Ten ridiculously superb MTV Unplugged albums

Sixth and fifth on the top ten unplugged list

No. 6 - 10,000 Maniacs: MTV Unplugged -  3m

For some artists a live album can be a bit of a catch-up on best songs or maybe a way to get a contract fulfilled. For 10,000 Maniacs, their MTV Unplugged album stands up very well against their studio albums, both before and afterward. It's as good as, if not better than the others. 

It marks the departure of lead singer Natalie Merchant in August 1993, a few months after recording the session in April and before the album was released in October. The album is a really good collection of the band’s top songs. They had a new hit from it too with a single, “Because The Night”, released and reaching number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. 

Again all credit to the MTV producers. 10,000 Maniacs are another perfect fit for this format. The easygoing songs fit the laid-back atmosphere in the studio and from the audience. If you want to catch up on the band's music this is the go-to disc to do so.

No. 5 - Rod Stewart: Unplugged...And Seated - 4.1m

Rod Stewart has had a few switch-arounds in music style over the years. His unplugged session is a masterpiece in sampling a few of those. Recorded in 1993 the focus is mainly on his music from the 1970s and 80s. As part of the retro view, he is reunited on stage with his old pal Ronnie Wood from Faces for several numbers. 

Stewart does add in a couple of newer songs, his version of Tom Waits’ “Tom Traubert’s Blues” always thrills me to hear. He is clearly having fun throughout the session and enjoying the music, Wood likewise. It’s a bit less of a concert and more of dropping in on two music friends having a chat and singing a few favorites together. But it’s all the better for it. Over four million sales suggest there’s a lot of agreement on that.

Continued on the next slide…