Timeline Albums, EPs & singles Songs Films Concerts Sessions People Interviews Articles

UK Release date : Monday, May 20, 1991

Unplugged (The Official Bootleg)

By Paul McCartneyOfficial live • Part of the collection “Paul McCartney • Live albums

Last updated on April 3, 2021


Details

  • UK release date: May 20, 1991
  • US release date: Jun 04, 1991
  • Publisher: EMI/MPL/Parlophone
  • Reference: 79641 32

Timeline

Master album

Related albums

Track list

Hide track details

Disc 1

  1. Be Bop A Lula

    Written by Gene Vincent, Donald Graves, Bill Davis

    4:05 • LiveL1

    Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Producer, Vocals Linda McCartney : Percussion Robbie McIntosh : Acoustic guitar Hamish Stuart : Acoustic bass Paul Wickens : Piano Blair Cunningham : Drums Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Eddie Klein : Assistant engineer Gary Stewart : Assistant engineer Peter Craigie : Assistant engineer Gary Bradshaw : Monitor engineer

    Concert From "MTV Unplugged" in Wembley, United Kingdom on Jan 25, 1991

  2. I Lost My Little Girl

    Written by Paul McCartney

    1:46 • LiveL1

    Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Producer, Vocals Linda McCartney : Backing vocals Robbie McIntosh : Acoustic guitar Hamish Stuart : Acoustic bass, Backing vocals Paul Wickens : Shaker Blair Cunningham : Drums Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Eddie Klein : Assistant engineer Gary Stewart : Assistant engineer Peter Craigie : Assistant engineer Gary Bradshaw : Monitor engineer

    Concert From "MTV Unplugged" in Wembley, United Kingdom on Jan 25, 1991

    Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon

  3. Here There And Everywhere

    Written by Lennon - McCartney

    3:16 • LiveL1

    Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Producer, Vocals Linda McCartney : Harmonium Robbie McIntosh : Acoustic guitar Hamish Stuart : Acoustic bass, Vocal harmonies Paul Wickens : Accordion Blair Cunningham : Drums Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Eddie Klein : Assistant engineer Gary Stewart : Assistant engineer Peter Craigie : Assistant engineer Gary Bradshaw : Monitor engineer

    Concert From "MTV Unplugged" in Wembley, United Kingdom on Jan 25, 1991

  4. Blue Moon Of Kentucky

    Written by Bill Monroe

    4:22 • LiveL1

    Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Producer, Vocals Robbie McIntosh : Acoustic guitar Hamish Stuart : Acoustic bass Blair Cunningham : Drums Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Eddie Klein : Assistant engineer Gary Stewart : Assistant engineer Peter Craigie : Assistant engineer Gary Bradshaw : Monitor engineer

    Concert From "MTV Unplugged" in Wembley, United Kingdom on Jan 25, 1991

  5. We Can Work It Out

    Written by Lennon - McCartney

    2:48 • LiveL1

    Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Producer, Vocals Linda McCartney : Percussion Robbie McIntosh : Acoustic guitar, Vocal harmonies Hamish Stuart : Acoustic bass Paul Wickens : Accordion Blair Cunningham : Drums Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Eddie Klein : Assistant engineer Gary Stewart : Assistant engineer Peter Craigie : Assistant engineer Gary Bradshaw : Monitor engineer

    Concert From "MTV Unplugged" in Wembley, United Kingdom on Jan 25, 1991

  6. San Francisco Bay Blues

    Written by Jesse Fuller

    3:29 • LiveL1

    Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Producer, Vocals Linda McCartney : Percussion Robbie McIntosh : Acoustic guitar Hamish Stuart : Acoustic bass, Vocal harmonies Paul Wickens : Piano Blair Cunningham : Drums Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Eddie Klein : Assistant engineer Gary Stewart : Assistant engineer Peter Craigie : Assistant engineer Gary Bradshaw : Monitor engineer

    Concert From "MTV Unplugged" in Wembley, United Kingdom on Jan 25, 1991

  7. I've Just Seen A Face

    Written by Lennon - McCartney

    3:01 • LiveL2

    Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Producer, Vocals Robbie McIntosh : Acoustic guitar, Vocal harmonies Hamish Stuart : Acoustic bass, Vocal harmonies Paul Wickens : Shaker Blair Cunningham : Drums Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Eddie Klein : Assistant engineer Gary Stewart : Assistant engineer Peter Craigie : Assistant engineer Gary Bradshaw : Monitor engineer

    Concert From "MTV Unplugged" in Wembley, United Kingdom on Jan 25, 1991

  8. Every Night

    Written by Paul McCartney

    3:25 • LiveL2

    Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Producer, Vocals Robbie McIntosh : Acoustic guitar, Vocal harmonies Hamish Stuart : Acoustic bass, Vocal harmonies Paul Wickens : Piano Blair Cunningham : Drums Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Eddie Klein : Assistant engineer Gary Stewart : Assistant engineer Peter Craigie : Assistant engineer Gary Bradshaw : Monitor engineer

    Concert From "MTV Unplugged" in Wembley, United Kingdom on Jan 25, 1991

  9. She's A Woman

    Written by Lennon - McCartney

    3:41 • LiveL2

    Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Producer, Vocals Robbie McIntosh : Acoustic guitar Hamish Stuart : Acoustic bass Blair Cunningham : Drums Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Eddie Klein : Assistant engineer Gary Stewart : Assistant engineer Peter Craigie : Assistant engineer Gary Bradshaw : Monitor engineer

    Concert From "MTV Unplugged" in Wembley, United Kingdom on Jan 25, 1991

  10. Hi Heel Sneakers

    Written by Tommy Tucker

    4:09 • LiveL1

    Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Producer, Vocals Robbie McIntosh : Acoustic guitar Hamish Stuart : Acoustic bass Blair Cunningham : Drums Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Eddie Klein : Assistant engineer Gary Stewart : Assistant engineer Peter Craigie : Assistant engineer Gary Bradshaw : Monitor engineer

    Concert From "MTV Unplugged" in Wembley, United Kingdom on Jan 25, 1991

  11. And I Love Her

    Written by Lennon - McCartney

    4:17 • LiveL1

    Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Producer, Vocals Linda McCartney : Percussion Robbie McIntosh : Acoustic guitar Hamish Stuart : Acoustic bass, Vocal harmonies Paul Wickens : Piano Blair Cunningham : Drums Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Eddie Klein : Assistant engineer Gary Stewart : Assistant engineer Peter Craigie : Assistant engineer Gary Bradshaw : Monitor engineer

    Concert From "MTV Unplugged" in Wembley, United Kingdom on Jan 25, 1991

  12. That Would Be Something

    Written by Paul McCartney

    4:02 • LiveL1

    Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Producer, Vocals Linda McCartney : Percussion Robbie McIntosh : Acoustic guitar Hamish Stuart : Acoustic bass, Vocal harmonies Paul Wickens : Piano Blair Cunningham : Drums Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Eddie Klein : Assistant engineer Gary Stewart : Assistant engineer Peter Craigie : Assistant engineer Gary Bradshaw : Monitor engineer

    Concert From "MTV Unplugged" in Wembley, United Kingdom on Jan 25, 1991

  13. Blackbird

    Written by Lennon - McCartney

    2:06 • LiveL2

    Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Producer, Vocals Robbie McIntosh : Acoustic guitar Hamish Stuart : Acoustic bass Blair Cunningham : Drums Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Eddie Klein : Assistant engineer Gary Stewart : Assistant engineer Peter Craigie : Assistant engineer Gary Bradshaw : Monitor engineer

    Concert From "MTV Unplugged" in Wembley, United Kingdom on Jan 25, 1991

  14. Ain't No Sunshine

    Written by Bill Withers

    4:09 • LiveL1

    Paul McCartney : Drums Robbie McIntosh : Piano Hamish Stuart : Guitar, Lead vocals Paul Wickens : Acoustic bass Blair Cunningham : Percussion Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Eddie Klein : Assistant engineer Gary Stewart : Assistant engineer Peter Craigie : Assistant engineer Gary Bradshaw : Monitor engineer

    Concert From "MTV Unplugged" in Wembley, United Kingdom on Jan 25, 1991

  15. Good Rockin' Tonight

    Written by Roy Brown

    3:43 • LiveL1

    Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Producer, Vocals Linda McCartney : Shaker Robbie McIntosh : Acoustic guitar Hamish Stuart : Acoustic bass, Vocal harmonies Paul Wickens : Piano Blair Cunningham : Drums Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Eddie Klein : Assistant engineer Gary Stewart : Assistant engineer Peter Craigie : Assistant engineer Gary Bradshaw : Monitor engineer

    Concert From "MTV Unplugged" in Wembley, United Kingdom on Jan 25, 1991

  16. Singing The Blues

    Written by Melvin Endsley

    3:47 • LiveL1

    Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Producer, Vocals Linda McCartney : Shaker Robbie McIntosh : Acoustic guitar Hamish Stuart : Acoustic bass, Vocal harmonies Paul Wickens : Piano Blair Cunningham : Drums Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Eddie Klein : Assistant engineer Gary Stewart : Assistant engineer Peter Craigie : Assistant engineer Gary Bradshaw : Monitor engineer

    Concert From "MTV Unplugged" in Wembley, United Kingdom on Jan 25, 1991

  17. Junk

    Written by Paul McCartney

    2:27 • LiveL1

    Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Producer Linda McCartney : Harmonium Robbie McIntosh : Acoustic guitar Hamish Stuart : Acoustic bass Paul Wickens : Piano Blair Cunningham : Drums Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Eddie Klein : Assistant engineer Gary Stewart : Assistant engineer Peter Craigie : Assistant engineer Gary Bradshaw : Monitor engineer

    Concert From "MTV Unplugged" in Wembley, United Kingdom on Jan 25, 1991


To me, the Unplugged set was the nearest thing I’ve done to a pub gig for a long time. And in my particular case, as I’m not a black blues singer from the ’50s, my stuff tends to have more humour when it gets like that. But I feel more comfortable not being serious. The breakdown at the front of ‘We Can Work It Out’ was hilarious. It’s like something from a blooper tape. The album has that element to it, and I’m really glad we did it.

Paul McCartney, from Club Sandwich 58, Summer 1991

From Wikipedia:

Unplugged (The Official Bootleg) is a live unplugged performance by Paul McCartney, recorded and released in 1991. Following the vastness of his world tour recently captured on Tripping the Live Fantastic, McCartney relished the opportunity to strip back his songs and appear on the newly launched acoustic-only show MTV Unplugged. Consequently, McCartney was the first in a long line of artists to release an unplugged album.

Performance

Unlike other artists who appeared on the acclaimed show with acoustic instruments plugged into amplifiers (producing the sound heard), McCartney’s instruments were 100% unplugged. Microphones were carefully placed close to guitars, pianos, etc. to pick up the sound (this can be seen on the album cover, where a large rectangular microphone is pictured in front of McCartney’s acoustic guitar).

Using the same line-up that had recently backed him (save for Blair Cunningham who had replaced Chris Whitten), McCartney used the opportunity to dust off some of his rarer tracks, including three from his 1970 debut album McCartney, alongside several covers and amid a helping of familiar Beatles hits.

Songs

This recording was one of the first in the famed MTV Unplugged series.

Several tracks performed in the show were not included on the album, as follows: “Things We Said Today“, “Midnight Special“, “Matchbox“, “Mean Woman Blues” and “The Fool“. Numbers rehearsed by the band but not performed at all include: “Mother Nature’s Son“, “Figure of Eight“, “Cut Across Shorty“, “Heartbreak Hotel“, “Heart of the Country“, “She’s My Baby“, and “Mrs Vandebilt”. “Things We Said Today” and “Midnight Special” would see official release two years later in 1993 as B-sides to the “Biker Like An Icon” single.

Release

With McCartney in a loose and carefree context, critical response to Unplugged (The Official Bootleg) was very warm.

Initially released in a limited edition, individually numbered run in 1991, Unplugged (The Official Bootleg)—with artwork that recalls Снова в СССР‘s—was reissued in a more permanent fashion in the late 1990s. Upon its original issue, it reached number 7 in the UK and became McCartney’s highest-peaking US album in almost ten years, reaching number 14. […]

From Club Sandwich 55/56, Winter 1990/91:

I like any excuse to loosen up, and one of the attractions of Unplugged was that it was so loose. A lot of people liked the very informal, intimate atmosphere. I did – in fact, I was a bit surprised at how intimate and how informal it was. It was fairly nerve-wracking, though, not plugging into amps after all those years, using mikes for the guitars. It’s a completely different discipline – if you turn around to look at the drummer, the guitar sound goes.

We may well put some acoustic stuff into the next tour. A lot of people said that their favourite bit of the 1976 Wings tour was when we all sat down for the acoustic set. For Unplugged we stood up, because we had sat down in 1976. Next time, we’ll be hovering above the audience.

To me, the Unplugged set was the nearest thing I’ve done to a pub gig for a long time. And in my particular case, as I’m not a black blues singer from the ’50s, my stuff tends to have more humour when it gets like that. But I feel more comfortable not being serious. The breakdown at the front of ‘We Can Work It Out’ was hilarious. It’s like something from a blooper tape. The album has that element to it, and I’m really glad we did it.

Paul McCartney
From B34632 – Paul McCartney 1991 MTV Unplugged Promotional Poster Artist Proof (UK) – Tracks – An original promotional poster for the Paul McCartney 1991 album ‘Unplugged (The Official Bootleg)’. The album was recorded at Limehouse Studios, Wembley, London on the 25th January 1991. The poster features an image of Paul McCartney which was used on the album artwork along with details of the album and the track listing. It measures 51cm x 76cm (20 inches x 30 inches). The condition is very good plus.
Paul McCartney writing

Talk more talk, chat more chat

Notice any inaccuracies on this page? Have additional insights or ideas for new content? Or just want to share your thoughts? We value your feedback! Please use the form below to get in touch with us.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

2024 • Please note this site is strictly non-commercial. All pictures, videos & quoted texts remain the property of the respective copyright owner, and no implication of ownership by us is intended or should be inferred. Any copyright owner who wants something removed should contact us and we will do so immediately. Alternatively, we would be delighted to provide credits.