Unplugged [Live]

 

 

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The earliest recordings of Eric Clapton that I have heard date back to 1963 with The Yardbirds. Nearly 30 years after with the release of "Unplugged", he is as good as ever. Clapton's music is always very identifiable, whether electric or acoustic, and he is clearly one of the best blues guitarists of all time. "Unplugged" was recorded on January 16th of 1992, and released on August 25th of the same year. The album went on to win six Grammy Awards, and reached number one on the charts in the U.S. The album includes some new pieces, as well as some old classics.

"Signe" is the only instrumental on the album, and is a new piece which Clapton wrote while on holiday and is named for the boat he was on when he wrote it. "Before You Accuse Me" is a song which Eric Clapton has recorded before, an electric version for his "Journeyman" album, but the song is originally by Ellas McDaniel (a.k.a. Bo Diddley). It is interesting hearing this in acoustic form, but I prefer the electric version. "Hey Hey" is a song written by Big Bill Broonzy which Eric once said was probably the first blues song he had ever heard. The fourth track is "Tears in Heaven", a live version of a song which was released on the "Rush" soundtrack in January of 1992. The song, as probably everyone knows now, is about the loss of Eric's four-year-old son Conor in March of 1991.

"Lonely Stranger" is another of Clapton's songs, written around the same time, but it is a bit more general being about loneliness. "Nobody Knows You When You're Down & Out" is a song by Jimmie Cox, but Clapton picked it up from Bessie Smith and recorded it for "Layla" and once again it appears here. The album continues with the title track from "Layla", completely reworked as an acoustic version, and an amazingly new rendition equally as good as the original. "Running on Faith" is another piece which Clapton recorded on his "Journeyman" album, it is a piece by Jerry Lynn Williams, one of many which he wrote for Clapton.

With "Walkin' Blues", Clapton returns to early blues as this is one of two pieces on the album which was originally done by Robert Johnson, but in this case Clapton creates a hybrid between Johnson's "Walkin' Blues" and Muddy Waters "Feel Like Going Home". "Alberta" is another classic song which Clapton credits to Snooks Eaglin. "San Francisco Bay Blues" is a folk song which is usually associated with Jesse Fuller. "Malted Milk" is the second Robert Johnson piece on the album. "Old Love" is a return to his newer works, and yet another piece from the "Journeyman" album. The album then closes with a version of Muddy Waters' "Rollin' and Tumblin'".

"Unplugged" is a tremendous album, which allows users to once again hear just how well Eric Clapton can play the guitar. All the musicians on this album do a wonderful job and deserve credit for the result as well. These include: Ray Cooper (percussion), Nathan East (bass guitar, backing vocals), Steve Ferrone (drums), Chuck Leavell (keyboards), Andy Fairweather Low (guitar), Katie Kissoon (backing vocals), and Tessa Niles (backing vocals). There is no doubt about it for me, this is a five-star album.

Unplugged [LIVE]~ Eric Clapton is a very good album. But it is not great and that has nothing to do with the music. I have always thought that Eric Clapton can sound very prententious in his choice of lyrics. Like he wants to write like Dante but then makes a poor copy of it. Beside this, it is a very good album.

Clapton is fantastically versatile. From the Yardbirds through Cream and The Dominos, everyone who grew up in the 60s knew Eric as the best modern guitar player ever (forget it, Jimi) but even more than that, he speaks directly to every member of his audience through his music in a riveting way.

Here, on acoustic guitar, accompanied by one of the greatest pianos you'll ever hear, Eric Clapton sings the blues. Alone onstage to the world.

I don't understand why Eric Clapton and Doc Watson have never gotten together. THAT would be something for the ages. But in the mean time, you'll have to buy separate CDs.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Fans!
Fans call this one "Bodge on the Highway" because they listen to it in teh car on the way to a Bodge concert!

Now you know...

Published on April 22 2004 by monkeytot

5.0 out of 5 stars A Musicians review of this album...
I am going to approach this review from what 'I' experienced through it, and not what I think YOU will experience!! Read more

Published on April 1 2004 by Andy Anderson

5.0 out of 5 stars This is REAL music!
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... Read more

Published on Mar 21 2004 by Docendo Discimus

5.0 out of 5 stars Superlative Album, But . . .
WHY wasn't "Circus Left Town" included? I remember watching the broadcast & being intensely moved by that particular performance. Read more

Published on Mar 10 2004 by Siobhan Cortes

4.0 out of 5 stars Clapton Comes Alive again
UNPLUGGED is a sequel to JUST ONE NIGHT released in 1980. There are no electric guitars in this concert. Read more

Published on Mar 4 2004 by andy8047

5.0 out of 5 stars An Essential Addition To Any Music Collection
This is undoubtedly an essential addition addition to any music collection. As a 24 year old man, this was the first introduction to Clapton's music that I was ever exposed to... Read more

Published on Feb 8 2004 by J. Oborny

5.0 out of 5 stars A great live acoustic set from E.C.!!!
This is a great live acoustic set from Eric Clapton!!! Includes live acoustic versions of:Layla,Tears In Heaven,Rollin'& Tumblin',Before You Accuse Me,Walkin'Blues and many... Read more

Published on Jan 16 2004 by Jason P. Pumphrey

5.0 out of 5 stars I have no words...
Excellent album! Excellent performance! Excellent sound! Excellent unplugged! Excellent musicians!

E. Clapton = 5 stars
A. Fearweather Low = 5 stars
N. Read more

Published on Dec 12 2003 by Ricardo Freitag

5.0 out of 5 stars totally cool
cool guitar, no electricity. coll blues and rock. redid layla. other songs such as tears in heaven slow bluesy and cool. poor beutiful and cool guitar playing.

Published on Sep 18 2003 by Phil Mann Jr

4.0 out of 5 stars Guitar God Captures Career in Acoustic Performance
I must admit that when one of our generation's finest electric guitarists transformed himself into a singer-songwriter a number of years ago I was not impressed. Read more

Published on Aug 22 2003 by Craig A. Clagett

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