In Concert/MTV Plugged

In Concert/MTV Plugged is a 1992 concert video and 1993 live album by Bruce Springsteen.

It is part of MTV's Unplugged series, recorded on September 22, 1992 at the Warner Hollywood Studios in Los Angeles during the midst of Springsteen's "Other Band" Tour.

Bruce Springsteen famously played one song, the previously unreleased "Red Headed Woman", solo on acoustic guitar, then he and the "Other Band" (this was during the time the E Street Band was dissolved) used amplified instruments the rest of the show; hence, the concert was called MTV Plugged (sometimes written XXPlugged after the album cover art). Reportedly Springsteen had been unhappy with the touring band's rehearsals of acoustic arrangements, and this is what led him to break the Unplugged format.

Album

The album had a lukewarm reception; Entertainment Weekly would later refer to "In Concert/MTV Plugged, which, with E Street ringers focusing on Bruce's 'solo' material ... well, we won't go there."^[1]

The album was not immediately released in the United States, and when it was released in 1997, it reached number 189 on the album charts — which remains the worst such position of any album in his entire career — failing to achieve gold record status. This may be largely due to its being his only album with a delayed American release. It was more popular in the United Kingdom, where it reached number 4 on the album charts.

Track listing

All songs written by Bruce Springsteen

1. "Red Headed Woman"
2. "Better Days"
3. "Atlantic City"
4. "Darkness on the Edge of Town"
5. "Man's Job"
6. "Human Touch"
7. "Lucky Town"
8. "I Wish I Were Blind"
9. "Thunder Road"
10. "Light of Day"
11. "If I Should Fall Behind"
12. "Living Proof"
13. "My Beautiful Reward"

Video

A VHS release of the show preceded any audio release, coming on December 15, 1992 and running 120 minutes. More songs were present here than on the later audio incarnation and on what actually aired on MTV.

On November 9, 2004, a DVD reissuing of this performance was made.

Selection listing

1. "Red Headed Woman"
2. "Better Days"
3. "Local Hero"
4. "Atlantic City"
5. "Darkness on the Edge of Town"
6. "Man's Job"
7. "Growin' Up"
8. "Human Touch"
9. "Lucky Town"
10. "I Wish I Were Blind"
11. "Thunder Road"
12. "Light of Day"
13. "The Big Muddy"
14. "57 Channels (and Nothin' On)"
15. "My Beautiful Reward"
16. "Glory Days"

Bonus songs not included in the MTV show:

1. "Living Proof"
2. "If I Should Fall Behind"
3. "Roll of the Dice"

The "Other Band"

• Bruce Springsteen – lead vocals, guitar & harmonica
• Zachary Alford – drums
• Roy Bittan – keyboards
• Shane Fontayne – guitar
• Tommy Sims – bass
• Crystal Taliefero – guitar, percussion & background vocals
• Gia Ciambotti – background vocals
• Carol Dennis – background vocals
• Cleopatra Kennedy – background vocals
• Bobby King – background vocals
• Angel Rogers – background vocals
• Patti Scialfa – guitar & harmony vocals on "Human Touch"

References

1. ^ Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band: Live in New York City | Music Review | Entertainment Weekly