alex Coletti took over for the remainder of the series, producing the show through 2001.[5] After the first 13 episodes, the role of host was eliminated.[5] The show was produced by Viacom and RSE Inc[6] and was most frequently directed by Milton Lage and Beth McCarthy.

The rock band Tesla performed an all-acoustic live set on July 2, 1990 that was released under the title Five Man Acoustical Jam in November of that year, following the format established the previous year by MTV Unplugged.[37]

The fourth season of Canadian Idol featured an Unplugged night which was held at Toronto's Masonic Temple. This episode of Canadian Idol was a tribute to MTV in two ways: a direct tribute to the Unplugged format, and to celebrate the recent licensing of the new MTV Canada which was located in the Masonic Hall until 2012.[39]

On July 30, 2020, Code Orange performed a livestreamed acoustic set on Twitch spoofing MTV Unplugged under the title of "MUDTV Mudbanger's Ball" during the COVID-19 pandemic.[40] The band described it as "conceptually akin to classic MTV Unplugged performances, but with nightmarish digital twists and turns."[41] The performance was later remastered and released on September 4, 2020, as their album Under The Skin.[42]

This unplugged moment marked the hard pivot of Lauryn Hill into Ms. Lauryn Hill. Gone were the days of cheery stage performances of material deemed classic. The new norm would be a roller coaster ride filled with elaborate makeup and costumes, flips in arrangements of songs that should never be touched, tears followed by standoffishness, a cameo from the elusive Brother Anthony, a prison stint, and perhaps an even greater disappointment: no real follow-up to The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.

Some say she was struggling with emotional turmoil. Others say it was an act. I say the truth lives somewhere in the middle. I interviewed Salaam Remi several times throughout my career, and I always have him re-tell me the story of how the night before Unplugged was filmed, Lauryn was jamming at his studio with him and Nas. They had so much fun she sung out her voice. When she showed up to filming now understandably hoarse, the tears were the only eyebrow raising aspect of that evening.

One thing that helps is putting together a potential stripped-down live set, keeping this kind of interest in mind. In this case, think more about putting on a compelling show, rather than being a jukebox in a bar where no one really interacts. If you can keep a show compelling and fresh, you can translate that into an unplugged album that remains interesting to listeners.

This is my favorite acoustic album I think Altan are always unplugged. You can hear the real acoustic bass and it sounds great. The late great Bob Crump of TG Audio recommended this one to me and he was right as always.

Cannot recommend this too highly. Previously only available as a 2 CD special edition with the original re-master this acoustic version is now being sold individually. It is brilliant, reveals whole new ideas from the originals. Paddy McAloon is a songwriting genius in my book.

While not all the performances have been released on vinyl, many that have are wonderful examples of artists using the unplugged realm to showcase their body of work in an entirely new way. Here are our picks for the 10 best MTV Unplugged albums to own on vinyl.

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Today, the performance can be appreciated as a true testament to unvarnished artistry. For better or for worse this is Lauryn Hill unplugged. Not LL Cool J with a full backing-band. Not Jay-Z with a DJ. This is just Lauryn, an acoustic guitar, a microphone, and the occasional throat lozenge. L Boogie stripped down to the basics.

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