Unplugged

Performer: Eric Clapton
Engineer: Jim Barton; James Barton
Producer: Russ Titelman
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: Personnel: Eric Clapton (vocals, guitar); Andy Fairweather-Low (guitar); Chuck Leavell (keyboards); Nathan East (bass); Steve Ferrone (drums); Ray Cooper (percussion); Katy Kissoon, Tessa Niles (background vocals). UNPLUGGED won 1993 Grammy Awards for Album Of The Year, Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and Best Male Rock Vocal Performance. "Tears In Heaven" won the Grammy for Song Of The Year, and "Layla" was named Best Rock Song. Personnel: Eric Clapton (vocals, guitar); Andy Fairweather-Low (guitar); Chuck Leavell (keyboards); Nathan East (bass); Steve Ferrone (drums); Ray Cooper (percussion); Katy Kissoon, Tessa Niles (background vocals). Personnel: Eric Clapton (vocals, guitar); Andy Fairweather Low (guitar); Chuck Leavell (keyboards); Steve Ferrone (drums); Ray Cooper (percussion); Katie Kissoon, Nathan East, Tessa Niles (background vocals). 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 stretch and 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.

Q (6/00, p.64) - Ranked #71 in Q's "100 Greatest British Albums" Q (9/92, p.70) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...a faultless run-through of old favorites....Clapton is in fine form vocally....It's undoubtedly Clapton's most enjoyable album for years..." Stereophile (12/92, p.261) - "...[Clapton] hasn't played guitar this well in years, seemingly grateful for the acoustic limitations that let him forego guitar-hero pyrotechnics for a folksy Big Bill Broonzy bag..."

Over the course of four decades, Eric Clapton has carried the British blues legacy into the mainstream of pop music. From his mid-1960s days with the Yardbirds and John Mayall, through his years as guitar god with Cream and Blind Faith, and eventually to his more laid-back solo albums, Clapton has remained one of rock's most successful musicians. Given his guitar-superstar status, Clapton has played alongside the biggest musical acts of the 20th century, from soloing on the Beatles' "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," to performing at the Band's LAST WALTZ, to recording an album with B.B. King. Overcoming numerous setbacks and tragedies, old Slowhand has settled nicely into a long and prolific career.

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