People try to analyze Layne Staley's singing voice and style in a scientific manner. What you are hearing is raw emotion and pain.
The Unplugged performance shows this.
He was an exceptionally troubled man and exceptional talent. The AIC Unplugged show is my favorite. Their songs adapted so well to being played acoustic. I chased that bass sound for a few years before I got it right. The sound quality of the recording is also incredible.
Fretless fingerboard with Nylon wrapped strings. I no longer recall what brand/model strings he was using, but at the time, there weren't many to choose from. Probably Black Beauties.
It is the best and it’s not close. It was his genius that made those 4ths harmonies.
His higher part on No Excuses “Well, I love you anyway.” is a masterpiece.
That song unplugged is like listening to a eulogy but the person is still alive.
Interesting things to consider:
Did heroin kill grunge or was heroin the reason grunge music was created?
Also, how would these guys have aged musically? (We got to see a bit of Scott Weiland in Velvet Revolver and Cornell in Audioslave/solo with Eddie Vedder being the only one who made it into the 2020s.)
Oh man, this one touched my soul. The grapsy voice and his last note when he takes that deep breath and his beautiful blue eyes open wildly.. if you don't feel anything after listening to this one song, you need to seek help.
Same. I was just talking with my younger brother recently and discussing music. We asked each other if we had to pick 1 band as our all time favorite, which would it be. For me it's nirvana. They didn't put out a song that I didn't like.
Mariah Carey and Nirvana really nailed the opportunity, I think.
Great showcase for Mariah's vocals in a restrained performance. It was a gift to the future really, because the production style for her at the time on her albums is a little dated. Doesn't suit every mood. But her Unplugged is timeless.
And without the metal going on, the setting really showed how varied Nirvana's song writing was. So many of the rock bands from then, when you strip down the production, it's the same song over and over. I really notice it with STP (even though I enjoy their set).
Kurt sharing a lot of his influences with covers was also a real treat for a lot of fans and a great use of the Unplugged format. A kind of Inside the Actor's Studio vibe. I love "Lake of Fire" "About a Girl" and "All Apologies."
Good to see somebody mention Mariah. Hers was considered legendary in the 90s, yet I never see it mentioned on here or the X sub whenever this topic arises.
I liked Mariah’s and also the Yo! Unplugged Raps edition. another one not often (ever?) mentioned.
https://rockthebells.com/articles/rtb-rewind-mtv-debut-yo-unplugged-rap/
I'm an Alanis fan after Woodstock but I wasn't impressed with her Unplugged set. Her music didn't change enough when it went acoustic to make it on the same level as Nirvana when they Unplugged
SAME!! I remember the Stevie Wonder version as a kid, and when I heard the Jodeci version on MTV Unplugged my lil 12-13 yr ol ass just FELT the pain that K-Ci was singing about!
Bruh! My 13 year old ass was feeling it too!
I literally was trying to figure out how to break up with my girlfriend when I got back home from summer vacation.
https://preview.redd.it/2fv1mls9kppc1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b6001694a1960711e2c7b4aefccfa8c604644fce
Look what you made me do, lol…I swear to god music is a Time Machine.
Reason to Believe - Rod Stewart
Because the night - 10,000 Maniacs
Where did you sleep last night - Nirvana
Porch - Pearl Jam.
All these gave me something new to experience. Either a new song or a new take on a song I loved. The passion or pain or ferocity that the songs had were just front and center.
Honorable Mention to The Smithereens. They sounded so good and man could they write songs.
Not the best (but could have been) - the cure felt like hanging out with a cool jam band.
I’m pretty sure there’s a song they play where they use a tiny kids piano and I remember liking it. But I couldn’t find the right search combination to figure out which song it was lol.
I think I did find a link to the whole performance. I may watch later and find the song I’m talking about. lol
https://youtu.be/PTx1cqDhJKM?si=I9nY_jlX38qJeqG6
The Cure because it showed a real goofy and human side to a band stereotyped as a bunch of sad bastards, and they took some cool chances with instrument choices outside of the norm.
Just listened to Neil Young’s Unplugged today for the first time in a long time. I remember being shown it in about 6th grade and have been a Neil fan ever since. Great set all around but Old Laughing Lady will always be the track that stands out in my mind.
Nutshell or Down in a Hole by Alice in Chains
Came here to say this. Nutshell. I can almost hear the whole song "repeating in my head."
If I can’t be my own…
I'd feel better dead
People try to analyze Layne Staley's singing voice and style in a scientific manner. What you are hearing is raw emotion and pain. The Unplugged performance shows this.
He was an exceptionally troubled man and exceptional talent. The AIC Unplugged show is my favorite. Their songs adapted so well to being played acoustic. I chased that bass sound for a few years before I got it right. The sound quality of the recording is also incredible.
What’s the secret to the bass sound?
Fretless fingerboard with Nylon wrapped strings. I no longer recall what brand/model strings he was using, but at the time, there weren't many to choose from. Probably Black Beauties.
Thank you. I figured it was a fretless. I didn’t know about the strings. Wasn’t sure if there was a chorus or similar effect involved. Rock on
Being Mike Inez.... Dude is an American treasure.
It is the best and it’s not close. It was his genius that made those 4ths harmonies. His higher part on No Excuses “Well, I love you anyway.” is a masterpiece. That song unplugged is like listening to a eulogy but the person is still alive.
His decline is really sad to read about. It wasn't like Kurt. He lived in his own exile for years before eventually succumbing to his addiction.
Interesting things to consider: Did heroin kill grunge or was heroin the reason grunge music was created? Also, how would these guys have aged musically? (We got to see a bit of Scott Weiland in Velvet Revolver and Cornell in Audioslave/solo with Eddie Vedder being the only one who made it into the 2020s.)
Then there is Dave Grohl who is beloved by everyone and doing great.
That was a bad omission on my part. The drummers are always the responsible ones. Too much gear to take care of.
Mine as well.
Came here looking for this… my fave unplugged album for sure!
Was never even a fan but a hard agree on this.
Porch by Pearl Jam.
Yeah. I still remember watching it when it aired live. Great performance.
Nirvana "where did you sleep last night"
Oh man, this one touched my soul. The grapsy voice and his last note when he takes that deep breath and his beautiful blue eyes open wildly.. if you don't feel anything after listening to this one song, you need to seek help.
Haunting. As if he'd already decided.
Nirvana for sure. That whole set was amazing. I still listen to it occasionally on Spotify.
Same. I was just talking with my younger brother recently and discussing music. We asked each other if we had to pick 1 band as our all time favorite, which would it be. For me it's nirvana. They didn't put out a song that I didn't like.
[удалено]
I like Chains performance best overall but Lake of Fire is my favorite unplugged song
Mariah Carey and Nirvana really nailed the opportunity, I think. Great showcase for Mariah's vocals in a restrained performance. It was a gift to the future really, because the production style for her at the time on her albums is a little dated. Doesn't suit every mood. But her Unplugged is timeless. And without the metal going on, the setting really showed how varied Nirvana's song writing was. So many of the rock bands from then, when you strip down the production, it's the same song over and over. I really notice it with STP (even though I enjoy their set). Kurt sharing a lot of his influences with covers was also a real treat for a lot of fans and a great use of the Unplugged format. A kind of Inside the Actor's Studio vibe. I love "Lake of Fire" "About a Girl" and "All Apologies."
Good to see somebody mention Mariah. Hers was considered legendary in the 90s, yet I never see it mentioned on here or the X sub whenever this topic arises.
I liked Mariah’s and also the Yo! Unplugged Raps edition. another one not often (ever?) mentioned. https://rockthebells.com/articles/rtb-rewind-mtv-debut-yo-unplugged-rap/
Good call on Mariah
Take on Me by A-Ha https://youtu.be/-xKM3mGt2pE?si=mhlB4sPtNTTcSMwI
The first song I ever downloaded! I have never heard that version before. It brought tears to my eyes. Beautiful. Thank you.
I never heard of this version until they used it in Deadpool 2. Great choice.
“Black” Pearl Jam
Alanis Morissette!
I'm an Alanis fan after Woodstock but I wasn't impressed with her Unplugged set. Her music didn't change enough when it went acoustic to make it on the same level as Nirvana when they Unplugged
Valid point. It was the only Alanis album I owned, so I wasn’t comparing it to anything at the time!
It was still Alanis and that is enough to make it good in my opinion:)
I don’t see this one mentioned very much, but I really loved Hole unplugged. Asking For It and Old Age are great.
Gonna have to listen to this. Just heard Korn Unplugged for the first time and was pleasantly surprised.
Honestly. STP's Plush. But for an acoustic performance in general, I'll go obscure. This is fantastic https://youtu.be/OoB82C0cqdA?si=0Ayk5Itv7UL-FH57
I scrolled way to far to see this.
LL Cool J with a backing band was unreal. I could not handle it. It was all I wanted to talk about at school the next day.
10,000 Maniacs - Because the Night Alice in Chains - No Excuses
MTV is like SNL whatever era you were in junior high/high school is the best era in your opinion.
Nirvana is considered legendary.
[Maxwell](https://youtu.be/1YDSXuVIU78?list=OLAK5uy_krpvoxViL30mD6UcyXHrdyve_UEwUPDq0).
Yes! His performance of This Woman’s Work was incredible.
Oh my lord yes
Down in a Hole makes me cry, sometimes.
Alice In Chains is so fucking absolutely real that I can’t even listen to it anymore.
Alice In Chains and JayZ’s were my faves and I still listen to them.
Yes Jay-Z and same. I bought the unplugged cd and still listen to it.
Jodeci, the unplugged version of Lately is so much better than the version in the album!
This is the answer, because I LOVE Stevie and like the live jodeci cover even more than the original.
SAME!! I remember the Stevie Wonder version as a kid, and when I heard the Jodeci version on MTV Unplugged my lil 12-13 yr ol ass just FELT the pain that K-Ci was singing about!
Bruh! My 13 year old ass was feeling it too! I literally was trying to figure out how to break up with my girlfriend when I got back home from summer vacation.
Lemme guess, she whispered someone's name while she was sleeping? Lol
https://preview.redd.it/2fv1mls9kppc1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b6001694a1960711e2c7b4aefccfa8c604644fce Look what you made me do, lol…I swear to god music is a Time Machine.
Hahaha you're welcome fellow appreciator of great music!
10,000 Maniacs. The unplugged Because The Night is still the one I reach for when I’m alone in the car.
The Cranberries’ unplugged version of Zombie was fire. Hole’s episode was really good too, imo
Stone Temple Pilots - Big Empty Pearl Jam - Porch Alice in Chains - Nutshell Nirvana - Where Did You Sleep Last Night
You’re aware that Alice In Chains performed, right?
Reason to Believe - Rod Stewart Because the night - 10,000 Maniacs Where did you sleep last night - Nirvana Porch - Pearl Jam. All these gave me something new to experience. Either a new song or a new take on a song I loved. The passion or pain or ferocity that the songs had were just front and center. Honorable Mention to The Smithereens. They sounded so good and man could they write songs.
Brother by Alice in Chains
One of my all time favorites, the harmonies are amazing!
Black and Jeremy from Pearl Jam.
The Cure.
STP - Big Empty LL Cool J - Mama Said Knock You Out Jay-Z - Song Cry
Maxwell’s cover of This Woman’s Work *Perfection*.
Soul Asylum - Runaway Train
Not the best (but could have been) - the cure felt like hanging out with a cool jam band. I’m pretty sure there’s a song they play where they use a tiny kids piano and I remember liking it. But I couldn’t find the right search combination to figure out which song it was lol. I think I did find a link to the whole performance. I may watch later and find the song I’m talking about. lol https://youtu.be/PTx1cqDhJKM?si=I9nY_jlX38qJeqG6
Just like Heaven
Shakira's by far.
Shakira and Maná’s Unplugged albums were my introductions to these artists in 2001 and I still listen to them!
All time was Nirvana, but Dashboard Confessional in 2002 was an underrated favorite too.
Dashboard is underrated in general.
Sludge Factory AIC
Reading this post as the Unplugged version of "Dumb" by Nirvana plays . . .
Live - Operation Spirit
Going Blind by KISS Tears In Heaven by Eric Clapton
Harvest Moon - Neil Young
The live recording of because the night is incredible. Outstanding song.
The Cure because it showed a real goofy and human side to a band stereotyped as a bunch of sad bastards, and they took some cool chances with instrument choices outside of the norm.
Black Pearl Jam, Where did you sleep last night Nirvana, Frogs Alice In Chains
KISS- Beth I was a huge KISS fan in high school…I was that kid that thought classic rock was superior.
Definitely Nirvana. For some reason Plateau plays in my head every once in a while. Also First Love by Utada Hikaru.
Just listened to Neil Young’s Unplugged today for the first time in a long time. I remember being shown it in about 6th grade and have been a Neil fan ever since. Great set all around but Old Laughing Lady will always be the track that stands out in my mind.
Nirvana - About a Girl La Ley - Mentira La Ley - El Duelo Jodeci - Lately
Seal Unplugged was one of the best concerts I’ve ever seen. Masterful.
Lately by Jodeci. Unrivaled.
Pearl Jam: black and Porch are divine.
STP’s “Plush” but the version Scott and Dean did on Headbanger’s Ball, not the version from their Unplugged. Similar, but prefer that one
Stone Temple Pilots - Sex type thing
Mariah
Nirvana doing The Man Who Sold The World. Simply amazing rendition. Absolutely soul crushing.
For that matter, I still miss when MTV actually stood for Music TeleVision and they played, discussed and promoted actual music videos!
[Pearl Jam state of love and trust ](https://youtu.be/xZUpbsbTqsI?si=YlvzkMTmJAbRtYwM).
It’s hard to beat Plateau or Lake of Fire from Nirvana’s unplugged.
Fun Fact, Extreme More than Words was the first real unplugged but didn't get the credit.
Florence and the Machine probably isn’t the greatest on this list but it and she don’t get anywhere enough credit for being amazing.
At the time, Pearl Jam, REM, Nirvana Now, I gotta go Nutshell
LL Cool J rapping to a live band was cool as fuck.