Bryan Adams MTV Unplugged CD

Personnel: Bryan Adams (vocals, guitar, dobro, harmonica); Michael Kamen (conductor); Keith Scott (guitar, mandolin, dobro, slide-guitar, background vocals); Davy Spillane (Uilleann pipes, low whistles); Tommy Mandel (accordion, piano, organ); Patrick Leonard (piano, organ); Dave Taylor (bass, background vocals); Mickey Curry (drums, background vocals); Danny Cummings (percussion, background vocals).
Students of the Julliard School of Music: Angella Ahn, Cornelius Dufallo, Ani Gregorian, Ara Gregorian, Lyris Hung, Amy Kauffman, Jennifer Newell, James Tsao (violin); Ed Malave, Tania Halko, Alejandra Mahave (viola); Darrett Adkins, Maria Ahn, Raphael Bell, Nina Lee (cello); Peter Donovan (bass).
Recorded at the Hammerstein Ballroom, New York, New York on September 26, 1997.
If the intentions behind the "unplugged" concept of MTV programs are to cause recording artists to come up with fresh, softer arrangements of their songs and to capture an intimate and unusual concert rapport with a small audience, Bryan Adams' edition of the show gets it half-right. He has certainly re-thought the performances of many of his songs in a non-electrified context, outfitting his backup guitarist and himself with acoustic guitars, dobros, and mandolins; adding Davy Spillane to play flute and even, on the song "When You Love Someone," Uillean pipes; using an orchestra made up of Juilliard students conducted by Michael Kamen on some songs; and performing "18 'til I Die" with a string quartet. He has also presented himself in an informal style, apparently not having bothered to wash his lanky hair lately and appearing in a sweat-soaked green t-shirt throughout. But minus the energy and volume of his rock arrangements, he seems at a loss. Despite the varied instrumentation, the songs come off as very similar, and Adams, who says practically nothing to the audience, performs them listlessly for much of the concert. He finally starts to perk up nine songs in on another new tune, "If Ya Wanna Be Bad -- Ya Gotta Be Good," performed in a Delta blues style, and from then on seems more involved in the show, even turning in the brief novelty "Wanna Be Your Underwear." But Unplugged, taped in September 1997 and top-heavy with songs from the disappointing 1996 album 18 'til I Die, rather than presenting a real career overview, often feels more like a rehearsal than an actual performance before fans. Adams is a lot better when he plugs in. ~ William Ruhlmann
Only two years after delivering his first live set, Bryan Adams returned with his second, MTV Unplugged. Of course, "unplugged" albums were in vogue in the '90s, but it has to be said that Adams arrived a little late in the game, several years after efforts by Eric Clapton and 10,000 Maniacs ruled the charts. Nevertheless, Adams' MTV Unplugged is a strong effort, featuring stripped-down versions of such staples as "Summer of '69," "Cuts Like a Knife," and "Heaven" that prove that he's a resourceful straight-ahead rocker with a knack for a hook. There's also a handful of surprises, like early cuts like "Fits Ya Good" and a few new songs, that keep the record interesting for dedicated fans, but the overall quality of the music makes the record one of his best efforts of the '90s. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
After spending most of the '90s composing songs for soundtracks and writing weepy ballads (sometimes simultaneously), Bryan Adams finally got around to hopping on the Unplugged bandwagon. Joining Adams's long-time back-up band are Madonna collaborator Patrick Leonard and students of the Julliard School Of Music, making this outing pretty robust-sounding for what purports to be a stripped-down affair.
To his credit, Adams finds unique ways of presenting many of his radio staples. Guest Davy Spillane's uillean pipes breathe life into ballads such as "Cuts Like A Knife," "I'm Ready" and "Heaven." Adams picks up the tempo with successful rearrangements that include a countrified reading of "I TEntertainment Weekly (12/19/97, p.78) - "Adams omits a few of his more rocking hits in favor of schmaltz, but mostly he has fun taking chances on his acoustic gig..." - Rating: B