Unplugged: Deluxe Edition

Stereophile - "...[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 - Ranked #71 in Q's "100 Greatest British Albums" Q - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...a faultless run-through of old favorites....Clapton is in fine form vocally....It's undoubtedly Clapton's most enjoyable album for years..."

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. ~ Rovi Staff|