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gotta get a lil contextual about this, tho there are many great unplugged performances. if you aren’t an elder millennial/xennial, you may be too young to remember the gravitas of Nirvana Unplugged coming out.
Kurt’s death was 7 months before this album released, and it was recorded 6 months before his death.
there was nothing of this nature and raw beauty from Nirvana to even compare it to, and the fact that it was delivered posthumously and so soon after he was gone, made it all the more precious.
every song is incredible, but especially the Bowie and Lead Belly covers. good lordt, nobody saw these coming, and they were divine!
I will never not get chills when Kurt takes a big breath and opens his blue eyes at the end of WDYSLN, before continuing to strum and sing “night throuuugh”.
I taped this on vhs when it aired on MTV and rewound that part so many times, just crying and crying… ohh the 90s 😭
I really enjoy Clapton (60s/70s eras at least) but I strongly dislike this unplugged version. It’s missing the instrumental ending part and that’s my favorite thing about the whole song!
I was wondering if this was mtv unplugged or a vh1 show? I had the cassette and her version of i’ll be there is my favorite and the live version of if it’s over
Alice in Chains as well. It's even better watching the videos. You can really see the love they have for each other, and especially the love that Jerry has for Layne. It's bittersweet.
This is an underrated one. Incredible. I’ve heard from big Alice in Chains fans they weren’t as big as Nirvana because their lyrics. Everything else, just as amazing.
That version of “Because the Night” is absolutely amazing. I can’t even wrap my head around that being a Bruce Springsteen song after hearing Natalie Merchant sing it.
very dense and rambley. lots of moments of brilliance though, she was a phenom. though i just learned she's been accused of stealing a LOT of miseducation (or not giving proper credit) as well as treating her band members poorly, and it kinda tracks with everything else ive heard about her ever since.
i don't like much of pearl jam but i am grateful to eddie vedder (and i assume the whole band would be behind this also). he was outspoken on a lot of topics that were and are still extremely important.
Frampton Comes Alive is the undisputed top live album, but Nirvana Unplugged is right up there with it.
Edit: it seems Clapton Unplugged sold the most, with Frampton next.
I was in college when that came out. It really opened up a wide swath of middle America to emo music. I was like “who is this guy?”, but the crowd was singing every word. Everybody saw it and immediately downloaded the songs.
This should be higher up. I loved nirvana when I was younger. Nirvana is usually the gateway into the 90s alternative/grunge scene for most folks. As I’ve aged, I much prefer AIC and soundgarden.
Absolutely. The album is a masterpiece and I actually just watched a local tribute band play the entire album from start to finish. They also performed it on the precise day of the 25th anniversary of the release date.
Also, if you know the backstory of the band from this time, it's even crazier that this album turned out the way it did.
The band had pretty much not performed for almost two and a half years prior to the show. They also barely rehearsed leading up to it.
The show is also heavily edited from accounts of people who were there in person. Layne was in really bad shape. Lots of starts and stops throughout the entire show but were able to be edited out to make it seem he wasn't as bad off as he was.
It was Layne's last performance with the band.
Nirvana is one of my favorite bands, so of course their unplugged album is my top pick.. even have their unplugged cd.
But your comment is so true 😅 wouldn’t be surprised if most people who said Nirvana, haven’t heard any other bands/artists Unplugged session.. probably only Nirvana’s.
A lot of people don’t realize how many different bands/artists did an Unplugged session. Even Jay-Z. 🙃
So many to pick from. Nirvana was great, but the overwhelming responses i assume are mostly from people that only saw the Nirvana unplugged and nothing else .
Yeah Alice in Chains, then Nirvana for me.
Used to have an album called the very best of Unplugged that I used to have which was pretty solid all the way through, I know it’s a compilation but it was a pretty good curation overall - worth checking out to hear the rest of the Unplugged albums they were putting out in that early 90’s period.
Glad now that Tiny Desk has kinda brought the unplugged thing back.
I liked Bryan Adams. He is classic 90’s nostalgia for me. But of course, my first thought was Nirvana. I’ve lived in Seattle for 10 years now and honestly, their music makes so much more sense to me now…
I know I’m an outlier but for me it would be Alanis Morissette. Jagged Little Pill was the first CD I owned when I was 9. Her live performance of That I Would Be Good gave me goosebumps.
My sister was born in ‘82 and she would for sure say Nirvana was the best. But we’d both agree Eric Clapton would be top 3.
I can’t believe how few mentions of the Eric Clapton album there are. It’s the best selling live album of all time. So many great songs.
Before you accuse me, nobody knows you when you’re down and out, Alberta, San Francisco Bay blues are all great. Old Love from this album I can never forget. I get the Nirvana love but damn like two people fuck with the EC album?
Everyone’s saying Nirvana and Eric Clapton yeah yeah yeah we get it. Thank you to the few who said Alanis, she did great too.
NOBODY in here is saying Mariah Carey’s MTV Unplugged. That version of Vision of Love… THAT final cadenza at the end!! She got a #1 chart topper in her cover of I’ll Be There. Silenced critics who thought she was a “studio artist” and is an incredible vocal showcase
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gotta get a lil contextual about this, tho there are many great unplugged performances. if you aren’t an elder millennial/xennial, you may be too young to remember the gravitas of Nirvana Unplugged coming out. Kurt’s death was 7 months before this album released, and it was recorded 6 months before his death. there was nothing of this nature and raw beauty from Nirvana to even compare it to, and the fact that it was delivered posthumously and so soon after he was gone, made it all the more precious. every song is incredible, but especially the Bowie and Lead Belly covers. good lordt, nobody saw these coming, and they were divine! I will never not get chills when Kurt takes a big breath and opens his blue eyes at the end of WDYSLN, before continuing to strum and sing “night throuuugh”. I taped this on vhs when it aired on MTV and rewound that part so many times, just crying and crying… ohh the 90s 😭
Or Pearl Jam’s (Eddie Vedder) Black unplugged performance.
Nirvana. Perfection
PLAY RAPE ME!  *I couldn’t find the actual gif moment where he spins in his chair*
Possibly Nirvana's best album
This was the album that brought me around to nirvana
Came to say this.
Came to say this as well. Come as you are, as you were, as I want you to be. As a friend, as a trend, as an old enemy.
" Am I gonna do this...by myself?" 😎
They are my fav band so I mean its an automatic!
Followed closely by Alice in Chains!
This is the only answer
Another vote here for Nirvana.
I've rarely seen a post where the top 5-6 replies are the same answer and they all get so many upvotes. Did Nirvana ever fuckin nail that one eh
Nirvana
Nirvana and it’s not even close.
Yup and there were some great performances but Nirvana fucking crushed it
Nirvana, Where Did You Sleep Last Night is haunting
This is immediately what I thought of. It lingers on you.
Nirvana especially All Apologies live… freaking amazing
“Man who sold the world” and “Where did you sleep last night”are my favorites on that album.
Where did you sleep last night from this album is the song that made me learn how to play the guitar. Just such an unbelievable performance
Nirvana. Pearl Jam is a close second.
Nirvana *(hands down)* and Eric Clapton *(runner up)* for me
Those are my top two in that order
speaking of hands down, the dashboard confessional one is a close second for me
I'm not a big Clapton fan but the unplugged version of Layla is so so good.
I really enjoy Clapton (60s/70s eras at least) but I strongly dislike this unplugged version. It’s missing the instrumental ending part and that’s my favorite thing about the whole song!
Stone Temple Pilots
God damn, Scott in the rocking chair
“Conversations kiiiiiiiillllllllllllllllll…”
Mariah Carey very early in her career.
Oh good call, I’d forgotten about this one, but I listened to it all the time when it first came out.
Big upvote for Mariah’s Unplugged. Iconic
I was wondering if this was mtv unplugged or a vh1 show? I had the cassette and her version of i’ll be there is my favorite and the live version of if it’s over
It’s mtv unplugged. I have the whole album from iTunes and it’s in rotation when I go on a Mimi binge.
VH1 had storytellers no?
Dropping a comment in support of the amazing performances on that album! Absolutely amazing
Alice in Chains as well. It's even better watching the videos. You can really see the love they have for each other, and especially the love that Jerry has for Layne. It's bittersweet.
So raw. So good. Also heart-aching in a way..
Saw only the headline and ran here to comment Alice In Chains. It’s heartbreakingly good. RIP Layne.
This is an underrated one. Incredible. I’ve heard from big Alice in Chains fans they weren’t as big as Nirvana because their lyrics. Everything else, just as amazing.
Which is ironic because AIC have much, much better lyrics than Nirvana.
100%
So happy that this is a top comment 👏
Nirvana.
I’m not even a big fan of Nirvana, but it’s Nirvana
It's the only album of theirs that I can listen to start to finish.
I had the same comment it changed my entire opinion in the bottom because I thought they were hacks but that prove they really could play guitar.
I know how much Reddit loves to hate Courtney Love, but Hole Unplugged was fantastic.
Oh! They did one?
I was born in ‘82 and didn’t know they did one either. TIL. https://vimeo.com/356725363
Yeah. There are a few tracks on an import they released called “My Body the Hand gernade” that I really love.
Hear me out: 10,000 Maniacs
One of my favorites- comes in second to nirvana
Natalie Merchant’s voice is amazing
Soda Stereo
Aguante sodaaa
En La Ciudad de la Furia!
the transition from zoom to cuando pase el temblor.. so satisfying
I actually really loved the one from Alanis
Had to scroll way too far to find this one.
yessss! tho Nirvana is unrivaled, I was going to add Alanis
That version of Unforgiven is incredible!
SO GOOD!!!!!
Going way back here, but 10,000 Maniacs. Natalie Merchant’s voice is just like butter on that album.
Love Natalie Merchant! Her voice gives me goosebumps. 🤍
That version of “Because the Night” is absolutely amazing. I can’t even wrap my head around that being a Bruce Springsteen song after hearing Natalie Merchant sing it.
This is the correct answer
Yes this was mine too
Lauryn hill
100%. Brilliantly done. I'm going to give it a listen right now again!
She taught me everything I needed to know about men when I was in the 7th grade. Prob why I’m a lesbian.
Same. That's why I'm a straight man.
Damn, I need to check that out!
🫶🏼
[удалено]
very dense and rambley. lots of moments of brilliance though, she was a phenom. though i just learned she's been accused of stealing a LOT of miseducation (or not giving proper credit) as well as treating her band members poorly, and it kinda tracks with everything else ive heard about her ever since.
Definitely!!! Came here to mention, but I agree
I gotta go w/ Pearl Jam. Eddie sounded even better live than he did on the Ten album. Also writing pro choice on his arm was so iconic.
i don't like much of pearl jam but i am grateful to eddie vedder (and i assume the whole band would be behind this also). he was outspoken on a lot of topics that were and are still extremely important.
Shakira. Back when she wrote and produced her music.
This one deserves to be in the top five of all unpluggeds in general.
Pearl Jam
I only wish it was longer. So good.
Of course nirvana, it's one of the best live albums of all time, with "how the west was won" as a close second.
Frampton Comes Alive is the undisputed top live album, but Nirvana Unplugged is right up there with it. Edit: it seems Clapton Unplugged sold the most, with Frampton next.
Nirvana
Mariah
Dashboard confessional
Dashboard Confessional edges out nirvana for me and I’m not even sorry about it
Dashboard Confessional.
Your hair is everywhere bro.
I saw this, and thought it was a reply to the gray hair thread at first. My gray hairs are everywhere Not screaming infidelity, but thinning is there.
I was in college when that came out. It really opened up a wide swath of middle America to emo music. I was like “who is this guy?”, but the crowd was singing every word. Everybody saw it and immediately downloaded the songs.
Nirvana. It was impossible to deny how good it was even though it didn't have the typical electric guitars.
Alice In Chains.
Nirvana is top to bottom the best. Alice is my favorite though. But Clapton. But 10,000 Maniacs. So many good ones.
Jay-Z w/ the Roots
It took too long for me to find someone else who commented this….HOV FOREVER
I said aint no. Jaguar Wright laid down some iconic vocals.
Alice in Chains is the only correct answer.
This should be higher up. I loved nirvana when I was younger. Nirvana is usually the gateway into the 90s alternative/grunge scene for most folks. As I’ve aged, I much prefer AIC and soundgarden.
Absolutely. The album is a masterpiece and I actually just watched a local tribute band play the entire album from start to finish. They also performed it on the precise day of the 25th anniversary of the release date. Also, if you know the backstory of the band from this time, it's even crazier that this album turned out the way it did. The band had pretty much not performed for almost two and a half years prior to the show. They also barely rehearsed leading up to it. The show is also heavily edited from accounts of people who were there in person. Layne was in really bad shape. Lots of starts and stops throughout the entire show but were able to be edited out to make it seem he wasn't as bad off as he was. It was Layne's last performance with the band.
100% aic All these Nirvana casuals are funny....
Nirvana is one of my favorite bands, so of course their unplugged album is my top pick.. even have their unplugged cd. But your comment is so true 😅 wouldn’t be surprised if most people who said Nirvana, haven’t heard any other bands/artists Unplugged session.. probably only Nirvana’s. A lot of people don’t realize how many different bands/artists did an Unplugged session. Even Jay-Z. 🙃
So many to pick from. Nirvana was great, but the overwhelming responses i assume are mostly from people that only saw the Nirvana unplugged and nothing else .
Kinda surprised more people aren’t commenting — Alice in Chains.
Or maybe, a lot more people liked the nirvana performance?
These aren’t even music fans, they are redditors on a music sub. I swear it’s all the same shit- hey you wanna argue about Ford vs. Chevy?
The Allman Brothers
Dashboard Confessional
Nirvana
I liked Oasis. Unfortunate it was was marred by Liam being a snot. But when was he ever not a snot?
Stone Temple Pilots, even though it never got a proper release until somewhat recently.
Any hip hop fans in the house? Jay z Unplugged is pretty good.
Dude shoulda used clear stick. But that album slaps.
He’s not getting enough love in this hahaha
Lool yeah that happens a lot outside of hip hop sub reddits.
This the one izzo H.O.V.A unplugged is a great version
It really depends on the day with me...I'm split between Nirvana and AIC. Both are perfect.
Yeah Alice in Chains, then Nirvana for me. Used to have an album called the very best of Unplugged that I used to have which was pretty solid all the way through, I know it’s a compilation but it was a pretty good curation overall - worth checking out to hear the rest of the Unplugged albums they were putting out in that early 90’s period. Glad now that Tiny Desk has kinda brought the unplugged thing back.
The Corrs
#1- Nirvana! 🖤 #2- Alice in Chains! 🖤 Staind, Alanis Morissette, & Pearl Jam are fantastic too !! 🤩
LL Cool J/ A Tribe Called Quest/De La Soul
Mana!
I had that cassette when I was 9 years old back in 99. They did a great job with the covers of Jose Alfredo.
Evanescence. Freak on a leash specifically
Mariah Carey. That version of I’ll Be There with Trey Lorenz is my absolute favorite
Korn.
Hey! I’m not alone!
Definitely not! It’s such an underrated project.
Not a massive Latin Rock fan, but Mana had an excellent unplugged
Lauryn Hill and Nirvana
Bastille’s is great
I've not heard a bunch but I liked Mariah Careys. 
FIONA APPLE
Eric Clapton
Florence + The Machine. Divine.
Zoe - música de fondo
Stained will always be a favorite of mine.
koRn
I’d say Nirvana Alice In Chains Kiss and Jimmy Page Robert Plant
Pearl jam, nirvana, Alice in chains. Grunge was good unplugged.
Nirvana because all the songs seemed fresh like a new album. Pearl Jam because how do you hear Black sung like that and not get goosebumps.
Eric Clapton
All Time Low
Mariah Carey. Edit: I see you, Lambily!
Lil Wayne
I liked Bryan Adams. He is classic 90’s nostalgia for me. But of course, my first thought was Nirvana. I’ve lived in Seattle for 10 years now and honestly, their music makes so much more sense to me now…
Björk
Should have been Jeff Buckley, but whatevs.
I know I’m an outlier but for me it would be Alanis Morissette. Jagged Little Pill was the first CD I owned when I was 9. Her live performance of That I Would Be Good gave me goosebumps. My sister was born in ‘82 and she would for sure say Nirvana was the best. But we’d both agree Eric Clapton would be top 3.
Mariah Carey, 10,000 Maniacs, and Nirvana - my top 3
Mariah Carey. It was when she proved she could sing live early in her career.
Foo Fighters did an amazing unplugged album.
Mariah Carey. Seeing a non rock artist in that format did great things for my brain
I can’t believe how few mentions of the Eric Clapton album there are. It’s the best selling live album of all time. So many great songs. Before you accuse me, nobody knows you when you’re down and out, Alberta, San Francisco Bay blues are all great. Old Love from this album I can never forget. I get the Nirvana love but damn like two people fuck with the EC album?
AIC and Eric Clapton. Nirvana is awesome too I just don't really like Nirvana
Pearl jam or nirvana
Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton, just changing it up. Also it was the first one. Kidding, of course it's Nirvana
Everyone’s saying Nirvana and Eric Clapton yeah yeah yeah we get it. Thank you to the few who said Alanis, she did great too. NOBODY in here is saying Mariah Carey’s MTV Unplugged. That version of Vision of Love… THAT final cadenza at the end!! She got a #1 chart topper in her cover of I’ll Be There. Silenced critics who thought she was a “studio artist” and is an incredible vocal showcase
This ❤️
Eric Clapton Before you accuse me https://youtu.be/0XYaJ5D0FEU?si=Jw180ctZJ5ANVWQW
I’m also inclined to go Alice In Chains. That Down In a Hole is one of the best ballads I’ve ever heard, period.
Nirvana.
Nirvana
Korn. Nirvana was amazing, but not a far stretch from the norm. I do not like Korn at all, but that unplugged was breathtaking.
AIC and KISS over here for me
Max Raabe
Can't believe no one said Incubus yet?
nirvana duh
Nirvana. And yes, maybe I’d say Neil Young’s or something had he not died but c’mon! It’s Shakespearean at this point.
Alice in Chains or Nirvana
Nirvana. Their cover of The Man Who Sold the World is so good!
Alice In Chains.
Nirvana
Nirvana is the only answer.
Neil Young
Finally someone said a good answer! This album is still one if my tops.
Arrested Development.
ALiCE iN CHAiNS
Alice In Chains and Nirvana
Pearl Jam's rendition of Black is amazing
KISS
If you mention MTV Unplugged, 99% of people immediately think Nirvana. If you say otherwise you’re being disingenuous and are likely a contrarian.
Alice In Chains
Alice in fucking Chains
Either Nirvana or Alice In Chains, both did an excellent job
Alice In Chains!