Very Best Of MTV Unplugged Vol.2, The - Various Artists

...Before long, the MTV The Very Best Of Unplugged album was released, an its success demanded a second album to be released.

This album is the second offering from the MTV Unplugged Set. Many artists have released music that they have performed on the MTV set, but this is a compilation of some of the greatest moments in the channel's live acoustic history. There are 16 tracks on the album, including 10 which were not previously released.
...1. Sting - Every Breath You Take
2. Chris Isaak - Wicked Game
3. The Cranberries - Zombie
4. REM - Imitation Of Life
5. Eric Clapton - Layla
6. Crowded House - Four Seasons In One Day
7. Tori Amos - Cornflake Girl
8. Rod Stewart - Have I Told You Lately (That I Love You)
9. Bob Dylan - Like A Rolling Stone
10. Bjork - Human Behaviour
11. Seal - Crazy
12. Midnight Oil - Beds ... more

MTV is a television music channel which started broadcasting in late 1989/early 1990. As the first of its kind, it regularly featured an 'Unplugged' session, where artists would come and perform a live acoustic set. Before long, the MTV The Very Best Of Unplugged album was released, an its success demanded a second album to be released.

This album is the second offering from the MTV Unplugged Set. Many artists have released music that they have performed on the MTV set, but this is a compilation of some of the greatest moments in the channel's live acoustic history. There are 16 tracks on the album, including 10 which were not previously released.

These are the tracks:

1. Sting - Every Breath You Take
2. Chris Isaak - Wicked Game
3. The Cranberries - Zombie
4. REM - Imitation Of Life
5. Eric Clapton - Layla
6. Crowded House - Four Seasons In One Day
7. Tori Amos - Cornflake Girl
8. Rod Stewart - Have I Told You Lately (That I Love You)
9. Bob Dylan - Like A Rolling Stone
10. Bjork - Human Behaviour
11. Seal - Crazy
12. Midnight Oil - Beds Are Burning
13. Sheryl Crow - Run, Baby, Run
14. Bryan Adams - I'm Ready
15. Phil Collins - In The Air Tonight
16. Elton John - Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me

This is a great album to have if you want to hear what the raw performances of some truly great songs sound like. The album starts off with a bang with a great vocal performance from Sting with 'Every Breath You Take', and continues from there. The commercial appeal of the album is there, as most of the tracks are well known ones - I guess that's just marketing for you - but there is also a bit of quirkiness with Midnight Oil's 'Beds Are Burning', and a lesser known track from Bjork and one from R.E.M. The track that steals the show for me is the Cranberries' 'Zombie', which is performed with such passion. There is also a good rendering of 'I'm Ready' by the gravelly voiced Bryan Adams.

So, my thoughts? Well, I haven't said much negatively about this album, and, truth be told, it's because you get what you expect with it. A parade of stars singing in one place (at different times) contained on one album. It is a brilliant idea, and I am glad they have not over-produced these sessions and saturated the market with too many further albums.

With live unplugged versions of some recognisable tracks, you get a true feel of the musical quality without the manufactured sound of a studio recording. It strips the tracks down to their basics. Sometimes with the live nature, there are a few bum notes, but these are few and far between. None of these tracks are weak - they are all excellent live performances.

I rate this at 5 stars for what it is - a brilliant unplugged album.

The album is currently available from amazon.co.uk for £12.99 new, £4.99 used.

Thanks for reading. 

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