I’ve been writing recently about some of the top-selling albums released from the MTV Unplugged series. It’s been an amazing idea for MTV and of course, the many artists who have participated over the years since the first TV show back in 1989.
Initially, the plan was for TV shows, but as they grew in success and people liked the unplugged style, we started to see albums being released. The top 15 sellers all sold 1m or more copies worldwide as recorded online at Best Selling Albums. But there were many other excellent unplugged albums that have been released and didn’t quite hit that level.
Let's take a closer look at ten of the best from the rest of the many albums released from this iconic TV series. These ten may not have sold in millions, but they are still exceptionally good live albums. All are worth hearing if you haven't listened already, or playing again if you have.
Ten of the best albums from MTV Unplugged
Bastille - MTV Unplugged: Bastille
This album has so far only been available via a Record Store Day limited edition in 2023. That limits the audience somewhat, but not the quality of a great album. It dates back to an MTV show from 2021 in London by Bastille. The UK band is a favourite of mine and it was great to be able to listen to a copy of this release recently.
As with many of the unplugged sessions, it includes some of the artist's best songs rearranged and a couple of cover songs. In Bastille’s case that includes a great version of their songs “Pompeii” and “Happier”, plus Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly” and Nirvana’s “Come As You Are”. They add further interest to the 15 tracks chosen for the album.
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Two Unplugged albums with initial limited releases
Paul McCartney - Unplugged (The Official Bootleg)
This was the first album released from the series. It certainly started something huge. The story is that Paul McCartney had recorded his unplugged session for the TV show and was listening to the recording on the way home. McCartney liked what he heard and felt that it might lead to someone recording the show and sneaking out a bootleg version. So by the time he reached home, McCartney had decided to release the MTV session as an official album. Hence the quirky album name.
And who wasn't happy with that as a decision and an album? It included a range of Lennon and McCartney songs, some old-time rock n roll, a great cover of Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine” and more. All played as genuinely unplugged, unlike a few later albums in this series. The album sales aren't clear but are well below 1m sales, probably due to an initial limited number of releases. The ex-Beatle paved the way for some huge-selling unplugged albums from others to follow quickly.
R.E.M. - R.E.M. Unplugged: The Complete 1991 and 2001 Sessions
This is another unplugged album that deserved more sales but again was initially released on a limited number basis. This R.E.M. album was released in 2014 and made up of two shows around ten years apart, as the title shows. The band was an ideal candidate for the unplugged treatment. The stripped-back and acoustic-based sound is a great fit for their songs and Michael Stipe’s unique voice too.
The double disc set across the two sessions has many great songs. There is the usual mix of some covers and then lots of terrific versions of R.E.M. originals. The quality of the two sessions is high and consistent across both. The whole release is like a warm bath of their melodies and songs, one to treasure for its different nuances of the originals.
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Two different styles, two great live albums
Jay-Z - Jay-Z: Unplugged
I’m not a huge rap fan, but this album is very accessible and deserves respect for being a truly great recording. It’s one of the MTV Unplugged series highlights, even if its sales are only around the 600k mark. The show was recorded back in November 2001 and the album was released quickly the following month.
Jay-Z had backing from The Roots plus Mary J Blige and Pharrell Williams made guest appearances. The rapper and his crew turned out to be a great show. The electronic beat and drum machine may be missing but the acoustic-based set works brilliantly. By this time an organ and piano were well accepted within the unplugged concept and he made good use of them.
With the benefit of a great track listing and some medleys, Jay-Z covers his hits and more. Could this be the best live rap album? Very possibly, it’s a strong contender despite the constraints of the unplugged concept.
Shakira - MTV Unplugged
This 2000 album from Shakira is a top seller with over 800k copies and is the 16th top seller from the MTV Unplugged collection. That certainly makes it top of the best of the rest list in sales terms anyway. And justifiably too. It was good enough to earn her a Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album.
The Latin aspect was a big first in many ways, including this being the first Latin pop act on the series and the first show entirely in Spanish. Shakira may have plenty of layers and polish applied to her studio records, but her work and voice are very strong and she easily copes with being unplugged. If you like Latin pop you won’t go wrong with this one.
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An old master and a young challenger get it right live on stage
Bob Dylan - MTV Unplugged
Another huge name but with far fewer doubts over whether the unplugged style might suit Bob Dylan. It’s more ironic that he was reverting to an acoustic set after all the fuss and reaction when he first plugged in his guitar on stage many years before. Recorded in New York in 1994 with a small audience this was ideal for Dylan.
He was persuaded by MTV to turn it into a greatest hits session and played many of his best-known songs. The album features just 11 of the songs from the show but they are performed in classic Dylan style with a freshness and verve that doesn't always feature when Dylan plays live.
This set was like a musical education for younger folk at the time. Many ask what all the fuss is about Dylan. Watch the show, listen to the album, and learn from a master.
Maxwell - MTV Unplugged
When this was recorded for MTV, Maxwell had just one album out. Admittedly Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite release from the year before became a big hit after a slow start. Even so, it's a big challenge to take on the Unplugged approach. Maxwell accepted and duly delivered on that.
This eight-song EP was released in 1997 and went on to sell over 0.5m copies. One of the songs, “Whenever Wherever Whatever”, was nominated for a Grammy Award as Best Male Vocal Pop Performance, but was pipped by Elton John with his Princess Diana tribute version of “Candle In The Wind”. The EP is full of great songs and performances and helped broaden awareness of Maxwell even more as a mainstream artist with his particular blend of neo-soul.
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Kiss - Unplugged
This doesn't sound like a natural match. An unplugged set for the electrifying rockers from Kiss. But it works so well in different ways. This was one of three live albums they released in the 1990s but had it’s own place on merit there. Especially with the Kiss reunion that took place soon after, perhaps unplugged had a hand in a reconnection of a different type.
The band with their latest lineup was invited to do a session for MTV Unplugged and accepted. They decided to go large with their plan for that, even if not with their usual loud extravagant sound. They also stripped right back visually too, cutting out theatricals and the trademark face paint.
After a great acoustic set, it was revealed that ex-members Ace Frehley and Peter Criss were coming on as guests for a couple of numbers. That was followed by all six current and past members playing live together. Kiss original, new, and mixed together were there for all to see. It heralded a full reunion tour to come.
That background makes it a standout session, but the music and adapted style was also damned good too. They played lesser-known tracks rather than all the hits in this adapted style. It worked out very well for Kiss and their fans on so many levels.
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Neil Young - Unplugged
Some of you may disagree but I reckon this album from Neil Young is really good. It had some mixed reviews when released in 1993, but it stands up very well even now. Mind you, Young himself was probably one of the harshest critics. It took him two tries to record it. Young walked out in the first show in December 1992 as he was visibly unhappy at the performance he and his band gave. A second show was arranged in February 1993 which was used for the Unplugged album.
The unplugged sessions followed the release of his Harvest Moon album in November 1992. Less grunge, no distortion, and back to folk rock for him. An ideal scenario for the MTV concept.
The album flows well and while some are less pleased by the tracks selected, it’s a great selection by my reckoning. A mix of hits and some other rarer songs and different arrangements work nicely. Young has some quiet acoustic moments and fills any space with piano, harmonica, and pump organ. Have a listen to his classic sing “Like A Hurricane” and see how that organ fills for electric guitar superbly. It’s a great version of a super album, even if it did take a couple of attempts to get there.
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Pearl Jam - MTV Unplugged
When it comes to the best of the rest, this Pearl Jam album is very much up there. It’s an absolute classic. Recorded in 1992 just a couple of years after the band was formed and only a few months after their debut album Ten. Their MTV Unplugged show caught them at a fresh early peak in their career.
It was many years later before the album was released though. A limited edition appeared on Record Store Day in 2019 with a wider release on the band's 30th anniversary in 2020. It was well worth the wait.
Not an obvious candidate for a quieter unplugged session than their usual loud guitar style, Pearl Jam smashed the concept with a superb show. The band’s intensity remains strong, despite the different styles and arrangements. The album captures that across all seven songs. There was an eighth, a version of Neil Young’s “Rockin’ In The Free World”, on the TV show, but that didn’t make the album.
The acoustic guitars and the bass all sound terrific, the vocals are strong and the songs have real passion. Their setlist is great, “Jeremy” is always a standout, but the top song on the album goes to “Black”, it’s a magnificent performance on a standout album.