UNPLUGGED won 1993 Grammy Awards for Album Of The Year, Best Male Pop
Vocal Performance and Best Male Rock Vocal Performance. "Tears In
Heaven" won the Grammy for Song Of The Year, and "Layla" was named Best
Rock Song.Eric Clapton's live performance on MTV's
strip-down-the-rockers show allowed the heavily-blues-influenced
guitarist a chance to show off another, underrated side of his
talent--his voice.It's especially interesting to hear Clapton in an
acoustic setting, because he made his mark as one of the early
proponents of high-decibel rock. Here, sorting through numerous blues
standards by the likes of Robert Johnson and Leadbelly, Clapton gives a
lesson in technique, style and musical passion. His own, newer material
allows him to stretch and play, while the heavily-grooved, slowed-down
remake of his classic "Layla" is the essential standout. "Tears In
Heaven," a moving tribute to his son's passing, is emotionally raw, yet
stylistically smooth--a difficult task to achieve.Stripping down the
music of an artist as technically proficient and historically based as
Eric Clapton was a stroke of genius. Hence, it's no surprise that the
result, UNPLUGGED, is brilliant as well.
Clapton's Unplugged was responsible for making acoustic-based music,
and Unplugged albums in particular, a hot trend in the early '90s.
Clapton's concert was not only one of the finest Unplugged episodes,
but was also some of the finest music he had recorded in years. Instead
of the slick productions that tainted his '80s albums, the music was
straightforward and direct, alternating between his pop numbers and
traditional blues songs. The result was some of the most genuine,
heartfelt music the guitarist has ever committed to tape. And some of
his most popular -- the album sold over seven million copies in the
U.S. and won several Grammies.
Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All-Music Guide
"...a faultless run-through of old favorites....Clapton is in fine form
vocally....It's undoubtedly Clapton's most enjoyable album for
years..."Stereophile (12/92, p. 261) - "...[Clapton] hasn't played
guitar this well in years, seemingly grateful for the acoustic
limitations that let him forego guitar-hero pyrotechnics for a folksy
Big Bill Broonzy bag..."
Q Magazine 9/92, p.70 4 Stars - Excellent
" Neben 'Just One Night' ist 'Unplugged' das Clapton-Livealbum, das man haben muß."
M. Schlüter in stereoplay 9/92
"Clapton's concert was not only one of the first 'Unplugged' episodes,
but was also some of the finest music he had recorded in years. Instead
of the slick productions that tainted his '80s albums, the music was
straightforward and direct, alternating between his pop numbers and
traditional blues songs. The result was some of the most genuine,
heartfelt music the guitarist has ever committed to tape. And some of
his most popular - the album sold over seven million copies in the US
and won several Grammies."
All-Music Guide ****
Clapton sprang genau zur richtigen Zeit auf den "Unplugged" Zug auf.
Das Publikum war begierig zu hören, wie gut sich die Rockstars
schlagen, wenn sie einmal nicht unter ihren gewohnten Studiobedingungen
arbeiten dürfen. Clapton selbst war wohl am meisten
überrascht von dem riesigen Erfolg, wie man bei der
Grammy-Verleihung deutlich sehen konnte. Unplugged brachte ihm Grammys
gleich dutzendfach, darunter für die Platte des Jahres, und den
Song des Jahres für "Tears In Heaven", diesen
herzzerreißenden Nachruf auf seinen verunglückten Sohn.
Dieser Song und die überarbeitete Version des Klassikers "Layla"
stachen am meisten hervor. Aber auch der Rest des Albums enthält
einige akustische Bluesperlen, darunter "Malted Milk", "Rollin# &
Tumblin#" und "Before You Accuse Me", die es wert sind, entdeckt zu
werden.
Daniel Durchholz, Amazon.de
Im akustischen Setting kombinierte der eloquente Gitarrero aus feinen
Blues-Standards und intimen Pop-Balladen den Hit aus MTVs
Unplugged-Reihe und rührte mit Tears In Heaven Millionen.
Da hat jemand beim US-Satellitensender MTV eine brillante Idee gehabt,
als er/sie vorschlug, Rockgrößen vor laufenden Kameras mit
ausschließlich akustischen Instrumenten antelle des üblichen
Arsenals von Elektrogeräten auftreten zu lassen. Wer ohne
hochverstärkende Elektronik arbeitet, muß gute Songs haben
und über außergewöhnliche Fähigkeiten als
Interpret verfügen, um bei "Unplugged" nicht einzubrechen. Keine
Probleme in dieser Hinsicht hatte Eric Clapton, der mit seiner Band ein
superbes Programm vorstellte. "Signe", ein virtuoses
Kabinettstückchen für zwei Akustikgitarren (Clapton und Andy
Fairweather-Low), eröffnet einen Set, der sich aus Blues- und
Clapton-Standards zusammensetzt. Etliche Titel sind zwar von
früheren Platten bekannt, in inspirierten akustischen Versionen
hat man aber "Before You Accuse Me", "Nobody Knows You When You're Down
& Out" oder "Running On Faith" noch nicht gehört. Neu in
Claptons Repertoire sind "Hey Hey" und "Lonely Stranger" sowie die
Bluesnummern "Malted Milk", "Alberta" und der "Walking Blues". Als
Instrumentalsolisten brillieren der Meister selbst und Keyboarder Chuck
Leavell. Highlights sind "Old Love", "Tears In Heaven" (leider fehlt
hier der im TV-Mitschnitt enthaltene neue Song "Circus Left Town") und,
allen voran, Claptons wohl berühmteste Komposition "Layla". Sogar
ohne das legendäre Eingangsriff und im ungewohnten Shufflerhythmus
spricht Ge- nialität aus jedem Takt dieses Songs. Neben "Just One
Night" ist "Unplugged" das Clapton-Livealbum, das man haben muß.
** Interpret.: 09- 10
Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself
Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself
You say I've been spending my money on other women
You've been taking money from someone else
I called your mama 'bout three or four nights ago
I called your mama 'bout three or four nights ago
Well your mother said "Son"
"Don't call my daughter no more"
First Verse
Come back home baby, try my love one more time
Come back home baby, try my love one more time
If I don't go on and quit you
I'm gonna lose my mind
First Verse
Hey Hey
Hey hey. Hey hey, baby, hey.
Hey hey. Hey hey, baby, hey.
I love you baby,
Sure ain't gonna be your dog.
Hey hey. Hey hey, baby, hey.
Hey hey. Hey hey, baby, hey.
My arms around you baby,
All I can say is hey.
First Verse
Hey hey. You lost your good thing now.
Hey hey. You lost your good thing now.
You had me fooled,
I found it out somehow.
Tears In Heaven
Would you know my name if I saw you in heaven?
Would it be the same if I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong and carry on,
'Cause I know I don't belong here in heaven.
Would you hold my hand if I saw you in heaven?
Would you help me stand if I saw you in heaven?
I'll find my way through night and day,
'Cause I know I just can't stay here in heaven.
Time can bring you down, time can bend your knees.
Time can break your heart, have you begging please, begging please.
Beyond the door there's peace I'm sure,
And I know there'll be no more tears in heaven.
First Verse
Lonely Stranger
I must be invisible;
No one knows me.
I have crawled down dead-end streets
On my hands and knees.
I was born with a ragin' thirst,
A hunger to be free,
But I've learned through the years.
Don't encourage me.
'Cause I'm a lonely stranger here,
Well beyond my day.
And I don't know what's goin' on,
So I'll be on my way.
When I walk, stay behind;
Don't get close to me,
'Cause it's sure to end in tears,
So just let me be.
Some will say that I'm no good;
Maybe I agree.
Take a look then walk away.
That's all right with me.
Chorus
Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out
Once I lived the life of a millionaire,
Spent all my money, I just did not care.
Took all my friends out for a good time,
Bought bootleg whiskey, champagne and wine.
Then I began to fall so low,
Lost all my good friends, I did not have nowhere to go.
I get my hands on a dollar again,
I'm gonna hang on to it till that eagle grins.
'Cause no, no, nobody knows you
When you're down and out.
In your pocket, not one penny,
And as for friends, you don't have any.
When you finally get back up on your feet again,
Everybody wants to be your old long-lost friend.
Said it's mighty strange, without a doubt,
Nobody knows you when you're down and out.
When you finally get back upon your feet again,
Everybody wants to be your good old long-lost friend.
Said it's mighty strange,
Nobody knows you,
Nobody knows you,
Nobody knows you when you're down and out.
Layla
What'll you do when you get lonely
And nobody's waiting by your side?
You've been running and hiding much too long.
You know it's just your foolish pride.
Layla, you've got me on my knees.
Layla, I'm begging, darling please.
Layla, darling won't you ease my worried mind.
I tried to give you consolation
When your old man had let you down.
Like a fool, I fell in love with you,
Turned my whole world upside down.
Chorus
Let's make the best of the situation
Before I finally go insane.
Please don't say we'll never find a way
And tell me all my love's in vain.
Chorus
Chorus
Running On Faith
Lately I've been running on faith
What else can a poor boy do?
But my world will be right
When love comes over you
Lately I've been talking in my sleep
I can't imagine what I'd have to say
Except my world will be right
When love comes back your way
I've always been
One to take each and every day
Seems like by now
I'd find a love who cares just for me
Then we'd go running on faith
All of our dreams would come true
And our world will be right
When love comes over me and you
Chorus
Then we'd go running on faith
All of our dreams would come true
And our world will be right
When love comes over me and you
When love comes over you
Walkin' Blues
Woke up this morning, feel 'round for my shoes,
You know 'bout that babe, had them old walkin' blues.
Woke up this morning, I feel 'round for my shoes,
You know 'bout that babe, Lord, I had them old walkin' blues.
Leavin' this morning, I had to go ride the blinds.
I've been mistreated, don't mind dying.
This morning, I had to go ride the blinds,
I've been mistreated, Lord, I don't mind dying.
People tell me walkin' blues ain't bad;
Worst old feeling I most ever had.
People tell me the old walkin' blues ain't bad.
Well it's the worst old feeling, Lord, I most ever had.
Alberta
Alberta, Alberta,
Where you been so long?
Alberta, Alberta,
Where you been so long?
Ain't had no loving
Since you've been gone.
Alberta, Alberta,
Where'd you stay last night?
Alberta, Alberta
Where'd you stay last night?
Come home this morning,
Clothes don't fit you right
Alberta, Alberta,
Girl, you're on my mind.
Alberta, Alberta,
Girl, you're on my mind.
Ain't had no loving
Such a great long time.
Alberta, Alberta,
Where you been so long?
Alberta, Alberta,
Where you been so long?
Ain't had no loving
Since you've been gone.
San Francisco Bay Blues
I got the blues from my baby left me by the San Francisco Bay,
The ocean liner's gone so far away.
Didn't mean to treat her so bad, she was the best girl I ever have had,
She said goodbye, I can take a cry, I want to lay down and die.
I ain't got a nickel and I ain't got a lousy dime.
She don't come back, think I'm going to lose my mind.
If she ever gets back to stay, it's going to be another brand new day,
Walking with my baby down by the San Francisco Bay.
Sitting down looking from my back door,
Wondering which way to go,
The woman I'm so crazy about, she don't love me no more.
Think I'll catch me a freight train, 'cause I'm feeling blue,
And ride all the way to the end of the line, thinking only of you.
Meanwhile, in another city,
Just about to go insane,
Thought I heard my baby, Lord, the way she used to call my name.
If I ever get her back to stay, it's going to be another brand new day,
Walking with my baby down by the San Francisco Bay,
Walking with my baby down by the San Francisco Bay,
Walking with my baby down by the San Francisco Bay.
Malted Milk
I keep drinking malted milk, trying to drive my blues away.
I keep drinking malted milk, trying to drive my blues away.
Baby, you're just as welcome to my loving as the flowers is in May.
Malted milk, malted milk, keep rushing to my head.
Malted milk, malted milk, keep rushing to my head.
And I have a funny, funny feeling and I'm talking all out my head.
Baby, fix me one more drink and hug your daddy one more time.
Baby, fix me one more drink and hug your daddy one more time.
Keep on stirring my malted milk, mama, until I change my mind.
My doorknob keeps on turning, there must be spooks around my bed.
My doorknob keeps on turning, there must be spooks around my bed.
And I have a funny, funny feeling and the hair's rising on my head.
Old Love
I can feel your body
When I'm lying in bed
There's too much confusion
Going around through my head
And it makes me so angry
To know that the flame still burns
Why can't I get over?
When will I ever learn?
Old love, leave me alone
Old love, go on home
I can see your face
But I know that it's not real
It's just an illusion
Caused by how I used to feel
And it makes me so angry
To know that the flame will always burn
I'll never get over
I know now that I'll never learn
Chorus
Rollin' & Tumblin'
Well, I woke up this morning; I best get rolling on.
Well, come here baby, sit down on daddy's knee.
Well, come here baby, sit down on daddy's knee.
I want to tell you about the way they treated me.
Well, I rolled and I tumbled, cried the whole night long.
Well, I rolled and I tumbled, cried the whole night long.
When I woke up this morning, all I had was gone.