Product Description

Eric Clapton's live performance on MTV's strip-down-the-rockers show allowed the heavily-blues-influenced guitarist a chance to show off another, underrated side of his talent--his voice.
It's especially interesting to hear Clapton in an acoustic setting, because he made his mark as one of the early proponents of high-decibel rock. Here, sorting through numerous blues standards by the likes of Robert Johnson and Leadbelly, Clapton gives a lesson in technique, style and musical passion. His own, newer material allows him to stretchand play, while the heavily-grooved, slowed-down remake of his classic "Layla" is the essential standout. "Tears In Heaven", a moving tribute to his son's passing, is emotionally raw, yet stylistically smooth--a difficult task to achieve.
Stripping down the music of an artist as technically proficient and historically based as Eric Clapton was a stroke of genius. Hence, it's no surprise that the result, UNPLUGGED, is brilliant as well.

Track Listing

1. Signe
2. Before You Accuse Me
3. Hey Hey (Baby)
4. Tears In Heaven
5. Lonely Stranger
6. Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out
7. Layla
8. Running On Faith
9. Walkin' Blues
10. Alberta Alberta
11. San Francisco Bay Blues
12. Malted Milk
13. Old Love

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1834 in Music
• Released on: 1992-08-31
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Live

Amazon.co.uk Review
Clapton caught the "unplugged" trend just at the right time, when the public was hungry to hear how well rock stars and their material could hold up when stripped of elaborate production values. Clapton himself seemed baffled by the phenomenon, especially when picking up the armload of Grammys Unplugged earned him, including Record and Song of the Year for "Tears in Heaven", the heart-rending elegy to his young son, Conor. That song and a reworked version of "Layla" got most of the attention, but the rest of the album has fine versions of acoustic blues numbers such as "Malted Milk", "Rollin' & Tumblin' and "Before You Accuse Me" that make it worth investigating further. --Daniel Durchholz

Customer Reviews

emperors new clothes
I have been a guitarist for 47 years, I have never understood why Clapton is so highly rated, believe me his limitations are laughable. If you want blue-based Rock n Roll, Ry Cooder produces better albums, at least they have heart and guts.
Clapton unplugged is so lame, and the sidesmen so timid, trying never to show up the boss, the album is rehearsed to death. I remember B.B. King on one of his visits saying he was off to see a real guitarist at Ronnie Scott - Barney Kessel. I think when Joe Public decides that some-one is God that person ends up believing it, and if they harbour any doubt then they can always to resort to drugs and liquor.

Astounding.
Despite the usual struggle for Blues at populist award ceremonies this album picked up 2 Grammys when it was first released in 1992. And after listening to it, frankly that is no surprise.

You don't even have to be a Blues fan to enjoy this sensational album. It is a must have for everyone. Clapton manages to combine good vocals, excellent guitar playing, raw passion and, not to mention, catchy tunes all into one album.

Others become legends when heard in another perspective.
One of the best Clapton albums ever. Better known for his guitar riffs and accompaniements; Clapton was musically stripped to the bare essentials and in more senses than one, basically deleivered.
Two of the tracks are now classic folklore namely Tears In Heaven and Layla. What made the latter so memorable was that it previously famed for its guitar riff introduction and background. The Unplugged version added another dimension, the slow tempo coupled with a prominent vocal. Some classics are better left unchanged; others become legends when seen or heard in another perspective.