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Unplugged (Eric Clapton album)

by Eric Clapton

Released: August 25, 1992

Acoustic rock, acoustic blues

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Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Breakthrough.

The Album

Eric Clapton performed the Unplugged show on January 16, 1992, in front of a small audience at Bray Film Studios in Windsor, England. The recording session included early takes of "My Father's Eyes" and "Circus Left Town," as well as renditions of "Worried Life Blues" and "Rollin' and Tumblin'." During the recording, Clapton requested multiple takes of certain songs, and after redoing "My Father's Eyes," he spontaneously began playing "Rollin' and Tumblin'," a song he hadn't performed with Cream in years. The crowd responded enthusiastically, and the impromptu performance was captured on tape due to the crew being signaled to record.

Inside the Recording

"Unplugged" is a live album by Eric Clapton, recorded at Bray Studios in England for the MTV Unplugged television series and released in 1992.

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Explore the Album

Eric Clapton - Unplugged (Eric Clapton album)

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Then

Reception

The album features an acoustic version of "Layla" and the 1992 hit single "Tears in Heaven." It won three Grammy Awards at the 35th Annual Grammy Awards in 1993 and became the best-selling live album of all time, as well as Clapton's top-selling album, with 26 million copies sold worldwide. For the performance, Clapton primarily used Martin 000-42 acoustic guitars, one of which was sold at auction in 2004 for $791,500 (£434,400).

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"Unplugged" is a live album by Eric Clapton, recorded at Bray Studios in England for the MTV Unplugged television series and released in 1992. The album features an acoustic version of "Layla" and the 1992 hit single "Tears in Heaven." It won three Grammy Awards at the 35th Annual Grammy Awards in 1993 and became the best-selling live album of all time, as well as Clapton's top-selling album, with 26 million copies sold worldwide.

During the recording, Clapton requested multiple takes of certain songs, and after redoing "My Father's Eyes," he spontaneously began playing "Rollin' and Tumblin'," a song he hadn't performed with Cream in years. The crowd responded enthusiastically, and the impromptu performance was captured on tape due to the crew being signaled to record.

For the performance, Clapton primarily used Martin 000-42 acoustic guitars, one of which was sold at auction in 2004 for $791,500 (£434,400).