MTV Unplugged - Bruce Springsteen in Concert

Starring:Bruce Springsteen
Studio: Sony
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Another superb live performance in a career filled with them, MTV Unplugged: Bruce Springsteen in Concert (Plugged) finds the Boss at an interesting point in his life, musically and otherwise. Working without the E Street Band (except keyboardist Roy Bittan) for the time being, having divorced one wife and married another (singer and bandmate Patty Scialfa), Springsteen had released Human Touch and Lucky Town, two "solo" records, about eight months before this November 1992 MTV appearance. Selections from those two underrated albums account for over half of this 114-minute set's 19 songs (including three that weren't part of the original broadcast), and while Bruce is still Bruce ("Human Touch," for instance, is a classic Springsteen song), some changes are definitely apparent. He has always been an impassioned performer, but he seems genuinely energized by the presence of Scialfa (can "Red-Headed Woman" be about anyone but her?) and his young new band, including guitarist Shane Fontayne, drummer Zachary Alford, and no less than five backup singers. These folks rock their butts off, basically, especially on a wild, extended version of "Light of Day"; there's even some experimentation happening, like the various sound effects added to "57 Channels (and Nothin' On)." OK, so there's no "Born in the U.S.A." or "Born to Run"; as far as standards go, you'll have to be satisfied with "Atlantic City," "Glory Days," and an acoustic "Thunder Road" (Live in New York City, another superb DVD, is heavier on the hits). Anyway you slice it, Plugged is another welcome addition to the Springsteen catalog. --Sam Graham

Customer Reviews:

Great concert DVD.......2006-06-14

Amazing surround sound. A fresh twist on Bruce's oldies and new hits. I love this DVD.

amazing concert film--- the boss is king........2006-03-22

This Springsteen concert film makes me very happy, causes some weeping, in fact it is a religious experience all around. He evokes at times the spirit of a religious revival. In particular, I like the "Meet me tonight in Atlantic City" lyrics and music, about unions and fighting for rights. I also like the "Fifty seven channels and nothing's on" theme that goes through more than one song. The Boss Lives!!!

bad James Brown imitation.......2005-10-31

I bought and saw this after seeing the Barcelona and NYC concerts, both which I love. The MTV show is a let down. The band looks skanky, like a bunch of heroin addicts. They gyrate and jump around but look silly, especially in one of the more poingnant songs where two of them are jumping around swinging tambourines like they're trying to kill mosquitoes. The E St band members, Clarence Clemmons, Steve Van Zandt, Nils Larfen (sp?), and Max Weinberg all have charisma, and could front their own bands and carry a show, but they complement the Boss. The band members in the MTV show have zero charisma. Maybe the Boss was trying for a James Brown feel, with a lot of musicians and backup singers on stage, but Brown's band always wears matching, dress clothes, and they don't divert attention from Brown.

GREAT PRODUCT,JUST AS I THOUGHT IT'D BE.......2005-10-08

I WAS GLAD TO ADD -FINALLY -THIS PIECE TO MY OWN "BOSS"COLLECTION.EXCELENT DELIVERY & PAKEGING!THANKS A LOT!WELL DONE EVERYBODY.PEACE!

Can't Compete With an E-Street Show...Or the Other Boss DVDs.......2005-02-05

Saying anything from The Man, Bruce Springsteen, is disapointing automaticly implies "disapointing" is a relative term. What is a dispointing effort from the Boss would generaly be the apex of many-a-lesser artists' careers. Also, Bruce usually has enough high points on even his lesser performances to elevate it above disapointing, no matter what the low points. While "Plugged" is no exception, it is still ultimately a disapointment.

Yes, most of the problem here is the fact that it is, at best, odd watching Bruce try to summon up his legendary energy with a different, lesser band; at worst it feels downright wrong.

Seeing Springsteen along side any other band would, and does, feel somewhat blasphimus, but along side this band, which includes a long-haired guitarist who looks like a Guns N' Roses reject and a lame chorus of doo-wop back-up vocalists, the whole thing feels more like a sin.

I understand artists wants to grow and try new things with new performers, but Springsteen's concerts and albums at this time were not indicative of someone growing. They were a step backwards - or at least in the wrong direction. It may not all be because the E-Street Band was absent, Bruce may have suffered this relative career lull with or without them at his side, but when you look at what was different at the time, what else can one place the blame on?

Now, BEFORE SOMEONE WRITES A REVIEW TRASHING THIS ONE AS NARROW-MINDED - DON'T GET ME WRONG! - keep in mind, when I say "wrong direction," the phrase, again, is relative. Maybe a better way to put it is 'vearing off the path for a moment.' I still have a lot of fondness for many songs from "Human Touch" and "Lucky Town" - I love "Human Touch," "Better Days," "Leap Of Faith," "Big Muddy," and "Lucky Town" - and this DVD has pleasurable moments to be sure ("Red Headed Woman" is a kick and it is the only place you can hear live cuts from the aformentioned albums, including the aformentioned songs), but neither of those albums, or this DVD, can rival anything including the E-Street Band.

This band is not bad. They seem quite good. But they don't fit. Maybe its because we are used to, and want to, see Bruce with E-Street - I'm sure that's a big part of it - but a big part is also the fact that Springsteen just doesn't look like he belongs with them no matter who he has played with before. They look as if they are from two different musical eras (Like seeing Bob Dylan on stage with Outkast - I hope I dind't just give anyone any crazy ideas because I see record execs constantly trying crazy sh*t like this ). They don't look alike, they don't play alike and worst of all, they don't seem comfortable with one another. All the effortless comradere of the E-Street Band is completely missing here and classic, genuine moments with E-Street - like three band members gathering around one mic - couldn't feel more forced and out of place here.

The Unplugged, sorry, "Plugged," setting is also a problem. Bruce is confined to a small stage, working a small room. Never a problem for him at an acoustic show, in fact, some of his sitdown performances with just a guitar or a piano rank with some of his best, but this is a plugged show in an unplugged setting. He can't realy cut loose, but he knows he's suposed to, so we get a Bruce-lite performance; an imitation of the real thing. Again, the effortless energy of other performances is lost in translation and everything else feels forced or tired. What book ends the concert, an acoustic "Red Headed Woman" for an opener and an acoustic "Thunder Road," are the best moments; and go figure since it is just Bruce with a guitar and the audience - the acoustic show that it feels like the whole show should be.

And lastly, none of this sounds as good as when it is performed with E-Street. I love Springsteen live. LOVE HIM! I don't just mean being at the concert, but I love the other two Live DVDs. I have only had Barcelona for a year and I have worn it out in spots. Many times I don't even watch, I just put it on with the surround sound while I'm doing whatever, like a live album (if you are wondering how I can say this while some reviews here imply that this DVD is better, I think they are refering to the audio, to which I say, go see my review of that DVD - I'm still dumbfounded by what some have said about the sound). If you need proof, just put 'em side by side. The chintzy-sounding "Atlantic City" on this DVD, or the thundering, emotionaly-charged version on the New York DVD? "Light Of Day" from New York is a funny and invigorating powerhouse! The version here feels like someone else's pale imitation. Granted, with both tracks, maybe they just aged better as he ironed out these obvious wrinkles over the years.

At any rate, of the DVDs, why get the one that feels like an imiation or a work in progess? Better yet, why get one that doesn't show Bruce in his true element with the best band? Not just his best band, but maybe the best backing band in rock history.

Now, I am a completist fan of Springsteen, so I enjoy having this item just as a collectable. And, again, I like a few of the performances here. I hate to sound too down on it. Think of it this way; I gave the New York and Barcelona DVDs 5-Stars. If I could have given them 15-Stars (or more) I would have. This one I'm giving 3. And that feels just about right.

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