Every season of MTV Unplugged ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best seasons of MTV Unplugged!

The season premiere of ""MTV Unplugged"" features performances by British rockers Squeeze, solo artist Syd Straw, and Elliot Easton from The Cars. Musical highlights include Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford of Squeeze performing a rendition of their classic hit ""Pulling Mussels From The Shell,"" as well as a song from their new album Frank, ""She Doesn't Have To Shave."" The show is hosted by singer/songwriter Jules Shear. (The first episode of the season is an encore presentation of the pilot which aired November 26, 1989.)

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""October 1989....Our coming-out party almost didn't come off at all. For rehearsals, Chris Difford and Glen Tilbrook of Squeeze showed up with electric guitars. We thought the title of the show said it all, but it turned out we needed to be a little more explicit in our instructions: Unplugged wasn't exactly part of the American vernacular at this point. But after we scrambled around town for a pair of acoustic guitars, the two w

Squeeze with Syd Straw and Elliot Easton

New Jersey guitar band the Smithereens, and veteran British artist Graham Parker, are featured in this edition of ""MTV Unplugged."" Smithereens band members Jim Babjak (guitar/vocals), Dennis Diken (drums/vocals), Pat DiNizio (vocals/guitars/harmonica) and Mike Mesaros (bass/vocals) perform a medley of hits spanning their ten year career, including ""Only A Memory,"" ""A Girl Like You,"" ""Behind The Wall Of Sleep,"" and ""Blood And Roses,"" all penned by DiNizio. Parker's selections include ""Slash And Burn"" from his new album Human Touch. The Smithreens and Graham Parker team up with host Jules Shear to perform a medley which includes the old Sam Cooke song ""Cupid.""

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""Highlights included Graham Parker singing lead on The Smithereens' 'Behind The Wall Of Sleep' and The Band, Jules, and Graham all playing a Sam Cooke medley of 'Cupid' and 'Chain Gang' after rehearsing in the make-up room. It is impossible to repeat the early vibe of these shows. So simple,

The Smithereens and Graham Parker

Natalie Merchant, lyricist/singer of the acclaimed New York folk-rock band 10,000 Maniacs, performs ""What's The Matter Here?"" and ""Dustbowl."" Solo artist Michael Penn performs ""No Myth"" and the upbeat ""Brave New World"" off his new release March. Merchant and Penn join together for a rendition of ""City Of Angels,"" from the Maniacs' 1987 platinum release In My Tribe.

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""This program ushered in what was to be an ongoing Unplugged battle. Butting heads in this drama were the keyboard and the precise definition of what Unplugged means. In this discussion, Michael Penn's partner, Patrick Warren, wanted to play a mellotron, an antiquated instrument that, despite needing to be plugged in, runs on analogue tapes. Instead, he acquiesced and played the piano and xylophone.""

Set List:   What's the Matter Here? [Maniacs]    Dust Bowl [Merchant/Gustafson/Buck]    No Myth [Michael Penn]    Brave New World [Michael Penn]    Gun Shy [Maniacs]    City of Angels [Ma

10,000 Maniacs with Michael Penn

Miami-based quartet Nuclear Valdez, and Welsh rockers the Alarm are featured in this edition of ""MTV Unplugged."" Alarm band members Mike Peters (vocals/guitar), Dave Sharp (guitar), and Eddie MacDonald (bass/vocals) perform ""Change,"" and ""One Step Closer To Home,"" which the band dedicates to ""all the people of Eastern Europe."" Nuclear Valdez showcase their rich Latin Heritage with renditions of ""Summer"" and the Phil Lynott song ""Don't Believe A Word.""

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""One of our greatest regrets is that this show did not turn out as it should have. The day before the taping, Alarm singer Mike Peters was called back to London for a family emergency. Because the show must go on, guitarist Dave Sharp-accompanied only by the group's drummer, Nigel Twist-filled in admirably. If the Alarm hadn't been such a terrific, underappreciated band, this would have merely been a show that got away.""

Set List:   Change [Sharp/Twist]    My Land, Your Land [Sharp/Twist]    One St

The Alarm with Nuclear Valdez

""MTV Unplugged"" presents former James Gang member Joe Walsh accompanied by R&B great Dr. John. Recorded at the National Video Center in New York City, Walsh performs such hits as ""Desperado"" and ""Rosewood Bitters."" All involved come together for renditions of ""Cinnamon Girl"" and ""Let The Good Times Roll.""

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""This show was originally billed as 'Joe Walsh and Friends,' but Walsh arrived at the studio with only a bass player named Rick Rosas. We explained that 'Friends' is actually a plural word and that, notwithstanding Rick's musical proficiency, we had been expecting the 'Friends' to be somewhat recognizable to our television audience. Then we discovered that Dr. John was taping a television show in the same building, So we cornered the good doctor in the men's bathroom, and 'Joe Walsh and Friends' became 'Joe Walsh and Dr. John.'""

Set List:   Desperado [Walsh]    Rosewood Bitters [Walsh and Rosas]    Repetition, Repetition, Repetition [Shear] (wr

Joe Walsh and Dr. John

""MTV Unplugged"" devotes an episode to the work of two guitar virtuosos: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Joe Satriani. Satriani showcases his expressive guitar work with renditions of ""The Feeling"" and ""I Believe."" Vaughan performs memorable versions of ""Rude Mood"" and ""Pride And Joy.""

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""During 'Pride and Joy' Stevie Ray Vaughan provided two classic still lifes that deserve to be displayed in the Unplugged gallery. In the first - after he sang the line 'You mess with her you see a man get mean' - he made a fist to display an enormous ring on his finger. The audience exploded. The second was at the song's end. After he sang the last line he smiled the kind of smile that only someone who has just experienced perfection can project. Plans to end the show with Joe and Stevie playing together were scrapped because Stevie had to leave early. The chilling aspect of this was that Jules excused his absence by saying, 'Stevie's gotta go catch an airplane; he's outta

Stevie Ray Vaughan with Joe Satriani

""MTV Unplugged"" presents Atlanta-based singers/songwriters/guitarists Amy Ray And Emily Saliers -- collectively known as the Indigo Girls -- and solo artist Michelle Shocked. Shocked performs ""Jamboree Queen,"" ""On The Greener Side,"" and ""The Water Is Wide."" The Indigo Girls perform ""World Falls,"" and ""Closer To Fine,"" from their self-titled LP. Shocked joins host Jules Shear to revive the Jimmy Rodgers song ""T For Texas.""

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""These two artists embody what we were attempting to accomplish with the early shows: guitar, voice, song. Nothing more, nothing less. During this adolescent stage of Unplugged, Jules used to warm up the crowd with an old Jimmie Rodgers song, 'T for Texas.' For this program, he actually broke it out for the camera. At one point during the song - a duet with Michelle Shocked - Jules sang a note for 18 seconds (You try it). Everyone - Michelle included - stared dumbfounded. Finally, Michelle was so flabbergasted that she broke in

Michelle Shocked with Indigo Girls

Australian band The Church and Irish solo artist Sinead O'Connor are featured in this edition of ""MTV Unplugged."" The Church band members Steve Killbey (bass/vocals), Peter Koppes (guitar/vocals) and Mary Willson-Piper (guitar/vocals) perform a collection of songs, including ""Under The Milky Way,"" the band's first Top 40 hit, as well as ""Metropolis"" from their new album Gold Afternoon Fix. Sinead performs acappella versions of ""Black Boys On Mopeds"" and ""I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got.""

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""The other moments still resonate. The first is one of the most arresting moments in the Unplugged catalogue: Jules and Mary Willson-Piper of The Church came together for a tremendous rendition of the Beatles' 'Rain' (conceived the previous night as they stood waiting for a cab in a downpour) that reminded us of the purity that drove these shows in the first place. The second was the shock of discovering that Sinead O'Connor actually has a self-deprecating sens

Sinead O'Connor with The Church

This special edition of ""MTV Unplugged"" takes an intimate look at Henley as he performs songs that span his career with the Eagles through his recent solo career. Joining him is a string quartet which was brought in to perform songs in arrangements that have never been heard before. Song selections include ""End Of The Innocence,"" ""Heart Of The Matter,"" ""Best Of My Love,"" ""Come Rain Or Come Shine,"" and ""Desperado.""

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""The day before rehearsals, we strolled into the L.A. studio only to see Glen Frey playing keyboards with Henley. Our collective mind spiralled. Eagles Reunion: Unplugged. No such luck. 'Don't get excited,' said Frey. 'I'm leaving for New York tomorrow.'""

Set List:   End of the Innocence    Heart of the Matter (written by Henley, J.D. Souther, and Mike Cambell)    The Best of My Love (written by Henley, Glen Frey, and J.D. Souther)    Come Rain or Come Shine (written by Johnny Mercer and Harold Arien)    Desperado

Featuring:   Don Henl

Don Henley

""MTV Unplugged,"" the acclaimed acoustic music series, presents an acoustic performance with Great White and Damn Yankees. Taped at the Hollywood Center Studios in Los Angeles, Great White and Damn Yankees bring down the house rock-n-roll style. Song selections include: ""Coming of Age"", ""Cat Scratch Fever"", ""Once Bitten Twice Shy"" and ""Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You"".

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""The Damn Yankees set was the first Unplugged performance that rocked. In this context, of course, rock is spelled with a capital RAAWWKK. At one point, Ted Nugent of Damn Yankees - just one of three stars in this mid-80's metal supergroup, which also included Tommy Shaw of Styx and Jack Blades from Night Ranger - let out Unplugged's first unbridled, fair-to-partly-bloodcurdling scream. Not known for being timid, the Motor City Madman actually strongly resembled Bill the Cat from 'Bloom County.' The show helped pave the way for many hard rock groups to follow.""

Set List:   Coming of Age

Great White with Damn Yankees

Australian rock sensation Crowded House, and solo artist Tim Finn, perform in this special edition of ""MTV Unplugged."" This program marks the first time Crowded House lead vocalist/guitarist, Neil Finn, and brother Tim Finn, have appeared together on U.S. television since the break up of their New Zealand band Split Enz in 1985. The Finn brothers are joined by Crowded House bassist Nick Seymour and drummer Paul Hester, and Crowded House producer Mitchell Froom, on keyboards. Song selections include ""Mean To Me"" from the band's debut album Crowded House, the Hunters & Collectors hit single ""Throw Your Arms Around Me,"" and ""Four Seasons In One Day,"" a new song from their upcoming album release. Also included is a rendition of ""Chocolate Cake,"" a new song from the Finn brothers soon-to-be-released collaborative work, Brothers Finn, and ""Not Even Close,"" a song from Tim Finn's current album release Tim Finn.

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""During one commercial break while the en

Crowded House with Tim Finn

""Blue-Eyed Soul"" duo Daryl Hall and John Oates joined the ""MTV Unplugged"" roster in mid-1990. The artists that hold the record for having the most Top 40 songs in the 1980s performed the classic #1 hits ""She's Gone"" and ""Out of Touch,"" and debuted their '90s hit ""So Close."" They were backed by such highly acclaimed musicians as Tom ""T-Bone"" Wolk and Bob Mayo. The timelessness of their songs shows why Billboard magazine deemed them the Most Successful Duo in Rock 'N' Roll History. Audience reaction to the accoustic set influenced their decision to support the ""Change of Season"" album with an all-accoustic tour later that year.

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book... ""Daryl Hall was an exceptional voice, and hits like 'Out of Touch' and 'She's Gone' seemed completely reinvigorated. Hall & Oates was also one of the first groups to recognize the show's increasing significance. Although they had already completed an upcoming album, the success of their Unplugged performance inspired them

Hall and Oates

Legendary rock veteran Elton John performs a memorable medley of hits past and present in a special one hour version of ""MTV Unplugged."" Viewers get the chance to see one of rock's most flamboyant showman performing live in an intimate studio setting. Song selections include ""Sad Songs,"" ""Sacrifice,"" ""Tiny Dancer,"" ""Daniel,"" ""Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me,"" ""Benny and the Jets,"" and ""Candle in the Wind.""

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book....""Somewhere near the end of 'Don't Let The Sun Go Down on Me,' it became obvious that Elton John was enjoying himself. There can be no other explanation for the fact that the song's ending actually times out longer than the tune itself. Elton's voice vacillated from falsetto to baritone and then drifted into gospel tones. It was a startling, awe-inspiring moment that demonstrated that careers like his don't happen by accident. Elton then asked if he could stay and do some more songs, giving us our first hour long show.""

Set List:   Sad Songs

Elton John

MTV viewers get the rare opportunity to see legendary hard rockers Aerosmith perform acoustically on this special edition of ""MTV Unplugged."" Taped live at the historic Ed Sullivan Theatre in New York City in High Definition TV, band members Steven Tyler (vocals), Joe Perry (guitar), Tom Hamilton (bass), Joey Kramer (drums) and Brad Whitford (guitar) perform a rousing 30 minute acoustic medley of their hit songs past and present. Song selections include ""Toys In The Attic,"" ""Hang Man Jury,"" ""Big 10 Inch,"" ""Dream On,"" ""Walkin' The Dog,"" and ""Train Kept A Rollin'."" ""MTV Unplugged"" with Aerosmith, with high definition imaging by Captain of America, marks the first airing of a high definition program on the network.

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book.....""Despite the family entertainment angle, the boys were still boys. Aerosmith has never been a band to shy away from extreme, sometime slightly juvenile, sexual innuendo. But the painting of a topless woman on Joey Kramer's drum kit was

Aerosmith

In a special edition of ""MTV Unplugged,"" Crosby, Stills and Nash perform a collection of classic hits. Taped in high-definition TV at the historic Ed Sullivan Theatre in New York City, the soaring vocals of David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash will transport you back in time with such songs as ""Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,"" ""Daylight Again,"" ""Southern Cross,"" ""Wasted On The Way,"" and more. ""MTV Unplugged"" with Crosby, Stills and Nash, with high definition imaging by Captain of America, marks the second airing of a high definition program on the network.

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""Our first taping at the Ed Sullivan Theater. Such history. Such nostalgia. Such a dump. Unfortunately for us, David Letterman and CBS hadn't yet started in on their renovation, which included ridding the famed venue of its horrible rat problem. Still, all the dressing rooms had their original mirrors, and just being on that stage evoked an incredible feeling of tradition.""

Set List:   Wasted o

Crosby, Stills & Nash

Heavy duty rockers Ratt and Vixen bring the house down during this special presentation of ""MTV Unplugged."" Taped in high-definition TV at the historic Ed Sullivan Theatre in Manhattan, Vixen, who were joined by Cinderella guitarist Fred Coury, performed ""Love Is A Killer"" and ""Edge Of A Broken Heart."" Ratt, in an unusual performance, covered Fleetwood Mac's ""Oh Well"" and Creedence Clearwater Revival's ""Born On The Bayou."" ""MTV Unplugged"" with Ratt and Vixen, with high-definition imaging by Captain of America, marks the airing of a third high-definition program   on the network.

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged Book...""Another subtext of Unplugged is to see who's really got the goods. In many ways, the show was a reaction to the slick, lip-synching mentality of the 80's: we were fighting the good fight against the Milli Vanillis of the world. Not that either Ratt or Vixen were lip-synchers. Hardly. It's just that their brand of metal.

Set List:   Love Is a Killer [Vixen]    Edge of a

Ratt with Vixen

The Black Crowes, the Atlanta quintet who rocked the early 90's, perform ""Jealous Again"" and ""She Talks To Angels"" off their hard rockin' debut album Shake Your Moneymaker. Tesla, one of heartland America's most popular hard-rock bands, perform ""Love Song,"" the gold top 10 single off their second album The Great Radio Controversy, and ""Signs,"" from the band's just released acoustic album Five Man Acoustical Jam.

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book....""Note to ourselves: This is the last time we will ever give a band a calling time before noon. The Black Crowes were forced to wake up at 8:00 A.M. and no one performs at their best this early in the morning. Unfortunately, the beer they swilled for breakfast didn't help their performance either.""

Set List:   She Talks to Angels [Black Crowes]    Jealous Again [Black Crowes]    You're Wrong    Comin' Atcha Live/Truckin' [Tesla] (written by Tesla/Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, and Robert Hunter)    Love Song [Tesla]    Paradise [Tesl

The Black Crowes with Tesla

Touted as one of the most influential and successful American rock groups of the 1970s, The Allman Brothers Band recently regrouped and turned out their first new album in nine years: Seven Turns. In this special edition of ""MTV Unplugged,"" original band members Gregg Allman on keyboards, Dickey Betts on guitar, and drummers Butch Truck and Jaimoe, are joined by new members, guitarist Warren Haynes, bassist Allen Woody, and Johnny Neel on keyboards and blues harp. Song selections performed include: ""Midnight Rider,"" Gregg Allman's '74 solo hit and ""Low Down Dirty Mean"" and ""Seven Turns"" off the band's new release Seven Turns.

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book....""Working on this show was not for the faint of heart. By 10:00 A.M. every band member was chain-smoking. It turns out you don't get to be an Allman Brother by belonging to the excercycle set.""

Set List:   Seven Turns    Midnight Rider    Low Down Dirty Mean    Melissa    C'mon in My Kitchen (written by Robert Johnson)

Feat

The Allman Brothers Band

The consummate hard rock quartet of Bret Michaels, Bobby Dall, Rikki Rockett and C.C. DeVille get back to basics with acoustic renditions of ""Talk Dirty To Me"" from their first album Look What The Cat Dragged In?, ""Your Mama Don't Dance"" and ""Every Rose Has A Thorn"" from their second release, Open Up And Say ... Ahh! and ""Good Love,"" ""Let It Play"" and ""Unskinny Bop"" off their latest release Flesh and Blood.

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""At the time of this taping, the members of Poison were still wearing makeup and were still among the best-selling MTV artists in the free world. And, despite occasional disagreements with guitarist C.C. DeVille over just what Unplugged really means (witness his semi-electric acoustic guitar). The band's seven-song selection-including 'Talk Dirty To Me' and 'Unskinny Bop'- was a huge hit with their fans.""

Set List:   Your Mama Don't Dance (written by Kenny Loggns and Jim Messina)    Good Love    Every Rose Has Its Thorn    Let It Play    Poor

Poison

In its first European recording of ""MTV Unplugged,"" the highly-acclaimed acoustic music series, MTV presents an acoustic performance of one of Britain's premier alternative rock bands: The Cure. ""MTV Unplugged"" with The Cure world premiered March 3, 1991. Shot in a small, intimate studio in London, band members Robert Smith (vocals/guitar), Porl Thompson (guitar), Simon Gallup (bass), Boris Williams (drums) and Perry Bamonte (keyboard) perform acoustic renditions of hit songs past and present. Song selections include ""Let's Go To Bed,"" ""Just Like Heaven,"" ""Caterpillar,"" ""The Blood,"" ""Boys Don't Cry"" and ""The Walk."" This marks the first episode of the series to be simulcast on the Westwood One Radio Networks.

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""With their gloom-rock vibe and singer Robert Smith's terminally black eyes and wardrobe, The Cure would seem to be the band least likely to embrace the fun side of Unplugged. Perhaps for this very reason, this show was one of Unplugged's mo

The Cure

MTV presents an edition of ""MTV Unplugged,"" the acoustic music series, with hard rockers Slaughter and Winger. The program was taped in New York City on March 5, 1991 in an intimate studio setting. Winger band members Kip Winger (vocals/bass), Reb Beach (guitar/vocals), Paul Taylor (guitar/piano) and Rod Morgenstern (drummer) perform acoustic renditions of ""Headed For A Heartbreak,"" ""Loosin' Up,"" and ""Can't Get Enough."" Slaughter band members Mark Slaughter (vocals), Dana Strum (bass), Blas Elias (drummer) and Tim Kelly (lead guitar) get acoustic with their hit ""Fly To The Angels,"" which they dedicate to the soldiers who died in the Gulf, and the Beatles' song ""Revolution.""

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""Winger and Slaughter were the last in a string of metal bands that decided to use the Unplugged venue to explore their sensitive sides. In what was fast becoming a tradition, they followed in the footsteps of Ratt, Vixen, and Poison by turning off the amps and bringing on th

Winger with Slaughter

""MTV Unplugged,"" the critically acclaimed acoustic music series, world premiered a one hour performance with the legendary Paul McCartney on Wednesday, April 3, 1991. The performance was simulcast via the Global Satellite Network. Taped on January 25, 1991 at the Limehouse Studios in London, McCartney, accompanied by Paul ""Wix"" Wickens on keyboards, Blair Cunningham on drums, Robbie McIntosh on guitar, Hamish Stuart on bass and Linda McCartney on keyboards, gets acoustic in front of an intimate studio audience. Song selections include such classic hits as ""We Can Work It Out,"" ""Blackbird,"" ""She's A Woman,"" ""Here There And Everywhere,"" ""I've Just Seen A Face,"" and two blues songs that inspired McCartney early in his career, ""Blue Moon Of Kentucky"" and ""Be-Bop-A-Lula."" McCartney also gives a rare performance of ""I Lost My Little Girl,"" the first song he ever wrote at the age of 14. The Beatles -- then called the Quarry Men -- performed the song until 1960 but never recorded it.

An excerp

Paul McCartney

""MTV Unplugged"" presents a 45-minute acoustic performance with British rock superstar Sting. Taped in New York in March of 1991 in an intimate studio setting, Sting, accompanied by Dominic Miller (guitar), David Sanctious (grand piano), Vinny Caliutta (drums) and Vinx (talking drums/backing vocals), performs an acoustic medley spanning his years with The Police through his solo career. Song selections include ""All This Time"" and ""Mad About You"" from his new album release The Soul Cages, and Police classics ""Tea In The Sahara,"" ""Walkin' On The Moon,"" ""Message In A Bottle,"" and ""Every Breath You Take.""

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""Everything about this outing was effortless. Not only was it one of the best shows we've accomplished musically. It also achieved near-perfection in every other aspect: lighting, set design, direction, audio. Maybe it was because it was Sting and Trudie's wedding anniversary, but everyone seemed to be incredibly upbeat and focused on a common goal.

Sting

R.E.M., the band touted by Rolling Stone Magazine as ""America's Best Rock and Roll Band,"" spent several hours in New York's Chelsea Studios on April 10, 1991 to tape a one hour acoustic performance for ""MTV Unplugged."" Original bands members Michael Stipe (vocals), Peter Buck (guitar/keyboards), Mike Mills (bass) and Bill Berry (drums), along with Peter Holsapple (guitar/accordion), perform a memorable acoustic medley of hits past and present. Song selections include ""Fall On Me"" (which Stipe tells the studio audience is his personal favorite), ""The End Of The World As We Know It,"" ""Losing My Religion"" and many more.

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book... ""'This may well be my favorite song in the R.E.M. catalogue.' With those words from Michael Stipe, the band offered up a heart-wrenching version of 'Fall on Me' that produced one of Unplugged's most transcendent moments. As he delivered the lines 'Buy the sky/and sell the sky/and bleed the sky/and tell the sky/don't fall on me,' St

R.E.M. (1)

""MTV Unplugged,"" the highly acclaimed acoustic music series, brings rap back to its roots in the first ever acoustic rap show to air on television. The special features performances by superstar L.L. Cool J along with MC Lyte, De La Soul, and A Tribe Called Quest and a five piece back-up band, Pop's Cool Love. Taped at New York City's Chelsea Studios on April 10, 1991 without a turntable in sight, the special kicks off with individual performances by A Tribe Called Quest (""Can I Kick It?""), MC Lyte (""Cappucino""), and De La Soul (""Ring Ring Ring""). The highlight of the show is an electrifying performance by master rapper L.L. Cool J who brings the house to its feet with renditions of the hit singles ""Jinglin' Baby"" and ""Mama Said Knock You Out."" All acts are backed for the first time ever by a full band, spearheaded by Elektra's new funk-a-delic act, Pop's Cool Love. Pop's Cool Love has previously worked with such diverse acts as Fishbone, David Bowie and Living Colour.

An excerpt from

Yo! Unplugged Rap

MTV showcases the multi-faceted musical talent of Elvis Costello in this new edition of ""MTV Unplugged."" Taped in Los Angeles in June of 1991, Elvis performs ""So Like Candy"" and ""The Other Side Of Summer"" from his new release Mighty Like A Rose, and more.

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""When we taped Unplugged, we arrange for a studio and tape a number of shows at one time. For this rotation, we planned on recording only Elvis Costello and Jane's Addiction. Jane's, however, was on the road to breaking up and decided to take this moment to enter the fast lane. The band said they knew nothing about their scheduled appearance. Guitarist Dave Navarro had disappeared. So the Jane's Addiction performance was cancelled. And with that, we almost cancelled the entire taping and nearly lost Elvis. But instead, clinging to a show biz cliche, we decided the show must go on.""

Set List:   Deep Dark Truthful Mirror    So Like Candy (written by Costello and Paul McCartney)    The Other Side

Elvis Costello

Taped at the Bray Studios in Windsor, England in January of 1992, Clapton is accompanied by Nathan East (bass), Andy Fairweather-Low (guitar), Ray Cooper (percussion), Steve Ferrone (drums), Chuck Leavell (keyboards) and Katie Kissoon and Tessa Niles on backing vocals. Song selections include ""Tears In Heaven"" (from the motion picture release ""Rush""), ""Running On Faith,"" ""Before You Accuse Me,"" a song by    early musical inspiration Bo Diddley, and a new version of ""Layla."" Clapton also performs some new never-before-recorded material, including ""Lonely Stranger,"" a song which he wrote in Los Angeles in 1991 during the recording of the soundtrack for ""Rush"" and after the death of his son Conor, and ""The Circus Left Town,"" which is about the last night Clapton spent with Conor at the circus. ""MTV Unplugged"" with Eric Clapton introduces a new element into the series where artists will talk about the songs they perform. Throughout the special, MTV airs liner note style interview clips in

Eric Clapton

""MTV Unplugged"" presents the series' first ever R&B edition featuring Boyz II Men, Shanice and Joe Public. Teenage R&B sensation Shanice got her first record contract with A&M Records at the age of 11. As an eight-year-old child singer, she sang in a Kentucky Fried Chicken commercial with Ella Fitzgerald. Shanice performs ""I Love Your Smile."" Philadelphia R&B band Boyz II Men formed in 1988 at Philadelphia's High School Of Creative and Performing Arts. Band members Wayna ""Squirt"" Morris, Shawn ""Slim"" Stockman,"" Mike McCary and Nate ""Alexvanderpool"" Morris are proteges of Bell Biv DeVoe's Michael Bivens, who is the band's manager. Boyz II Men were honored with a Grammy this year for best R&B performance by a duo or group for their debut album, CooleyHighHarmony. Boyz II Men perform ""Motown Philly,"" ""Uuuh, Aaah,"" and ""Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday."" Buffalo, New York natives Joe Public are currently riding high on the success of their first release, the self-titled Joe Public. Band me

R&B Unplugged: Boyz II Men/Shanice/Joe Public

One of the hottest new bands to emerge out of music hot bed Seattle at the time of this taping, Pearl Jam was currently riding high on the success of their debut album Ten, which spawned the smash hit single "Alive." Taped at midnight at the Kaufman Astoria Studios in March of 1992, Pearl Jam band members Mike McCready (guitar), Stone Gossard (guitar), Jeff Ament (bass), Eddie Vedder (vocals) and Dave Krusen (drums) perform "Alive," "State of Love and Trust," "Black," "Jeremy," "Even Flow," and "Porch."

Pearl Jam

Singer/songwriter Mariah Carey, known for her phenomenal vocal range, burst onto the music scene in 1990 with her debut album Mariah Carey, and went on to win two Grammy awards in 1991 for best new artist and best female pop vocal performance. Carey performs ""Vision Of Love,"" ""Someday,"" ""Emotions,"" ""Make It Happen,"" ""If It's Over,"" and the Jackson 5 song ""I'll Be There.""

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""To accompany Mariah's incredibly powerful vocals, she recruited the Saturday Night Live horn section, the late David Cole (of C & C Music Factory) on keyboards as well as a full gospel choir. It was a night that helped us mature-spreading successfully into more and more vocal genres without sacrificing the intimacy that is the cornerstone of the program.""

Mariah Carey

MTV presented the planetary premiere of ""MTV Unplugged"" with Paul Simon. This marked the first time since the series' debut in 1990 that an episode of ""MTV Unplugged"" aired globally within a 24 hour time frame. The special presentation of ""MTV Unplugged"" with Paul Simon was taped at the Kaufman Astoria Studios in New York City in March of 1992. Backed up by the band members from his recently completed ""Born At The Right Time Tour,"" Simon performs classics and new material spanning his over two decade career. Song selections performed include ""Homeward Bound,"" ""Boy In The Bubble,"" ""Late In The Evening,"" ""Something So Right,"" ""Bridge Over Troubled Water,"" ""Mrs. Robinson,"" ""Still Crazy After All These Years,"" ""Graceland,"" ""Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard,"" and ""Born At The Right Time."" Band member credits go to Michael Brecker (saxophone), Chris Botti (trumpet), Steve Gadd (drums), Cyro Baptista (percussions), Mingo Araujo (percussions), John Selolwane (guitar), Ray Phiri (guitar), Ar

Paul Simon

""MTV Unplugged"" taped an acoustic performance with Seattle power rockers Queenryche in Los Angeles in April of 1992. Queensryche band members Geoff Tate (vocals/keyboards), Chris DeGarmo (guitar/backing vocals), Michael Wilson (guitar), Eddie Jackson (bass/backing vocals) and Scott Rockenfield (drums) perform a medley of hits, including ""I Will Remember,"" ""The Killing Words,"" ""Della Brown,"" ""Scarborough Fair,"" and ""The Lady Wore Black.""

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""In a moment of strange synchronicity, Queensryche became the second Seattle-area band in three shows to cover 'Rockin' in the Free World.' Stranger still, Neil Young himself bypassed the song when he eventually recorded his own Unplugged. The most lasting memory of this taping is of the ease with which the band worked. Their relationship with both their vocal fans and the entire staff at MTV was both sincere and professional, even after technical problems forced them to run through four takes of 'Silent Lucidity

Queensrￃﾃￂ﾿che

""MTV Unplugged"" presents a one-hour episode with beloved American rocker John Mellencamp. The program, which was taped in Los Angeles in April of 1992, features a medley of Mellencamp hits, past and present, including ""Love And Happiness,"" ""Paper In Fire,"" ""Check It Out,"" ""Rain On The Scarecrow,"" ""Jackie Brown,"" ""Small Town,"" ""Minutes To Memories,"" ""Big Daddy,"" and ""Pink Houses,"" as well as the Bob Dylan song ""All Along The Watch Tower."" Mellencamp, who was just wrapping up a worldwide concert tour at the time of the taping, was accompanied by touring band members Mike Wanchic (guitar), Kenny Aronoff (drums), Toby Myers (bass), David Grissom (guitar), John Cascella (accordion), Lisa Germano (fiddle) and Pat Peterson and Jenny Douglas-McRae (background vocals).

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""The night before the Mellencamp Unplugged, John decided to carve 'F..K fascism' into his guitar. Because we've stated over and over that the purpose of the show is to showcase the songs a

John Mellencamp

""MTV Unplugged"" presents an episode with the soulful chanteuse Annie Lennox. The program which was taped at the Montreux Jazz Festival features hit songs from both past and present including ""Here Comes The Rain Again,"" ""Why,"" ""You Have Placed A Chill In My Heart,"" and ""Walking On Broken Glass."" Lennox is accompanied by Steve Lipson (guitar), Peter-John Vetesse (keyboards), John Giblin (bass), and Neil Conti (drums).

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""Annie sounded beautiful. Everything else was a disaster. We had decided to tape this show at the opening of the Montreux Jazz Festival. The venue was a casino and the drinks were flowing freely. To make matters worse, the Swiss crowd had paid to see a concert, not a television show. What they wanted--besides for the show to proceed without the breaks needed for taping-- was the producer's head on a stick.""

Set List: It's Alright (Baby's Coming Back) (Written by Lennox and Dave    Stewart)    Little Bird/Walking on Broken Glass    C

Annie Lennox

Eurythmics the British synth pop contemporaries performed their Unplugged at the Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland. It was filmed July 5th 1992. Recorded 7/5/1992 at Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux Switzerland. Set List: 01. Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) 02. Here comes The rain 03. Personal Jesus 04. Irresponsible Hate Anthem 05. Reflecting God 06. Love Is a Stranger 07. Revolution In The Summertime

Eurythmics

Bruce Springsteen made a rare television appearance when he performed on MTV in November of 1992 in his first-ever televised concert performance. The Springsteen performance, which was taped in Los Angeles in September of 1992 while he was there for his World Tour, features ninety electrifying minutes of no-holds-barred rock n' roll with Springsteen and his touring band members. Springsteen and his band perform material spanning the early days through the latest hit albums Lucky Town and Human Touch. Song selections include ""Better Days,"" ""Human Touch,"" Light Of Day,"" ""Glory Days,"" and ""Thunder Road.""

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book... ""By the time we got the phone call, everything had been set. The taping was going to take place in Los Angeles. We were doing Bruce Springsteen Unplugged. It was a dream come true. And then the call came. His new band hadn't rehearsed enough in the acoustic format, so the show would have to be electric. We had never thought it could be possible to

Bruce Springsteen

Roxette was the first non English speaking band, that was invited to play at MTV Unplugged. They recorded their show in Sweden early in 1993. They played at the Stockholm Circus. Set list: 01. The Look 02. Queen Of Rain 03. Hotblooded 04. I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Loved You) 05. It Must Have Been Love 06. Fingertips 07. Heart Of Gold 08. Church Of Your Heart 09. Listen To Your Heart 10. Here Comes The Weekend 11. Joyride 12. So You Wanna Be A Rock 'N' Roll Star 13. Watercolours In The Rain [Originally Unaired] 14.

Roxette

One of the hottest and most original bands on the rap music scene, Arrested Development, performs ""unplugged"" yet electrifying in a set of songs off their debut multi platinum album, 3 Years,5 Months and Two Days I The Life Of... The songs are linked together with dance pieces and short stories narrated by Speech, Headliner, and Oje (""O.J.""), Arrested Development's spiritual adviser and group elder.

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""Between songs there were spoken word and dance performances, and at one point, during the group's spiritually charged 'Raining Revolution,' the stage was littered with umbrellas. Arrested Development had always referred to their shows not as concerts but as 'celebrations'; this theatrical performance allowed us finally to understand why.""

Set List:   Give a Man a Fish    The Gettin'    Natural    Raining Revolution    Fishin' 4 Religion    Mama's Always on Stage    U    Mr. Wendel    People Everyday

Featuring:   Arrested Development:

Todd ""Speech"" T

Arrested Development

MTV devotes an episode of its acoustic music series, "MTV Unplugged," to one of rock's most innovative and eclectic artists, Neil Young. The special captures Neil Young live in concert, equipped with acoustic guitar and harmonica stand, and supported by longtime partners Frank (Pancho) Sampedro on keyboards, and Ben Keith on also sax. Young's performance includes a medley from his Freedom album, the 1970 title track "After The Goldrush," and the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young classic, "Ohio," about the Kent State University killings.

Neil Young

Comedian Denis Leary, one of the hottest comics of the nineties, unplugged his unique comedic style at a studio in Los Angeles for the first-ever music/comedy edition of the series. Leary combines original comic material with music to deliver selections from his January '93 album release No Cure for Cancer. Songs include ""Life's Gonna Suck When You Grow Up,"" ""Elvis and I,"" ""The Kennedys,"" ""Immigrant Song,"" ""Love Boat"" and ""The Man in My Little Girl's Life.""

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book... ""Besides the biting commentary, Denis also arranged a short parody that sounded like a bunch of R.E.M. songs thrown together. The only problem was that the show's breakout moment-- a cheerful little tune called 'Asshole'-- could only be shown on the network after 11:00 p.m. So if you ever tune in for a repeat performance, tune in late.""

Set List:   Is She Really Going Out With Him? (Written by Joe Jackson)    9 a.m.    Love Boat    Immigrant Song (Written by Robert Plant and Jimmy page)    T

Denis Leary

""MTV Unplugged"" presents Canadian-born singer/guitarist k.d. lang for an acoustic performance at the historic Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City. lang performs such hits as ""Constant Craving"" off of her Ingenue album in addition to ""Save Me,"" ""Season of Hollow Soul,"" ""Wash Me Clean,"" and more.

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""I actually like the concept of Unplugged because it really cuts to the quick. I think it really establishes musicianship, which in today's scene gets obscured, and I think that MTV is doing a service to the young viewers by providing this vehicle.""

Set List:   Save Me    The Mind of Love    Still Thrives This Love    Miss Chatelaine    Season of Hollow Soul    So it Shall Be    Outside Myself    Wash Me Clean    Constant Craving    Black Coffee (Written by Webster and Burke)    Crying (Written by Roy Orbison and Joe Melson)    So in Love (Written by Cole Porter)    Barefoot

Featuring:   k.d. lang - vocals

Ben Mink - musical director, string arrangements

k.d. lang

Veteran British rocker and multi-platinum superstar Rod Stewart makes his first ever appearance on ""MTV Unplugged."" Taped in Los Angeles in February of 1993, Stewart reunites with Faces partner Ron Wood for a portion of his riveting ninety minute acoustic performance. This marks the first time in nearly twenty years that Stewart and Wood performed together. Stewart performs a medley of classics from his early years, as well as selected tracks from his most recent solo album, Vagabond Heart. Song selections performed by Stewart with Wood include ""Reason To Believe,"" ""Every Picture Tells A Story,"" ""Maggie May,"" ""People Get Ready,"" ""Mandolin Wind,"" and ""Stay With Me."" Stewart's solo renditions include ""Tonight's The Night (Gonna Be Alright),"" ""Hot Legs,"" ""Handbags & Gladrags,"" ""Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?,"" ""Tom Traubert's Blues,"" and ""We're Havin' A Party."" A 16-piece string section accompanies Stewart on selected songs.

The band is comprised of Rod Stewart (vocals & banjo),

Rod Stewart

""MTV Unplugged"" presents an Uptown Records edition with R&B artists Mary J. Blige, Christopher Williams, Father MC, Heavy D And Jodeci.

Mary J. Blige -- Solo artist Mary J. Blige exploded onto the music scene in 1992 with her debut album What's The 411? and hit single ""Real Love."" Heavily influenced by the soul of the 60's and 70's, Blige redefines R&B music by bringing in her own special blend of hip hop and soul. Blige performs ""Real Love"" and ""Sweet Thing.""

Christopher Williams/Father MC -- New York powerhouse vocalist Christopher Williams entered the music scene in the mid-Eighties with his debut album Adventures In Paradise, and hit singles ""Talk To Myself"" and ""Promises."" Williams contributed the No. 1 gold single ""Dreamin'"" to the movie soundtrack of New Jack City, in which he also made his acting debut. Williams, who is the nephew of the legendary Ella Fitzgerald, is currently riding high on the success of his sizzling debut album for Uptown, Changes. New York rapper Father MC

Uptown Unplugged

""MTV Unplugged"" presents the ethereal folk-rock sound of 10,000 Maniacs. The band began performing around upstate New York in the early '80s, incorporating English rock and island rhythm influences with elements of country, bluegrass and folk. In 1985, 10,000 Maniacs released The Wishing Chair, one of the year's most critically-lauded releases with special acclaim going to lyricist/singer Natalie Merchant. This was followed by the 1987 platinum release In My Tribe, which brought the group an international mass audience, and the 1989 album Blind Man's Zoo. 10,000 Maniacs is comprised of Natalie Merchant (lead vocals), Jerome Augustyniak (drums), Robert Buck (guitar), Dennis Drew (Keyboards) and Steven Gustafson (bass). Their ""Unplugged"" selections include ""These Are Days,"" ""Candy Everybody Wants,"" ""Dallas"" (with David Byrne), ""Like The Weather,"" and ""What's The Matter Here.""

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""Natalie actually cut her hair for the show. At rehearsals she had long

10,000 Maniacs

One of the hottest rock 'n' roll bands on today's music scene, Minneapolis natives Soul Asylum make their memorable debut on ""MTV Unplugged"" in June. The band, who began writing and performing together in the early '80s, entered the studio for the first time in 1983 to record their debut EP, Say What You Will. In 1986, they went on to release their critically acclaimed full-length debut album, Made To Be Broken. Non-stop touring over the years has brought them national attention, and prompted the Village Voice to call them the ""Best Live Band In America."" The band's latest album, Grave Dancers Union, has brought Soul Asylum out on the road again for a U.S. club tour and a trip to Europe. Their ""Unplugged"" song selections include ""Runaway Train,"" ""Black Gold,"" ""Somebody To Shove,"" ""Without A Trace,"" and ""Get On Out."" One of the program highlights is the band's performance of ""To Sir With Love"" accompanied by British pop star Lulu.

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book... ""Still, despit

Soul Asylum

""MTV Unplugged"" presents an acoustic performance with veteran Australian band, Midnight Oil. Known for their explosive live performances and indelible relationship between music and politics, the band gained superstar status with their 1982 hit, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 which spawned the hit singles ""U.S. Forces"" and ""Power and the Passion."" By 1986, the band had addressed many of the most important issues of the century, including the arms race, the danger of nuclear conflict, and the environment. In 1987, The Oils tackled the plight of Australian Aborigines with the release Diesel and Dust, which included the band's first international hit,""Beds Are Burning."" This was followed by the enormously successful Blue Sky Mining in 1989, and their incendiary live album, the 1992 release Scream In Blue. Midnight Oil is currently on tour with their latest album, Earth And Sun And Moon. The album's first official release, ""Truganini,"" is about a tragic historical figure, who by 1873, was t

Midnight Oil

MTV presents the first ever ""Spoken Word"" edition of ""MTV Unplugged."" The program showcased the work of some of the hottest spoken word artists who performed their own work in an intimate coffee house setting. Also featured in this program was a performance by the master of the spoken word himself: Henry Rollins: Following was the artist line-up: 99 (""Burns""), Maggie Estep (""The Stupid Jerk I'm Obsessed With""), Barry Yourgrau (""Helium""), Reg E. Gaines (""Please Don't Take My Air Jordans""), Reg E. Gaines/Maggie Estep duet (""Using Me For Sex""), Bob Holman (""Welcome To The United State Of Poetry""), Edwin Torres (""Peesacho""), and Henry Rollins (""Ode To MTV Unplugged"").

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book... ""This was one of our proudest moments. The spoken word show, the brainchild of co-creator Robert Small, was, at its purest, the embodiment of what we had always wanted to accomplish with Unplugged. It spoke to the audience on the most basic level. It was also a challenge in terms of p

Spoken Word I

Duran Duran   Recorded 11/17/93 at Sony Music Studios - New York City

Duran, Duran, the premiere band of the video generation, make an appearance on ""MTV Unplugged."" Taped in New York City in November of 1993, band memers Simon Le Bon (lead vocals), Nick Rhodes (keyboards), John Taylor (bass) and Warren Cuccurullo (guitar) perform selections off their ninth album, simply titled Duran Duran.

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""The band was extremely excited about the details of this show. If anyone doubts this, consider the orange set and the gold angels. The group had asked for the two heavenly creatures, but the request turned out to be almost impossible to fulfill. Finally, after we had all but given up on the concept, a studio worker announced that he'd just been across the street to a new space, designed as a party venue. 'They've got a couple of angels over there,' he said, 'but they're pretty nice. I don't think they'd rent them. Besides, they're white.' Minutes later we we

Duran Duran

Seattle sensation Nirvana taped a performance for ""MTV Unplugged"" in New York City in November of 1993. Band members Kurt Cobain (lead vocals, guitar), Krist Novoselic (bass) and Dave Grohl (drums) performed an acoustic set featuring songs from the band's latest release In Utero, as well as material from earlier releases.

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""Of all the emotions and images that linger from this broadcast, a few stand out. The most striking is a picture that will be forever etched in the collective memory of Unplugged. During the band's closing cover of Leadbelly's 'Where Did You Sleep Last Night,' Kurt was hushed, almost whispering, before he finally unleashed the full power of his voice. The entire evening had seemed to build to this moment, and when it came, Kurt sighed, almost to catch his breath, before he let out every last ounce of energy in one scream. Everything else stopped. Along with Michael Stipe's performance on R.E.M.'s 'Fall on Me,' it was one of the

Nirvana

Stone Temple Pilots, the hard rock sensation based south of Los Angeles, taped a performance for MTV Unplugged in New York City in November of 1993. Band members Weiland (vocals), Robert DeLeo (bass), Dean DeLeo (guitars) and Eric Kretz (drums) perform a rockin' acoustic set featuring tracks off their debut album Core.

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...'Easily our most surreal set....'They had these stools, which is such a typical thing,' says Weiland. 'Everyone always brings out stools to do their acoustic thing. I said, 'Man, I ain't gonna sit on a stool. It's not my gig. It's stupid. Bring us some chairs to sit in. How about a rocking chair?'

Set List:

1. "Crackerman" / 2. "Creep" / 3. "Andy Warhol" (written by David Bowie) / 4. "Plush" / 5. "Big Empty" / 6. "Sin" / 7. "Wicked Garden" / 8. "Sex Type Thing"

Stone Temple Pilots

Tony Bennett, the legendary pop stylist, taped a performance for ""MTV Unplugged"" in April 1994. The perennial favorite sang hits from what he called the ""Great American Song Book."" In front of an intimate audience, Bennett performed such songs as ""It Had To Be You,"" ""The Girl I Love,"" ""Steppin' Out"" and ""I Left My Heart in San Francisco."" Bennett was joined by singer k.d. Lang for ""Moon Glow,"" and by singer Elvis Costello for ""They Can't Take That Away From Me.""

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book....""While the Tony Bennett Unplugged seems to have come out of left field, there were warning signs. Tony had appeared on ""Letterman,"" ""The Simpsons,"" and even ""The Video Music Awards"" (with the Red Hot Chili Peppers) in an effort to bring his music to a younger audience. The clincher, though, was his appearance on ""Conan O'Brien."" When Conan asked Tony to what he attributed his newfound hip status, Tony simply replied, 'Hey, I've been unplugged all my life.'""

Set List:   Old Devil Moon (w

Tony Bennett

Continuing in the wake of the first ""Spoken Word"" performance on MTV Unplugged comes ""Spoken Word II & III."" These two shows were taped in New York in April of 1994. Returning from the first Spoken Word show is poet/performer Maggie Estep, this time performing ""Sex Goddess Of The Western Hemisphere."" New artists featured include Toby Huss (""Reverend Tex Stoveheadbottom""), John S. Hall (""Let's Have Sex""), Danny Hoch (""Who Am I Really/Revolution Ain't No X Cap"") and Paul Beatty (""Ol' Yeller Dreams Of Days When We Wasn't Just Whistlin' Dixie""). Established poets Maxx Blagg, Jim Carroll and Gil Scott-Heron, along with rap artist MC Lyte and monologuist Eric Bogosian also perform.

Spoken Word II

Open Letter to My Biological Father [MC Lyte]    Go to Hell [Toby Huss]    Choices [Bahiyyih Maroon]    The Doctor [Eric Bogosian]    Car Poem [Matthew Courtney]    Chopped Off Arm [Hal Sirowitz]    Work for Peace [Gil Scott-Heron with Brother Larry McDonald]    This Is Not an Angry Poem [Wanda Phip

Spoken Word II

Continuing in the wake of the first ""Spoken Word"" performance on MTV Unplugged comes ""Spoken Word II & III."" These two shows were taped in New York in April of 1994. Returning from the first Spoken Word show is poet/performer Maggie Estep, this time performing ""Sex Goddess Of The Western Hemisphere."" New artists featured include Toby Huss (""Reverend Tex Stoveheadbottom""), John S. Hall (""Let's Have Sex""), Danny Hoch (""Who Am I Really/Revolution Ain't No X Cap"") and Paul Beatty (""Ol' Yeller Dreams Of Days When We Wasn't Just Whistlin' Dixie""). Established poets Maxx Blagg, Jim Carroll and Gil Scott-Heron, along with rap artist MC Lyte and monologuist Eric Bogosian also perform.

Spoken Word III

Multi-talented singer/songwriter/musician Lenny Kravitz taped this Unplugged special for MTV in April of 1994. Kravitz performs material from his latest release Are You Gonna Go My Way and his previous album, Mama Said. Selections included ""Are You Gonna Go My Way,"" ""Let Love Rule,"" ""Always on the Run"" and ""Believe.""

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""An amazing show that had many standout moments. Lenny's idea was to reinvent his songs by bringing them back to their ultimate influences. For his blues interpretation of 'Are You Gonna Go My Way,' he even had plans to duet with John Lee Hooker. Although that pairing turned out not to be feasible, he did pull off an amazing moment. Without the audience knowing it, we seated an entire Brooklyn-based gospel choir in with the crowd. At the show's finale, the entire group rose to their feet and began singing with Lenny.""

Lenny Kravitz

Los Fabulosos Cadillacs

After years of rumors, Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page and vocalist Robert Plant reunited in 1994, recording the No Quarter: Jimmy Page and Robert Plant Unledded album for MTV Unplugged. Plant and Page didn't invite bassist John Paul Jones to join the reunion, choosing to assemble a band comprised of studio musicians. No Quarter performed respectably and the duo's subsequent 1995 tour was a sold-out success, prompting them to take a stab at a studio project. In 1997, they hired indie rock producer Steve Albini to work on their collection of new original songs; it was the first time Page chose to work with an outside producer. The resulting album, Walking Into Clarksdale, was released to generally good reviews in the spring of 1998.

Jimmy Page & Robert Plant Unledded

Phil Collins

The extrovert singer and songwriter from Iceland performs at MTV Unplugged in 1994. This session is peformed in NYC. Set list: 01. Human Behaviour 02. One Day 03. Come To Me 04. Big Time Sensuality 05. Aeroplane 06. Like Someone In Love 07. Crying 08. The Anchor Song 09. Violently Happy

Björk

Recorded over two nights at New York's Sony Studios on November 17-18, 1994 before a small live audience, Dylan and an early incarnation of the Never Ending Tour Band thrilled the crowd with a mix of classic hits, contemporary tracks, and rarities.

Except for two or three songs, the bulk of these performances were brand new arrangements, with Dylan tossing up the rhythms, melodies, and lyrics. For instance the ska-like version of “Desolation Row,” while “Love Minus Zero/No Limit” comes off like a quiet lullaby.

Tracklist:

1. "Tombstone Blues" / 2. "Shooting Star" / 3. "All Along the Watchtower" / 4. "The Times They Are a-Changin'" / 5. "John Brown" / 6. "Desolation Row" / 7. "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35" / 8. "Love Minus Zero/No Limit" / 9. "Dignity / 10. "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" / 11. "Like a Rolling Stone" / 12. "With God on Our Side"

Bob Dylan

One of the highlights of this presentation of ""MTV Unplugged"" with Grammy award-winning artist Melissa Etheridge is a surprise appearance by Bruce Springsteen who joins Etheridge for one song. The two perform Springsteen's ""Thunder Road."" Alone on stage with her acoustic guitar, Etheridge rocks the house with a medley of her material, past and present, including her hit single ""Come To My Window,"" which garnered Etheridge a Grammy at the 37th annual Grammy Awards for best female rock vocalist.

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book....""Before any taping, it's important to sit down with an artist and determine just what they hope to accomplish with their set....For Melissa's summit, it was one power lunch - if you can call eating at the MTV cafeteria a power lunch. We simply got our trays, stood in line, and then hashed out all the details at a school lunchroom-style table. We knew then just how unpretentious her Unplugged would end up being.""

Set List:   Come to My Window    Ain't It H

Melissa Etheridge

Inside Unplugged

Hole is comprised of frontwoman/guitarist Courtney Love, guitarist Eric Erlandson, bassist Melissa auf der Maur and drummer Patty Schemel. Hole's second LP Live Through This, was one of the most critically acclaimed releases of 1994. For their debut performance on ""MTV Unplugged,"" Hole's set list includes ""Miss World,"" ""Drown Soda,"" ""He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss),"" ""Doll Parts,"" and ""Softer, Softest."" ""MTV Unplugged"" with Hole was taped at the Brooklyn Academy Of Music in New York City in February of 1995.

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""Offstage, however, preparation was smoother than anyone could have hoped. During rehearsals, Courtney and Madonna (who originally tried to enlist Hole for her record label, Maverick) met for the first time. Not to mention the added dimension of having Drew Barrymore (who dates Hole guitarist Eric Erlandson) and her friend Patricia Arquette in the studio for the taping. It was the most Hollywood presence we'd had since Al Pacino.""

Set Li

Hole

Since their 1993 debut album Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?, the Irish quartet, the Cranberries, have been captivating audiences with their unique sound. The band is comprised of frontwoman/lyricist Dolores O'Riordan, guitarist Noel Hogan, bassist Mike Hogan, and drummer Feargal Lawler. For their debut performance on ""MTV Unplugged,"" The Cranberries performed material off their debut album and latest release No Need To Argue. Song selections included ""Dreaming My Dreams,"" ""Ode To My Family,"" ""Linger,"" Empty"" and ""Zombie.""

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""The strength of The Cranberries is firmly rooted in the power of Dolores O'Riordan's voice. It is an instrument that can be beautiful and whisper-soft at one moment and then suddenly have the piercing power of a bagpipe. Unplugged was therefore an excellent setting for the band and a very special opportunity to hear a voice with so much range in an intimate setting. A string section comprised of violins and guita

The Cranberries

Live is a four man band comprised of Ed Kowalczyk on vocals, guitarist Chad Taylor, drummer Chad Gracey and bassist Patrick Dahlheimer. Their debut release Mental Jewelry spawned the hit single ""Operation Spirit."" This was followed two years later with their second and latest album Throwing Copper. Live has toured the U.S. extensively and performed in Europe and Brazil. They also performed at Woodstock '94. For their debut performance on ""MTV Unplugged,"" Live performed ""Operation Spirit,"" ""Selling The Drama,"" ""All Over You,"" ""Beauty Of Grey,"" ""I Alone,"" ""Supernatural,"" ""Lightning Crashes,"" ""White Discussion,"" and ""TBD.""

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""Like the Pearl Jam show, at the time of this booking, Live was still considered to be a risk. Musically, the night confirmed our belief that this band was going to be huge. Possibly a coincidence, but about a week after the show aired, Live went to No. 1. The show's success kept the MTV switchboards buzzing with continual questi

Live

""MTV Unplugged,"" the acclaimed acoustic music series, presents a performance with triple Grammy award-winning artist Sheryl Crow. The program was taped at the Brooklyn Academy Of Music in New York City in February of 1995. Crow performed material from her debut album Tuesday Night Music Club, including her Grammy award-winning single ""All I Wanna Do,"" which garnered her two awards at the 37th Annual Grammy Awards Ceremony for record of the year and best female pop vocal. Crow received a third Grammy for best new artist. Among the other song selections Crow performed for her ""MTV Unplugged"" performance are ""Leaving Las Vegas,"" ""Strong Enough"" and ""Run Baby Run.""

An excerpt from the MTV Unplugged book...""Sheryl's approach to Unplugged was informal and, as always, this helped make the show a very successful one. She really mixed things up, even covering 'D'yer Mak'er' by Led Zeppelin. She was also in good humor and not the least bit self-conscious. She played accordian on her latest hit,

Sheryl Crow

Charly García performs old and new tracks on this MTV Special

Charly García: Hello!

One of Mexico's most celebrated groups, Café Tacuba are a Grammy-winning foursome whose mixture of rock, folk, world music, electronica, and a wealth of other styles has earned them a passionate following among music fans as well as critics. In 1995, Café Tacuba performed an acoustic set for MTV Latin's Unplugged series, and in 2005 this performance was released on CD and DVD. Unplugged includes the selections "El Metro," "La Ingrata," "Esa Noche," "Una Manana," "Bar Tacuba," and seven others.

Café Tacvba

Taped at the Sony Music Studios in New York City in the summer of 1995, KISS fans will have a unique opportunity to see rock n' roll's foremost glitter rock band perform in an acoustic setting, without their trademark make-up, costumes and sideshow antics. This performance marks the first time all four original band members have performed together in fifteen years.

The first half of the program features the four current members of the band: original band members Gene Simmons (lead vocals/bass) and Paul Stanley (lead vocals; rhythm guitar) performing along with newer members Bruce Kulick (lead guitar/vocals) and Eric Singer (drums/vocals). The two remaining original band members, Ace Frehley (guitar/vocals) and Peter Criss (drums/vocals), join KISS for an historic reunion in the second half of the program.

Kiss

Taped at the Sony Music Studios in New York in the summer of 1995, Isaak performs material off his latest release, Forever Blue, as well as earlier work spanning his ten-year plus career. Song selections include Isaak's mega hit ""Wicked Game,"" from the 1989 album Heart-Shaped World, ""Dancin',"" ""You Took My Heart,"" ""Wrong To Love You,"" ""Lie To Me,"" ""Blue Days, Black Nights,"" ""Two Hearts,"" and ""Blue Hotel."" From Forever Blue, Isaak performs ""Baby Did A Bad, Bad Thing,"" ""Go Walking Down There,"" ""Somebody's Crying,"" and ""Goin' Nowhere."" Chris Isaak is backed up by band members Kenney Dale Johnson (drums, vocals), Rowland Salley (bass, vocals), Frank Martin (Hammond B3), Hershel Yatovitz (guitar) and Johnny Reno (sax, vocals).

Chris Isaak

Los Tres MTV Unplugged is an MTV Unplugged live acoustic album by Chilean rock band Los Tres, released on April 15, 1996, through Sony Music Chile. The album was the band's first live album as well as the first MTV Unplugged album ever released by a Chilean band. It was recorded on September 14, 1995, at Post Edge Studios, Miami, United States and features appearances from musicians Cuti Aste and Toño Restucci. The album contains eleven songs from their previous studio albums alongside the original song "Traje Desastre" and three cover versions of songs by Chilean musician Roberto Parra.

Los Tres

""MTV Unplugged"" presents an acoustic performance by the grammy award winning Hootie & the Blowfish. These former University of South Carolina students head back to their college alma mater to perform . Accompanied by a string quartet, Hootie & Co. perform such hits as ""Let Her Cry,"" ""Hold My Hand,"" ""Sad Caper,"" and ""Running From An Angel.""

Set List:  Sad Caper  Running From An Angel  She Crawls Away  The Earth Stopped Cold At Dawn  Gravity Of The Situation  I Hope That I Don't Fall In Love With You  Let Her Cry  So Strange  Hold My Hand

Featuring:  Hootie & the Blowfish

Mark Bryan - guitar, mandolin, piano & vocals  Dean Felber - bass, vocals  Darius Rucker - guitar, vocals  Jim ""Soni"" Sonefeld - drums, percussion, piano & vocals

String Quartet:

Lili Haydn  Dan Cook  Brantley Smith  Bob Rieve

Recorded at The Horshoe - Columbia, South Carolina 4/19/96

Hootie and the Blowfish

Alice in Chains resurfaced on April 10, 1996 to perform their first concert in two and a half years for MTV Unplugged, a program featuring all-acoustic set lists. The show first aired on MTV on May 28, 1996 and was one of the band's final appearances with vocalist Layne Staley. The performance featured some of the band's highest charting singles, including "Down in a Hole", "Heaven Beside You", and "Would?", and introduced a new song, "The Killer Is Me". The show marked Alice in Chains' first appearance as a five-piece band, adding second guitarist Scott Olson. It is often hailed as one of the most memorable editions of MTV Unplugged.

1. "Nutshell" / 2. "Brother" / 3. "No Excuses" / 4. "Sludge Factory" / 5. "Down in a Hole" / 6. "Angry Chair" / 7. "Rooster" / 8. "Got Me Wrong" / 9. "Heaven Beside You" / 10. "Would?" / 11. "Frogs" / 12. "Over Now" / 13. "The Killer Is Me"

Alice In Chains

""MTV Unplugged,"" the acclaimed acoustic music series, presents a one-hour acoustic performance with internationally renowned solo artist Seal. Taped in April of 1996 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York, Seal performs work from his two albums, both entitled Seal. Song selections include: ""Prayer for the Dying,"" ""Crazy,"" ""Kiss From A Rose,"" ""Deep Water,"" and ""Don't Cry.""

Set List:   Stone Free    Prayer For the Dying    Future Love Paradise    Blues In Me    Quicksand    Crazy    Kiss From A Rose    Violet    Deep Water    Don't Cry

Featuring:   Seal - vocals

Chris Bruce - guitar   Reggie Hamilton - bass   Earl Harvin - drums   Jamie Muhoberac - keyboards

with special guest

Jon Hassell

Recorded 4/9/96 at Brooklyn Academy of Music - Brooklyn, NY

Seal

""MTV Unplugged,"" the acclaimed acoustic music series, will present a one-hour acoustic performance with one of today's most talented solo artists -- Tori Amos. Taped at the Brooklyn Academy Of Music in New York in April of 1996, Tori performs material off her latest release Boys For Pele, as well as work from previous albums. Song selections include: ""Blood Roses,"" ""Silent All These Years,"" ""Cornflake Girl,"" ""Caught A Light Sneeze,"" ""Icicle,"" ""Somewhere Over The Rainbow,"" ""Hey Jupiter,"" and ""Voodoo."" Amos, who plays harpsichord and piano, is accompanied on several numbers by guitarist, Steve Caton.

Set List:   Blood Roses    Cornflake Girl    Silent All These Years    Icicle    Caught A Light Sneeze    Somewhere Over the Rainbow    Hey Jupiter    Voodoo

Featuring:   Tori Amos - vocals, piano, harpsichord   Steve Caton - guitar

Recorded April 11, 1996 at Brooklyn Academy of Music - Brooklyn, NY

Tori Amos

Oasis were due to tape the show at the Royal Festival Hall on August 23, 1996, when lead singer Liam Gallagher pulled out at the last minute, citing a sore throat. The band performed despite this, with songwriter and guitarist Noel Gallagher handling the vocals. Liam watched the performance and heckled the group from the balcony.

Oasis

The recording was not made exactly under the MTV Unplugged standards because the band was 'Plugged', but includes a great Andrea Echeverri's performance in the track «En la Ciudad de la Furia» and also they used samplers in 2 tracks: 'Cementerio Club' from Luis Alberto Spinetta used on «Té para Tres» and 'Chrome Waves' from the English band Ride used on «Un Misil en mi Placard»

Soda Stereo: Comfort and music to fly

On October 11, 1996, George Michael performed a stunning concert at Three Mills Studios in East London for MTV Unplugged.

It was his first long live performance in years. He performed a few select tracks from his album Older and a few from his earlier recordings (including one from his Wham! days).

He also did a cover of "I Can't Make You Love Me". The performance was critically acclaimed and was the last performance his mother saw, as she died the following year

Tracklist:

1. "Freedom! '90" / 2. "Fastlove" / 3. "I Can't Make You Love Me" / 4. "Father Figure" / 5. "You Have Been Loved" / 6. "Everything She Wants" / 7. "Praying for Time" / 8. "Star People"

George Michael

Estrelicia MTV Unplugged is the live album that records most of the recital performed by the Argentine musician Luis Alberto Spinetta for the MTV Unplugged program, broadcast in October and November 1997

Spinetta: Estrelicia

The Wallflowers

Fiona Apple

Jewel

Blackstreet

Erykah Badu

As a singer, producer, and songwriter, Babyface was an inescapable presence in virtually every major facet of pop music during the '90s. His own recordings helped rejuvenate the R&B tradition of the smooth, sensitive, urban crooner and made him a staple of urban contemporary radio.

Enjoy an unplugged performance from Babyface, his band and friends at MTV studios.

1. Change the World (with Eric Clapton) 07:06

2. Talk to Me 06:05

3. Whip Appeal 05:29

4. Breathe Again (with Shanice Wilson) 02:22

5. Exhale (Shoop Shoop) (with Beverly Crowder) 04:53

6. I'll Make Love to You 02:45

7. End of the Road 03:45

8. I Care About You (with K-Ci & Jojo, Melvin and Kevon Edmonds) 05:56

9. The Day (That You Gave Me a Son) 07:38

10. Gone Too Soon 05:44

11. How Come How Long 08:18

Babyface & Friends

On September 26, 1997, Bryan Adams performed on Unplugged at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. Adams was joined by Irish piper Davy Spillane and Michael Kamen (who wrote orchestrations for many of the songs and brought students from the Juilliard School to play them).

Bryan Adams

Episode 12

Mana

With a sultry voice and more curves than a coastal highway, Colombian singer Shakira is one of the biggest pop stars of Latin America. In August of 1999, the blessed beauty filmed a live performance for broadcast on the hit MTV acoustic series, UNPLUGGED. At the lovely Grand Ballroom of the Manhattan Center Studios, Shakira performs some of her best loved hits, including "Ciega, Sordomuda." At times, she is accompanied by a full mariachi backing band.

Setlist:

1. "Octavo Dia" / 2. "Si Te Vas" / 3. "Donde Estan Los Ladrones" / 4. "Ciega, Sordomuda" / 5. "Inevitable" / 6. "Moscas En La Casa" / 7. "Estoy Aqui" / 8. "Tu" / 9. "Sombra De Ti" / 10. "No Creo" / 11. "Ojos Asi"

Shakira

Alanis Morissette didn't have any material to release at the end of 2001 so she accepted an offer of MTV to do this unplugged session. She immediately released the CD of this concert right before Christmas, so this album was very successful. Set List: 01. You Learn 02. Joining You 03. No Pressure Over Cappuccino 04. That i would be good 05. Head Over Feet 06. Princes Familiar 07. I was Hoping 08. Ironic 09. These R The Thoughts 10. King Of Pain 11. You Oughta Know 12.

Alanis Morissette

The famous Irish band The Corrs play for MTV Unplugged at the Ardmore Studios Co. Wicklow in Ireland in 1999. They were supported by the Irish Film Orchestra. Recorded 10/8/1999 at the Ardmore Studios Co. Wicklow, Ireland

The Corrs

Incubus

Following the success of Blueprint, Jay-Z took a break from the studio productions of Timbaland and Just Blaze and stepped into acoustic surroundings for a taped edition of MTV's long-running Unplugged series. With the talents of the Roots as his backing band, Jay-Z fails to miss a step and feels just as comfortable in the unplugged arena as he does with drum machines and a mixing desk in front of him. The skills of Roots drummer Ahmir Thompson emulate even the slightest nuance from the originally programmed electronic beats, and Jay-Z fails to take this for granted, gently shifting from one song to the next in medley form with ease. With a strong track listing spanning his entire career of chart-topping hits, this album is the perfect introduction to Jay-Z's prolific catalog and a fun listen for the most dedicated of fans. ~ Rob Theakston

Jay-Z

With their last album, RIOT!, selling more than two million copies, it's hard to believe there is still ground to cover for the little band that could from Franklin, Tennessee. But a Grammy nomination and multiple sold-out world tours under their belt show that Paramore are running in the footsteps of their heroes like Jimmy Eat World and No Doubt. Add to that the honor of contributing two songs to the double-platinum selling Twilight soundtrack and you wouldn't be wrong to think there is little left for them to accomplish. Of course, that would be underestimating Paramore, which is not something we'd advise.

Paramore shot their 'MTV Unplugged’ performance in late summer 2009 in New York City. Vocalist Hayley Williams, guitarists Josh Farro and Taylor York, drummer Zac Farro and bassist Jeremy Davis took to the stage armed with only acoustic guitars and a handful of songs designed to shock your heart into life. Although only a very lucky few were there to watch them tear through hits "That's What You Get," "Misery Business" and "Decode," as well as "Ignorance" and "Brick By Boring Brick" off of their latest album, Brand New Eyes, MTV.com has the entire performance here for everyone else to see. It is in the live setting where Paramore shine and their Unplugged performance proves that yet again.

Paramore

After 10 years since first hitting the Unplugged stage, rock icons R.E.M. return for another acoustic session. Taped in the MTV Times Square studio, the band rolls out new versions of songs off their latest album, Reveal, plus new acoustic arrangements of songs off their previous 11 albums.

R.E.M. (2)

Famous Japanese singer Utada Hikaru performs for MTV Unplugged in Tokyo in 2001. Her performance topped the Japanese CD and DVD sales charts. Recorded: Tennouzu Studio 6/21/2001 in Tokio, Japan Set List: 1. Unplugged 2. Wait & See 3. First Love 4. Addicted To You 5. Parody 6. I fly - kick through 7. With or Without You 8. Automatic 9. FINAL DISTANCE

Utada Hikaru

La Ley

Staind

Performing at MTV Studios in Times Square, NYC, Lauryn Hill unveiled her much-anticipated new material and later released it on the album MTV Unplugged No. 2.0. It had been three years since the release of Hill's The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Hill appeared with her hair cut off and performed in a stripped-down, minimalist style. Her set included her playing an acoustic guitar, spoken word segments, and occasionally breaking down in tears.

Lauryn Hill

Alejandro Sanz

Jay-Z with The Roots

MTV's acclaimed music series showcases today's top artists and rising stars in the industry performing acoustic versions of their songs.

The Best Seasons of MTV Unplugged

The Best Seasons of MTV Unplugged

Season 10

Season 23

Season 12

Season 2

Season 4

Season 7

Season 8

Season 3

Season 25

Season 19

Season 1

Season 5

Season 6

Season 11

Season 13

Season 14

Season 16

Season 17

Season 18

Season 20

Season 21

Season 22

Season 24

Season 26

Season 28

Season 30

Season 31

Season 32

Season 33

Season 34