Search - Eric Clapton - Unplugged on DVD

Brandon B. (brando)
Reviewed on 11/24/2008...

One of the best ever unplugged sessions. If you are a music lover this is a one of the best versions of Clapton's work. It is very personal and just a great dvd.

Clapton's True Nature Revealed

J. M. Jacobs | East Helena, MT, USA | 09/21/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What does it mean to be a musician? I love music of many kinds but unfortunately for me I don't understand its structure, and so I can't seem to figure out how to play. I am a person who constantly has a song running through his head, I breathe in time to music, so music is very much a part of me. That's why it's fortunate for all of us who don't play that there are musicians like Eric Clapton.

Ever since this disc was recorded not too long after the death of his son, Clapton has done some work that is "uneven" as the critics would say. It's like the Monty Python Contractual Obligation Album - I did it because I had to. He cranks out a lot of albums so it's natural - given that volume - that some will not be stellar quality.

Not the case here. In these songs, you see Clapton's heart laid bare. There's "Tears in Heaven" - the song dedicated to his son who was killed in a tragic fall from a terrace in a high rise apartment building, an acoustic version of "Layla" that will surprise you with its appeal given the difference from the famous one you're already familiar with, there are several Robert Johnson tunes - from Clapton's idol and major influence, and some other songs that all just blend together like threads in a colorful fabric. Nothing seems out of place: the choice of songs, their sequence, the backup musicians... This overall character gives this DVD a certain listenable quality that makes you drag it out and throw it in fairly often. I can't seem to tire of it.

At the time it came out, I was designing and selling high end Home Theatre and Music systems, and after hearing and seeing this disc at a Custom Electronic Design And Installation (CEDIA) convention, I picked up a copy to use in demonstrations for my clients. Every time I played it, the people stopped kind of "going through the motions" in the demo and were grabbed by what they were hearing ...and seeing.

The whole MTV Unplugged is an intimate series where you're closer to the music (as it's all acoustic) and closer to the musicians, too. Here you get it all - the Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack is clean and tight with a rich undertone throughout. The instruments sound warm. The camera angles and the choice of shots allow you to really feel and appreciate the talent you're witnessing here not only in Eric Clapton but in the carefully chosen musicians for this session. Chuck Lovell on piano is a standout among them. Remember the "Clapton is God" era back in England? Well, Mr. Clapton may not be God exactly but his playing is divine... always.

That's what makes this disc special out of all the others similar to it that you might own. While Clapton is always extraordinary in his technique and in display of his technical skills, on this disc he seems to be most comfortable with the venue, the style of play, the song list, and with his motivation. It's like he's trying to reach us and show us what this kind of music is all about, show us its heart and soul.

Isn't that what a musician is supposed to do?"

Songs are great, video encoding was done so-so

Eddy Poon | 12/02/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I'm a fan of Eric Clapton. The latest "with friend" concert DVD is well done. For this one, it's also a classic but if you own the latest gadgets (DTS, DRC TV, etc), then... probably could wait for a DTS version :)"

Clapton at his Very Best!!

J. M. Jacobs | 08/09/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I love Clapton's music new and old. The soul in this accoustic, beautifully engineered recording is my idea of Clapton at his very best. I would love to see more live performances recorded this way. I owned the CD version of this for many years before the DVD came out. It was a great pleasure to experience the concert as if I was there."