For all its shortcomings, MTV's UNPLUGGED series, presenting artists in an ostensibly stripped-down, acoustic setting, has provided the world with a few recorded gems, including this album. Young's turn on the show amounts to a live best-of, focusing (out of necessity) on the ballad end of his repertoire. Supported by longtime cohorts like Nils Lofgren, Tim Drummond, and Ben Keith, Young reaches back to his earliest solo recordings ("The Old Laughing Lady") as well as offering up some new tunes ("From Hank to Hendrix," "Unknown Legend").
Amid the electrical storm of Crazy Horse, it's often easy to forget how brightly Young shines as an acoustic balladeer, his high, lonesome whine taking on a plaintive quality. From the surrealism of "Pocahontas" to the existential angst of "World on a String," Young works his idiosyncratic magic. As a bonus, UNPLUGGED offers some interesting rearrangements of old tunes, particularly "Like a Hurricane," which is presented as a pump organ-driven slow burner.
Intimate and unplugged originally released in 1993 as recorded live for MTV. 14 tracks. Reprise.
Amid the electrical storm of Crazy Horse, it's often easy to forget how brightly Young shines as an acoustic balladeer, his high, lonesome whine taking on a plaintive quality. From the surrealism of "Pocahontas" to the existential angst of "World on a String," Young works his idiosyncratic magic. As a bonus, UNPLUGGED offers some interesting rearrangements of old tunes, particularly "Like a Hurricane," which is presented as a pump organ-driven slow burner.
Intimate and unplugged originally released in 1993 as recorded live for MTV. 14 tracks. Reprise.
Tracklist CD & DVD:
01. The Old Laughing Lady – 5:15
02. Mr. Soul – 3:54
03. World on a String – 3:02
04. Pocahontas – 5:06
05. Stringman (previously unreleased) – 4:01
06. Like a Hurricane – 4:44
07. The Needle and the Damage Done – 2:52
08. Helpless – 5:48
09. Harvest Moon – 5:20
10. Transformer Man – 3:36
11. Unknown Legend – 4:47
12. Look Out for My Love – 5:57
13. Long May You Run – 5:22
14. From Hank to Hendrix – 5:51
All tracks composed by Neil Young
Prod. by David Briggs
Personnel:
Neil Young: guitar, harmonica, piano, pump organ, vocal
Nils Lofgren: guitar, autoharp, accordion, vocal
Astrid Young: vocal
Nicolette Larson: vocal
Ben Keith: dobro
Spooner Oldham: piano, pump organ
Tim Drummond: bass
Oscar Butterworth: drums
Larry Cragg: broom on "Harvest Moon"
