Eric Clapton - Unplugged

You could argue that MTV unplugged is the most influential music TV show of all time.  They didn’t invent bands playing acoustically, but they certainly brought it to a wide audience.  Even today bands will regularly take a break in their concert to do a mini acoustic set. 

By some measures this is the biggest selling live album of all time.  I know the usual subjects are Frampton Comes Alive or Kiss Alive, but this was recorded in front of an audience – albeit a small one – so I think it counts. 

Two songs stand out.  You can’t help but be moved by Tears in Heaven.  Written for the death of his son, it’s the perfect expression of music helping you start to heal in your moment of grief.  

And then there’s Layla.  Written for Patti Boyd (who also had The Beatles Something written for her), it has a killer guitar riff and an urgency to it.  Unfortunately, here it lacks power.  I guess, at his best, Eric Clapton wore his blues influence on his sleave and married that with rock songs.  Layla is a great song.  But it needs that soaring riff and driving rhythm section.  By presenting this song in an acoustic format, it loses all that made it great