The Best Episodes of MTV Unplugged Season 1

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Fan Favorite
   

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   #1 - Squeeze with Syd Straw and Elliot Easton

   S1:E111/26/1989

   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

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2. 

   6.8/10(12 votes)

   #2 - The Smithereens and Graham Parker

   S1:E21/28/1990

   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,

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3. 

   7.6/10(16 votes)

   #3 - 10,000 Maniacs with Michael Penn

   S1:E32/4/1990

   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

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4. 

   7.0/10(9 votes)

   #4 - The Alarm with Nuclear Valdez

   S1:E42/11/1990

   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

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5. 

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   #5 - Joe Walsh and Dr. John

   S1:E52/18/1990

   ""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

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6. 

   0.0/10(0 votes)

   #6 - Stevie Ray Vaughan with Joe Satriani

   S1:E63/4/1990

   ""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

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7. 

   7.8/10(16 votes)

   #7 - Michelle Shocked with Indigo Girls

   S1:E73/11/1990

   ""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

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8. 

   0.0/10(0 votes)

   #8 - Sinead O'Connor with The Church

   S1:E83/18/1990

   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

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9. 

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   #9 - Don Henley

   S1:E94/22/1990

   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

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10. 

    6.6/10(12 votes)

    #10 - Great White with Damn Yankees

    S1:E105/6/1990

    ""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

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11. 

    6.2/10(8 votes)

    #11 - Crowded House with Tim Finn

    S1:E115/13/1990

    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

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12. 

    7.3/10(27 votes)

    #12 - Hall and Oates

    S1:E126/5/1990

    ""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

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13. 

    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #13 - Elton John

    S1:E138/5/1990

    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

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14. 

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    #14 - Aerosmith

    S1:E149/20/1990

    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

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15. 

    7.8/10(50 votes)

    #15 - Crosby, Stills & Nash

    S1:E159/30/1990

    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

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16. 

    7.1/10(11 votes)

    #16 - Ratt with Vixen

    S1:E1610/7/1990

    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

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17. 

    7.5/10(17 votes)

    #17 - The Black Crowes with Tesla

    S1:E1712/2/1990

    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

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18. 

    7.9/10(18 votes)

    #18 - The Allman Brothers Band

    S1:E1812/9/1990

    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

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19. 

    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #19 - Poison

    S1:E1912/13/1990

    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

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