Unplugged (Eric Clapton album)

Unplugged
Live album by Eric Clapton
Released 25 August 1992
Recorded 16 January 1992, Bray Film Studios, Windsor, England, UK[1]
Genre Acoustic blues, blues rock
Length 61:47
Label Reprise, Duck, MTV
Producer Russ Titelman
Eric Clapton chronology

Rush
(1991)		 Unplugged
(1992)		 From the Cradle
(1994)

Unplugged is a live album by Eric Clapton released in 1992.[2] It was recorded live in England for the MTV Unplugged series and includes both the hit single "Tears in Heaven" and a heavily reworked acoustic version of "Layla".

Clapton performed the show in front of a small audience on 16 January 1992 at Bray Film Studios in Windsor, England. In addition to the final album tracks, the performance included early versions of "My Father's Eyes" and "Circus Left Town" along with "Worried Life Blues" and a version of "Rollin' and Tumblin'".[3] Clapton played a Martin 000-28EC and the 000-42 acoustic guitar for much of this performance, and in 2004, the guitar sold for US$791,500.00 (£434.400) in auction.[2][4]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [5]
Chicago Tribune [6]
Entertainment Weekly (A-)[7]
Los Angeles Times [8]
Robert Christgau B−[9]

Clapton earned six Grammy Awards for the album including Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, Best Rock Male Vocal Performance and Best Rock Song.[10] "Tears in Heaven" earned three of the six awards.[10] The album reached number one on the Billboard 200, and has been certified Diamond by the RIAA for shipping over 10 million copies in the United States.[11] In 2000 Q magazine placed Unplugged at number 71 in its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums. In October 2011, the album was ranked number nine (between Iron Maiden's Fear of the Dark and Stone Temple Pilots' Core) on Guitar World magazine's top ten list of guitar albums of 1992.[12]

Commenting on the popularity of the album in his 2007 autobiography, Clapton wishes the reader to understand its great emotional toll he experienced around that time, and suggests that they visit the grave of his son Conor in Ripley to do so.[13]

Track listing (CD/DVD)

No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Signe"  Eric Clapton 3:13
2. "Before You Accuse Me"  Bo Diddley 3:44
3. "Hey Hey"  Big Bill Broonzy 3:16
4. "Tears in Heaven"  Eric Clapton, Will Jennings 4:36
5. "Lonely Stranger"  Eric Clapton 5:27
6. "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out"  Jimmy Cox 3:49
7. "Layla"  Eric Clapton, Jim Gordon 4:46
8. "Running on Faith"  Jerry Lynn Williams 6:30
9. "Walkin' Blues"  Robert Johnson 3:37
10. "Alberta"  Traditional, Arr. by Huddie William Ledbetter 3:42
11. "San Francisco Bay Blues"  Jesse Fuller 3:24
12. "Malted Milk"  Robert Johnson 3:36
13. "Old Love"  Eric Clapton, Robert Cray 7:54
14. "Rollin' and Tumblin'"  McKinley Morganfield 4:11
Total length:
 61:47

Personnel

Hit singles

Chart positions courtesy of the Billboard (North America)

Year Single Chart Position
1992 "Tears in Heaven" Billboard Hot 100 2
Adult Contemporary 1
"Layla" Adult Contemporary 8
Mainstream Rock Tracks 9
Billboard Hot 100 12
Top 40 Mainstream 4
1993 "Running on Faith" Adult Contemporary 28
Mainstream Rock Tracks 15

Charts

Peak positions

Chart Position
Australian ARIA Albums Chart[15] 1
Austrian Albums Chart[16] 3
Canadian Albums Chart[17] 1
Dutch Mega Albums Chart[18] 1
French SNEP Albums Chart[19] 1
German Media Control Albums Chart[20] 3
Italian Albums Chart[21] 13
Japanese Oricon Albums Chart[22] 5
New Zealand Albums Chart[23] 1
Norwegian VG-lista Albums Chart[24] 6
Swedish Albums Chart[25] 3
Swiss Albums Chart[26] 3
UK Albums Chart[27] 2
United States Billboard 200[28] 1

End of the year charts

Chart (1992) Position
Australian Albums Chart[29] 45
Austrian Albums Chart[30] 25
Swiss Albums Chart[31] 25
UK Albums Chart[32] 69
US Billboard 200[33] 36
Chart (1993) Position
Australian Albums Chart[34] 2
Austrian Albums Chart[35] 7
Canadian Albums Chart[36] 1
Dutch Albums Chart[37] 2
Italian Albums Chart[21] 39
Japanese Albums Chart[38] 39
Swiss Albums Chart[39] 7
UK Albums Chart[32] 23
US Billboard 200[40] 3
Chart (1994) Position
Dutch Albums Chart[41] 47

End of decade charts

Chart (1990s) Position
Austrian Albums Chart[42] 20
US Billboard 200[43] 30

Certifications

Album

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Argentina (CAPIF)[44] 2× Platinum 120,000x
Australia (ARIA)[45] 8× Platinum 560,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[46] 2× Platinum 100,000x
Belgium (BEA)[47] 2× Platinum 60,000*
Brazil (ABPD)[48] Platinum 250,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[49] Diamond 1,000,000^
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[50] Gold 45,034[50]
France (SNEP)[51] 2× Platinum 600,000*
Germany (BVMI)[52] 5× Gold 1,250,000^
Italy (FIMI)[53] 3× Platinum 150,000*
Japan (RIAJ)[54] Million 1,000,000^
Macao (IFPI Macao)[55] 8× Platinum 240,000
Netherlands (NVPI)[56] 4× Platinum 400,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[57] 11× Platinum 165,000^
Poland (ZPAV)[58] Gold 50,000*
Singapore (RIAS)[59] 5× Platinum 75,000
South Korea (Gaon Chart)[60] 200,000+
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[61] 3× Platinum 300,000^
Sweden (GLF)[62] Platinum 100,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[63] 2× Platinum 100,000x
United Kingdom (BPI)[64] 4× Platinum 1,200,000^
United States (RIAA)[11] Diamond 10,000,000^
Venezuela (IFPI Venezuela)[65] 3× Platinum 30,000
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[66] 5× Platinum 5,000,000*
Worldwide[67] 24,000,000

^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Video and DVD

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Argentina (CAPIF)[68] Platinum 8,000x
Brazil (ABPD)[69] Gold 25,000*
France (SNEP)[70] Platinum 20,000*
Macao (IFPI Macao)[71] Platinum 15,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)[72] Platinum 5,000x
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[73] Gold 10,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[74] Gold 25,000^
United States (RIAA)[75] Platinum 100,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Disconectado

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Argentina (CAPIF)[44] 2× Platinum 120,000x

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Deluxe Edition

Region Certification Sales/shipments
South Korea (Gaon Chart)[76] 2,924+

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Re-release

On October 15, 2013 the album and concert DVD were re-released, titled Unplugged: Expanded & Remastered. The album includes the original 14 tracks, remastered, as well as six additional tracks, including two versions of "My Father's Eyes". The DVD includes a restored version of the concert, as well as over 60 minutes of unseen footage from the rehearsal.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Clapton, Eric: Unplugged
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Clapton's guitar smashes record BBC News Retrieved 28 January 2011
  3. ↑ Clapton, Eric: Clapton, page 254. Broadway Books, 2007.
  4. ↑ Fretbase: Eric Clapton Unplugged – His Guitars and Gear
  5. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Unplugged (Eric Clapton album) at AllMusic
  6. ↑ Kot, Greg (21 February 1993). "It's A Roller-coaster Career From Blues To Pop And Back". chicagotribune.com (Chicago Tribune). Retrieved 2011-10-22.
  7. ↑ Simels, Steve (28 August 1992). "Unplugged Review". ew.com (Entertainment Weekly). Retrieved 2011-08-30.
  8. ↑ Hochman, Steve (27 September 1992). "In Brief". articles.latimes.com (Los Angeles Times). Retrieved 2011-10-24.
  9. ↑ Christgau, Robert. "Consumer Guide Reviews: Eric Clapton". Retrieved 2011-10-18.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Billboard 6 Mar 1993 Billboard Retrieved 28 January 2011
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "American album certifications – Eric Clapton – Unplugged". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
  12. ↑ Grassi, Tony. "Photo Gallery: The Top 10 Guitar Albums of 1992". GuitarWorld.com. Retrieved 2011-10-24.
  13. ↑ Clapton, Eric (2007). Clapton: The Autobiography (AUTOBIOGRAPHY). Crown Archetype. ISBN 1-61688-076-7.
  14. ↑ Saulnier, Jason (8 April 2010). "Chuck Leavell Interview". Music Legends. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
  15. ↑ "australian-charts.com Eric Clapton – Unplugged" (ASP). Hung Medien. Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  16. ↑ "Eric Clapton – Unplugged – austriancharts.at" (ASP) (in German). Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  17. ↑ Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 29 January 2014
  18. ↑ "dutchcharts.nl Eric Clapton – Unplugged" (ASP). dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 2011-10-23.
  19. ↑ "InfoDisc : Tous les Albums classés par Artiste > Choisir Un Artiste Dans la Liste" (PHP) (in French). infodisc.fr. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  20. ↑ "Album Search: Eric Clapton – Unplugged" (ASP) (in German). Media Control. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Hit Parade Italia – Gli album più venduti del 1993" (in Italian). hitparadeitalia.it. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  22. ↑ エリック・クラプトン-リリース-ORICON STYLE-ミュージック "Highest position and charting weeks of Unplugged by Eric Clapton". oricon.co.jp (in Japanese). Oricon Style. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  23. ↑ "charts.org.nz – Eric Clapton – Unplugged" (ASP). Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  24. ↑ "norwegiancharts.com Eric Clapton – Unplugged" (ASP). VG-lista. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  25. ↑ "swedishcharts.com Eric Clapton – Unplugged" (ASP) (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  26. ↑ "Eric Clapton – Unplugged – hitparade.ch" (ASP). Hung Medien (in German). Swiss Music Charts. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  27. ↑ "Eric Clapton > Artists > Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  28. ↑ Allmusic – Unplugged > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums
  29. ↑ ARIA Charts "End of Year Charts – Top 50 Albums 1992". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  30. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Jahreshitparade 1992". Hung Medien (in German). Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  31. ↑ "Hitparade.ch – Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1992" (ASP). Hung Medien (in German). Swiss Music Charts. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 "Complete UK Year-End Album Charts". Retrieved 2011-10-23.
  33. ↑ "Billboard.BIZ". billboard.biz. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
  34. ↑ ARIA Charts "End of Year Charts – Top 50 Albums 1993". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  35. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Jahreshitparade 1993". Hung Medien (in German). Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  36. ↑ "RPM Top 100 Albums of 1990". RPM. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  37. ↑ "Dutch charts jaaroverzichten 1993" (ASP) (in Dutch). Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  38. ↑ 1993年 アルバム年間TOP100 "Oricon Year-end Albums Chart of 1993" (in Japanese). Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  39. ↑ "Hitparade.ch – Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1993" (ASP). Hung Medien (in German). Swiss Music Charts. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  40. ↑ "Billboard.BIZ". billboard.biz. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
  41. ↑ "Dutch charts jaaroverzichten 1994" (ASP) (in Dutch). Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  42. ↑ "Austriancharts.at - Bestenlisten - 90-er album" (ASP) (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  43. ↑ Geoff Mayfield (25 December 1999). 1999 The Year in Music Totally '90s: Diary of a Decade – The listing of Top Pop Albums of the '90s & Hot 100 Singles of the '90s. Billboard. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 "Argentinian album certifications – Eric Clapton – Unplugged". Argentine Chamber of Phonograms and Videograms Producers.
  45. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2005 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association.
  46. ↑ "Austrian album certifications – Eric Clapton – Unplugged" (in German). IFPI Austria. Enter Eric Clapton in the field Interpret. Enter Unplugged in the field Titel. Select album in the field Format. Click Suchen
  47. ↑ "ULTRATOP BELGIAN CHARTS". Retrieved 2015-04-17.
  48. ↑ "Brazilian album certifications – Eric Clapton – Unplugged" (in Portuguese). Associação Brasileira dos Produtores de Discos.
  49. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Eric Clapton – Unplugged". Music Canada.
  50. ↑ 50.0 50.1 The first web page presents the sales figures, the second presents the certification limits:
  51. ↑ "Les Certifications (Albums) du SNEP (Bilans par Artiste)". infodisc.fr (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 2011-09-18.
  52. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Eric Clapton; 'Unplugged')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  53. ↑ Keil, A.: Italien - Die Musikindustrie (Limitierte Auflage). No. 32; 2014. p. 17.
  54. ↑ "綾小路きみまろ漫談CDが史上初のミリオン". Recording Industry Association of Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  55. ↑ "Macao Music Sales (2001-2009)". Record Sales. Retrieved 2015-04-06.
  56. ↑ "Dutch album certifications – Eric Clapton – Unplugged" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers.
  57. ↑ "New Zealand album certifications – Eric Clapton – Unplugged". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand.
  58. ↑ "Polish album certifications – Eric Clapton – Unplugged" (in Polish). Polish Producers of Audio and Video (ZPAV).
  59. ↑ Keil, A.: Singapur.; Die Musikindustrie (Limitierte Auflage). No. 32, 2014, p. 56.
  60. ↑ Chart and Sales history - South Korea. Eric Clapton. 2015.
  61. ↑ "Solo Exitos 1959–2002 Ano A Ano: Certificados 1991–1995". Solo Exitos 1959–2002 Ano A Ano.
  62. ↑ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden.
  63. ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Eric Clapton; 'Unplugged')". Hung Medien.
  64. ↑ "British album certifications – Eric Clapton – Unplugged". British Phonographic Industry. Enter Unplugged in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Platinum in the field By Award. Click Search
  65. ↑ "CERTIFICACIONES DE VENEZUELA 2013" (in Spanish). Record Sales. Retrieved 2015-04-17.
  66. ↑ "Updated List of IFPI Platinum Awards". IFPI. Retrieved 2015-04-17.
  67. ↑ Astrid Keil. "The Music Of Eric Clapton" (in German). Retrieved 2015-04-17.
  68. ↑ "Argentinian video certifications – Eric Clapton – Unplugged". Argentine Chamber of Phonograms and Videograms Producers.
  69. ↑ "Brazilian video certifications – Eric Clapton – Unplugged" (in Portuguese). Associação Brasileira dos Produtores de Discos.
  70. ↑ "French video certifications – Eric Clapton – Unplugged" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
  71. ↑ "在澳門的年音樂銷售2010至14年". Record Sales. Retrieved 2015-04-17.
  72. ↑ "New Zealand video certifications – Eric Clapton – Unplugged". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand.
  73. ↑ Keil, A.: Spanien - Die Musikindustrie (Limitierte Auflage). No. 32; 2014. p. 17.
  74. ↑ "British video certifications – Eric Clapton – Unplugged". British Phonographic Industry. Enter Unplugged in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select DVD in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search
  75. ↑ "American video certifications – Eric Clapton – Unplugged". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Video Longform, then click SEARCH
  76. ↑ Chart and Sales history - South Korea. Eric Clapton. 2015.