Review: Eric Clapton, Releases ‘Unplugged – Enhanced Version’ – Looking Back At His Iconic Live/Acoustic LP

Eric Clapton, former member of the Yardbirds, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Cream and Blind Faith, has re-released his iconic Unplugged album (originally released in 1992) in what he’s calling an ‘Enhanced Version.’ As far as I can tell, the only thing “enhanced” about this album is a promise to release some “never before heard” interviews recorded prior to the performance which have been edited into the songs. I may be wrong about that but it sounds dreadful if that’s indeed what happened. However, I did feel it was an opportune time to look back at this wonderful Unplugged performance. He did, in 2013, release an Expanded version with six performances that weren’t on the original CD release. For this new release he’s taken a few of those tracks (3 of them) from the 2013 version and mixed them into the performance to give us a dual CD live album. Maybe that’s the only tinkering he’s done with the running order and that gives us an ‘Enhanced’ version.

I just found out, when doing research on this album that Clapton’s Unplugged is the greatest selling live album of all time. I don’t have trouble believing that – everybody bought a copy of this album – but I was surprised. I was thinking that honor had to belong to Peter Frampton’s Frampton Comes Alive another live album that everyone, and I mean everyone, seemed to own. Hell, my grandmother was the one who bought me Frampton Comes Alive and trust me when I tell you, she was no rock n roller. When she gave me the album, she glanced at the “hippy” on the cover and asked me if I was “on the dope?” I just smiled.

Of course I’m on record as being a big fan of the MTV Unplugged series. Many a good live album was culled from these stripped down, acoustic performances. The idea for the Unplugged series came to the producers down at MTV when – believe it or not – Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora came out at some MTV Awards program and performed their song “Wanted: Dead Or Alive” with just acoustic guitars. They debuted the series in 1989 with, I believe Squeeze performing, but I could be wrong about that. It wasn’t until Paul McCartney performed on the show that anybody really took notice. McCartney – an artist with incredible standing in the world – gave the series credibility. He was the first artist to release an album from the performance but he only released 500,000 copies which immediately made it a collector’s item. I held a copy in my hand in a record store in Warrensburg, Missouri once… alas I didn’t have two nickels to rub together in those days so I didn’t buy it. Perhaps inspired by McCartney’s 1991 performance, Clapton agreed to do the show and his Unplugged album exploded which suddenly showed artists the immense commercial potential of an acoustic live album. We would have never gotten Unplugged performances from Rod Stewart (with Ronnie Wood) or Robert Plant (with Jimmy Page) without the runaway success of Clapton’s version of Unplugged.

The 80s had been difficult for Clapton. His albums were largely minor affairs. He released Another Ticket and Money And Cigarettes which each contained a minor hit. Behind The Sun, produced by Phil Collins, was rejected by the record company and had to have a few tracks produced by Lenny Waronker and Ted Templeman to spruce it up… I don’t care, it’s still one of those albums only I love. August from 1986 was an album I purchased but quickly sold at the used record store. It had that hit song from the Tom Cruise movie The Color Of Money, which should have warned me off the thing. It was also produced by Collins with a little help from legendary producer Tom Dowd (the Allman Brothers, Derek & the Dominos, Rod Stewart).

But then just as the decade of the 80s was waning, Clapton surprised us all with a great comeback album, Journeyman in 1989. Everybody dug that album. I remember this woman named Janet who worked in the office with me and she was a huge Clapton fan. When I quit she gave me the album on cassette and it was one of the best things I’d heard from Clapton since Slowhand. Alas, in March of 1991 Clapton’s son Conor passed away after falling from a hotel window. Tragic stuff there, man. It inspired Clapton to write the hit song “Tears In Heaven” which was featured in the soundtrack of Rush. Between Journeyman and “Tears In Heaven” Clapton was heading into this Unplugged performance with a full head of steam. A lot of people believe the Unplugged album rejuvenated Clapton’s flagging career, and yes it turbo charged that comeback, but he was already trending in the right direction. Some folks have said it’s not a true live album because it was recorded in a studio but there was a full audience, hence it’s a live album. And believe me, I’d know, I love live albums.

I remember the Clapton performance being somewhat of an event. I was in that oh-so-successful phase of my life, the “living with my parents” era, and I remember a friend of mine had a bunch of people over to watch the debut broadcast of this episode of Unplugged. Mom and dad didn’t spring for anything beyond basic cable and didn’t have MTV. We were all taken with his taking a wonderful rock n roll anthem like “Layla” and turning it into a shuffle. It was a laid back, confident performance from an artist who was clearly maturing. I think the thing that made this performance (and later album) so enjoyable is that Clapton didn’t sit down and play a greatest hits set. Yes, there were hits like “Tears In Heaven” or “Layla” but for the most part, Clapton played old acoustic blues tunes. There were two covers of Robert Johnson songs, who has always been Clapton’s North Star. He also played some deep tracks from Journeyman that were off the charts good: “Old Love” and “Running On Faith.” The secret weapon for Clapton was recruiting Chuck Leavell, who played in the Allman Brothers Band and with the Stones, on piano. He and Clapton play off each other on several of the tunes and it’s a wonderful thing to behold.

The album begins with a wonderful little jazz instrumental thing, “Signe” that was a perfect warm up which was quickly followed by the great “Before You Accuse Me” from Journeyman. The crowd even claps along. From there he takes us into deep blues with Big Bill Broonzy’s “Hey Hey.” Then it’s back to the charts with a soulful version of “Tears In Heaven.” I know it’s blasphemy, but I never connected with that song. Then he drops an original that can only be found here, “Lonely Stranger.” I always felt that conveyed the message about his son Conor better than “Tears In Heaven.” It’s a beautiful song. He then hits two Derek & the Dominos tracks, “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out,” the old Jimmy Cox tune and then the hit “Layla.” From there, to my ears, the performance just takes off. He kills “Running On Faith” from the aforementioned Journeyman. Then it’s all old blues and traditional tracks: the old Son House tune “Walkin’ Blues,” Ledbetter’s tune “Alberta,” and then a track McCartney did on his Unplugged “San Francisco Bay Blues,” then back to Robert Johnson’s “Malted Milk.” It’s a great run of songs.

For me, the emotional centerpoint of the album is the song “Old Love.” My friend Stormin’ and I used to sit around drinking whiskey listening to that great tale of lost love. “Old love, just leave me alone…” I’ve been there. The piano solo from Leavell leaves even Clapton saying, “Damn.” The producer just managed to catch Clapton launching into “Rollin’ And Tumblin'” from Muddy Waters and it was a perfect set ending song. The songs released in 2013 from the performance, that weren’t included on the album, did add some context but I’m not sure they were essential. Both “Circus” and two takes of “My Father’s Eyes” were songs that ended up on Clapton’s next album of all originals, 1998’s Pilgrim. Of the two, I like “Circus” better. There are also early takes of “Walkin’ Blues” and “Running On Faith,” but the previously released versions are definitive. The only track that I felt should have been included with the original album was “Worried Life Blues,” another old blues tune.

For this ‘Enhanced Version’ it looks like Clapton has mixed in “Circus,” “My Father’s Eyes,” and “Worried Life Blues” toward the end of disc 2. It make sense. And, if you’ve never picked up this album – and there aren’t many folks who didn’t – this would be a good version to own. If you have the original album I wouldn’t be rushing out to pick this one up. I have to admit, re listening to this album, it really is a great “picture in time” look at where Clapton was in the late 80s/early 90s. He was a weathered veteran who could still sit down – in this case with an acoustic guitar, which runs counter to his guitar hero status – and just deliver a wonderful evening of blues/blues rock. His next record, a blues covers album, From The Cradle continued to follow his bluesy muse and is one of my favorites from Clapton. It was a great period in his career.

This album does stir up quite a few memories for me. It’s a great late night, out on the deck with a glass of whiskey kind of album. Now that spring has sprung, deck drinking season is here! This re-release follows the release of Sting’s new, wonderful live album Sting 3.0 Live, so it’s a wonderful springtime for live albums. Tee up both albums and enjoy a lovely cocktail under the stars.

Cheers!