MTV Unplugged (Mariah Carey EP)

Infobox Album
Name = MTV Unplugged EP
Type = ep
Artist = Mariah Carey


Released = June 2 1992 (U.S.)
Recorded = Kaufman Astoria Studios, New York City; March 16 1992
Genre = Pop, R&B
Length = 28:45
Label = Columbia
CK-52758
Producer = Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:fcfyxq85ldje link]
Last album = "Emotions"
(1991)
This album = "MTV Unplugged"
(1992)
Next album = "Music Box"
(1993)
Misc = Singles
Name = MTV Unplugged
Type = ep
single 1 = I'll Be There
single 1 date = May 26, 1992

"MTV Unplugged" is the third album and first live album by American singer Mariah Carey, released in the United States on June 2 1992 (see 1992 in music) by Columbia Records. Like Carey's previous album "Emotions" (1991), it only produced one U.S. number-one single, which was the only new song on the album. It is Carey's first live album, selling approximately 10 million copies worldwide by 1998. [http://www.mariahdaily.com/infozone/magazines/1998/vibe/index.shtml]

History

Finally having conquered her stage fright and tired of critics suggesting she could not actually sing and that her high notes were synthesizer creations in the studio, Carey booked an appearance on the television show "MTV Unplugged". The arrangements of the songs were different from the versions created in the studio, because "MTV Unplugged" involved the use of acoustic instruments only. Carey's whistle register workout on the opening number, "Emotions", brought cheers from the audience and convinced any skeptics that her vocal abilities were real. After the program aired, Carey's cover version of The Jackson 5's "I'll Be There" (1970), performed as a duet with backing singer Trey Lorenz, was released as a single due to high demand and topped the U.S. charts. It is her only #1 out of the 18 she has that isn't written by herself, because it is a cover. The EP yielded a second single, "If It's Over", which was not released in the U.S. and failed in most markets. Carey's appearance on the show gained her respect from many critics, who had previously dismissed her as a studio artist incapable or unwilling to play live. The popularity of her performance also led to promotional activities for the album "Emotions" being cut down.

The entire set list, brief as it was, was subsequently released as an album, which incorporated Carey talking before each song to introduce it. The "MTV Unplugged" EP peaked at number three on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart and remained in the top twenty for fourteen weeks, and on the chart for fifty-seven (making one re-entry).

The RIAA certified "MTV Unplugged" three times platinum in December 1994. As of 2005 it had sold 2.73 million copies in the U.S. according to Nielsen SoundScan [ [http://www.mariahdaily.com/corantofiles/news-archive-1-2006.shtml. U.S. Nielsen SoundScan sales from 1991 to December 2005] ] . By 2005 "MTV Unplugged" had sold approximately six million copies worldwide [ [http://www.mariahjournal.com/infozone/charts/albums/worldwide/index.shtml MariahJournal.com | Infozone ] ] .

The video release "MTV Unplugged Plus 3" also captures this performance. Columbia Legacy re-packaged the EP along with the DVD "MTV Unplugged Plus 3" and released it on September 18, 2007.

Track listing

# "Emotions" – 4:00
# "If It's Over" – 3:47
# "Someday" – 3:56
# "Vision of Love" – 3:36
#

"Make It Happen" – 4:09
# "I'll Be There" duet with Trey Lorenz – 4:42
# "Can't Let Go" – 4:35

Charts

Notes