Unplugged (The Official Bootleg)

Infobox Album | Name = Unplugged (The Official Bootleg)
Type = Live Album
Artist = Paul McCartney


Released = 20 May 1991
Recorded = 25 January 1991
Genre = Rock
Length = 58:29
Label =
Producer = n/a
Recorded by Geoff Emerick
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:3jd4vwbva9ik link]
Last album = ""
(1990)
This album = "Unplugged (The Official Bootleg)"
(1991)
Next album = "Paul McCartney's Liverpool Oratorio"
(Paul McCartney and Carl Davis)
(1991) |

Unplugged (The Official Bootleg) is a live unplugged performance by Paul McCartney, recorded and released in 1991. Following the enormity of his world tour recently captured on "Tripping the Live Fantastic", McCartney relished the opportunity to strip back his songs and appear on the newly-launched acoustic-only show. Consequently, McCartney was among the first in a long line of artists to release an unplugged album.

Using the same line-up that recently backed him (save for Blair Cunningham who replaced Chris Whitten on drums more late), McCartney used the opportunity to dust off some of his more rare tracks, including three from his 1970 debut album "McCartney", alongside some obscure covers amid a helping of familiar Beatles hits.

With McCartney in a loose and carefree context, critical response to "Unplugged (The Official Bootleg)" was very warm.

Initially released in a limited edition run in 1991, "Unplugged (The Official Bootleg)" - with artwork that recalls "CHOBA B CCCP"'s - was reissued in a more permanent fashion in the late 1990s. Upon its original issue, it reached #7 in the UK and became McCartney's highest peaking US album in almost ten years, reaching #14.

This recording was actually one of the first in the famed "MTV Unplugged" series.Several tracks performed in the show were not included on the album, as follows: "Things We Said Today", "Midnight Special", "Matchbox", "Mean Woman Blues" and "The Fool".Among numbers rehearsed by the band but not performed at all, include: "Mother Nature's Son", "Figure Of Eight", "Cut Across Shorty" and "Heartbreak Hotel".

Track listing

All songs by Paul McCartney, except where noted.

#"Be-Bop-A-Lula" (Gene Vincent/Davis) – 4:04
#"I Lost My Little Girl" – 1:45
#* "The first song McCartney composed at the age of 14"
#"Here, There and Everywhere" (John Lennon/Paul McCartney) – 3:16
#* "The first time McCartney performed this song live"
#"Blue Moon of Kentucky" (Bill Monroe) – 4:21
#"We Can Work It Out" (John Lennon/Paul McCartney) – 2:48
#"San Francisco Bay Blues" (Jesse Fuller) – 3:29
#"I've Just Seen a Face" (John Lennon/Paul McCartney) – 3:01
#"Every Night" – 3:24
#"She's a Woman" (John Lennon/Paul McCartney) – 3:39
#"Hi-Heel Sneakers" (Robert Higgenbotham) – 4:08
#"And I Love Her" (John Lennon/Paul McCartney) – 4:17
#* "The first time McCartney performed this song live"
#"That Would Be Something" – 4:02
#* "The first time McCartney performed this song live"
#"Blackbird" (John Lennon/Paul McCartney) – 2:09
#"Ain't No Sunshine" (Bill Withers) – 4:05
#* "It features McCartney on drums - the first time ever on a Wings or solo show"
#"Good Rockin' Tonight" (Roy Brown) – 3:42
#"Singing the Blues" (Melvin Endsley) – 3:46
#"Junk" – 2:26
#* "The first time McCartney performed this song live"

Personnel

#Paul McCartney: Acoustic guitar, drums, vocals.
#Linda McCartney: Piano, Indian harmonium, percussion, vocals.
#Hamish Stuart: Acoustic bass guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals.
#Robbie McIntosh: Acoustic guitars, piano, dobro, vocals.
#Paul "Wix" Wickens: Piano, keyboards, accordion, percussion, acoustic bass guitar, vocals.
#Blair Cunningham: Drums and percussion.