MTV Unplugged Finest Moments

• Cat.no: PLMPB 01211
• Cert: U
• Running time: 85 minutes
• Sides: 2 (CLV)
• Year: 1997
• Pressing: 1998
• Chapters: 18 (9/9)
• Sound: Stereo
• Presented mostly in fullscreen
• Price: £24.99
• Extras : None

Directors:

Producer:

MTV Unplugged: Finest Moments Volumes 1 and 2 brings together 18 tracks from the popular series in which no electronic instruments are used, hence the ‘unplugged’ name.

All throughout the 1990’s many artists have gone down the acoustic road to provide an hour-or-so’s worth of raw music to an appreciative audience, a number of which have been released on video in full in their own right.

This collection contains old stalwarts (Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker), 80’s icons (The Indigo Girls, John Mellencamp, The Cure) as well as those who began during the current decade (Chris Isaak, Seal, Oasis).

There are 18 chapters – one for each artist – and the top-notch track listing is as follows :

Side One

1. Eric Clapton: Before You Accuse Me
2. John Mellencamp: Small Town
3. Stevie Ray Vaughn: Life Without You & Pride And Joy
4. The Allman Brothers Band: Midnight Rider
5. The Indigo Girls: Closer To Fine
6. Joe Cocker: When The Night Comes
7. Chris Isaak: Wicked Game
8. Sheryl Crow: Leaving Las Vegas
9. Seal: Prayer For The Dying

Side Two

10. 10,000 Maniacs: These Are Days
11. The Church: Under The Milky Way
12. Sinead O’Connor: Black Boys On Mopeds
13. Soul Asylum: Black Gold
14. Elvis Costello: Deep Dark Truthful Mirror
15. The Cure: Just Like Heaven
16. Live: Lightning Crashes
17. Roxette: It Must Have Been Love
18. Oasis: Listen Up

The picture quality is this disc’s only main failing. MTV began in America which is where all the content was filmed and as such, the NTSC-to-PAL conversion isn’t always as good as it should be. Sometimes the picture looks fine, while at others it appears too soft.

Unsurprisingly, for a music video, most of the tracks are presented in fullscreen, an exception being Joe Cocker (approx 1.66:1)

The sound is the disc’s highlight, with all the music coming across very well in stereo.

Overall, those who are going to buy this are those who like most of the tracks or artists on it. For me, it’s a case of half-and-half. There are some artists who are doing some of my favourite tracks (Eric Clapton, John Mellencamp, Joe Cocker, Chris Isaak, Soul Asylum), some whose tracks are actually improved here (Seal) and some artists whose music I partially like but I’d rather be hearing other songs of theirs (Elvis Costello, Sinead O’Connor, 10,000 Maniacs, Oasis). There aren’t really any artists though that I’d rush to kick off this disc, but I could replace one or two with other favourites of mine.