MTV Unplugged

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Canada's ultimate Renaissance man has bounced from grizzled heartland rock to soft-focus middle-of-the-road pop without employing a safety net--or even a consultant to warn him that his legion of fans is definitely split between the two genres. For the most part, Adams steers clear of his later power ballads on this acoustic (but hardly stripped-down) set, instead reaching back to concentrate on such choogling classics as "Summer of '69." Yes, he tugs at the ol' heartstrings with tunes like "Cuts Like a Knife" (which is given a new twist via the uillean pipes of Davy Spillane), but if it's out-and-out schmaltz you're craving, there's little to be had here. --David Sprague

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Description
After spending most of the '90s composing songs for soundtracks and writing weepy ballads (sometimes simultaneously), Bryan Adams finally got around to hopping on the Unplugged bandwagon. Joining Adams's long-time back-up band are Madonna collaborator Patrick Leonard and students of the Julliard School Of Music, making this outing pretty robust-sounding forwhat purports to be a stripped-down affair.
To his credit, Adams finds unique ways of presenting many of his radio staples. Guest Davy Spillane's uillean pipes breathe life into ballads such as "Cuts Like A Knife", "I'm Ready" and "Heaven". Adams picks up the tempo with successful rearrangementsthat include a countrified reading of "I Think About You" and a blues medley of "If Ya Wanna Be Bad-Ya Gotta Be Good" and "Let's Make A Night To Remember". Blowing away his wholesome image and proving that kids still wanna rock, Adams' naughtiest hooks pop up during "The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You".

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2008-08-03 rating:
Unplugged
A great many of the Unplugged series albums have been hit and miss and it is a relief to hear this one from Bryan Adams ending up firmly in the hit section. He manages to rework his songs just enough to fit the acoustic format and yet they retain their original feel throughout. Tracks such as 'Summer of 69' and 'Run to You' are staggeringly good played acoustic and the upbeat 'Back to You' and 'I Think About You' never fail to get my toes tapping every time I hear them. 'When You Love Someone' has a beautiful Celtic feel to it that elevates it above the ordinary on this album as well. As far as Bryan Adams and Unplugged albums goes this one rates pretty highly and is well worth a try.

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review by: date: 2005-06-21 rating:
Enjoyable acoustic session
"Unplugged" sessions are pretty tell-tale. Mediocre songs and mediocre musicians are mercilessly revealed, but good songs work even in the most-stripped down arrangement.

Apparently Bryan Adams is a pretty good songwriter. His 1984 classic "Summer Of '69" works extremely well in this setting, and stripped down versions of "Heaven" and "Cuts Like a Knife" prove that Adams is a resourceful straightahead rocker with a knack for a hook.
There are five songs from Adams' then-new album here, 1996's "18 'til I Die". "Let's Make A Night To Remember" and the slightly forced "The Only Thing That Look Good On Me Is You" are significantly better in this acoustic setting, and "I Think About You" is transformed into a driving folkish rocker a la John Hiatt. "18 'til I Die" is burdened with too many strings, though, and the ballad "I'll Always Be Right There" is a little bit run-of-the-mill and a little too saccharine for my taste, but hey...it's all a question of taste.

"MTV Unplugged" is also good for a few surprises, like the early "Fits Ya Good" and three or four new songs. The solid, melodic rocker "Back To You" is one of the highlights of the album, as is the bluesy "If Ya Wanna Be Bad Ya Gotta Be Good".
There are many ballads here, and I would have liked to hear a couple more up-tempo songs. Still, Adams is backed by a group of very good musicians, and there are plenty of fine moments.
The overall quality of the music makes "MTV Unplugged" one of his best efforts of the '90s.

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review by: wonkyplonkydonkey date: 2002-07-16 rating:
Surprisingly good
When I heard BA had done an unplugged set I thought uh-oh. Why 'unplug' yourself when you're so fantastic plugged in!

However, this album is fantastic, some really interesting versions of the songs, understated and effective orchestration and an unmissable, brilliant blues-themed version of If you wanna be bad then you better be good / Let's Make a night to remember. Bryan sings with real depth here and his vocal talent is exposed even further without the electric guitars. Some tasty drumming finishes the record off.

Go for it.

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review by: date: 2001-10-28 rating:
very good live album
My uncle recommended this album to me and I listened to samples of the tracks and decided to buy it.
The first track - Summer of 69 (which is also on 'so far so good') is excellent. Bryan plays the acoustic bass lines fantastically and it gets better after a couple of choruses when background drums are introduced, you just don't know what to expect with this album, instruments come in without notice and it is an enjoyable ride listening to the unplugged tracks.

'Back to you' starts with the high pitched 'out west' guitar style before Bryan begins to sing away the feel-good lyrics.

The crowd go wild when they hear the beginning acoustic notes of 'Cut's like a knife.' They know that one of the best performed tracks on the album is on the way.

After three feel-good all out pretty fast tempo tracks a soothing, low-medtempo 'I'm ready' comes on which really does hit the relaxing note that is a welcome change from the first three. Classical instruments are introduced and it the smooth tune flies swifty behind the perfect emotional voice of Bryan Adams.

Fit's ya good is kind of in between the first three and i'm ready. Another feel good, medtempo ballad sort of tune with good lyrics and guitar.

So thats the first five very good tracks - the next one ( when you love someone) is disappointingly slow moving and not in any way exciting but some music lovers like that sort of thing. The rest of the album carries on with a mix of ballads, slowtempo's, medtempos and fast tempo feel good tunes. Something for everyone, but theres not doubt that a fan of Bryans would like all the tracks.


review by: date: 2001-02-20 rating:
Done to perfection
I'm not really an unplugged music lover. I already had 'Best of Me' and was given this album as a Christmas Present. A lot of the songs on this album are also on 'Best of Me' which kinda put me off listening to it for a while, but I'd have to say that both have their own uniqueness and are equally fantastic.

Bryan performs marvellously throughout this album. The live versions are quite different to the originals, such as Summer of '69 which is missing the drums for the first half, but it's a great version of such a classic song. I particularly love the blues jam they did mixing if ya wanna be bad - ya gotta be good and let's make a night to remember.

Heaven, I'm Ready and their blues mix have to be my favourite tracks on this album. Do not doubt buying this CD because many of the songs are already on Best of Me, if you have it. They're both very different albums and both brilliant. Adams Unplugged is most definitely worth buying and I'm sure as hell glad I was given it for Christmas, or I may have never listened to it!

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