On 5 February, we look back on one of Rod Stewart's best albums of his career. On this very day in February 1993, the concert of the same name took place at Universal Studios in Los Angeles as part of the MTV Unplugged series. The accompanying album was released a few months later, in May 1993.
Unplugged... and seated is only the Brit's second live album to date - after the longplayer Absolutely Live from 1981. From the point of view of many long-standing fans, this is clearly not enough, especially as Sir Rod is still one of the best live artists of all time.
Unplugged .... and seated includes the Stewart hits Hot Legs, Tonight's The Night, Reason To Believe and Maggie May. However, Stewart's Have I Told You Lately probably attracted the most attention. The unplugged version of the Van Morrison track, which had already appeared on the 1991 album Vagabond Heart, was released as a single and reached number five in the charts in the USA and the UK. The emotional moment in which Rod performed this song live also moved the fans - a few tears actually ran down the rock musician's cheeks as he brought HITYL to an emotional close. Stewart himself later commented: ‘Actually, I don't know how it happened. I mean, I love my wife and my child with all my heart, but, God, I didn't expect that. It was very out of character for me; normally it's football matches that bring tears to my eyes. But it was a pretty magical moment, wasn't it?' It was indeed.
In addition to Have I Told You Lately, Reason To Believe, Havion' a Party and People Get Ready were also released as singles. Alongside Have I Told You Lately, Havin' A Party (still a firm favourite at Rod Stewart concerts today) had the greatest success.
Unplugged ... and seated was recorded in 1993 in front of a few hundred happy concertgoers. Sir Rod was joined by his best mate Ronnie Wood, and both were accompanied by Stewart's band and several guest musicians. The concert, which lasted just under 70 minutes, was first broadcast by the music channel MTV on 5 May 1993. The album was released shortly afterwards, on 24 May, and reached number two in the charts in the USA and the UK. In Australia (4), Austria (7) and Sweden (8), Rod Stewarts reached the top ten, while in Germany the live recording reached number 15.
A special edition of the album was then released in 2009. In addition to two bonus songs (Gasoline Alley and Forever Young), this also included a DVD with the recording of the concert and a total of 13 songs.
The German radio station SWR1 described Unplugged... and seated on its 30th anniversary in 2023 as ‘one of the best unplugged albums that has ever existed and that will ever exist’. The broadcaster also pointed out at the time that it is a ‘special kind of homage to be allowed to make an MTV Unplugged. Only a few artists have been given this special honour'.
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