MTV Unplugged is the first live album by Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette, released by Maverick Records in the United States on November 9, 1999 (see 1999 in music). It comprises songs performed by Morissette on the television program MTV Unplugged. Twelve tracks were included on the album, but Morissette also performed "Baba", "Thank U" (both from 1998's Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie) and "Your House" (the hidden track on 1995's Jagged Little Pill) during the live taping. These were later released as B-sides on the "King of Pain" single release. The first single, "That I Would Be Good", was moderately successful, and two other tracks, "King of Pain" (a cover of the song by The Police) and "You Learn" were released as singles outside North America. As of March 2012, the album has sold 673,000 copies in the U.S.Trust, Gary. "Ask Billboard: What Are the Billboard 200's Longest-Charting Albums Ever?". Billboard. December 24, 2012.
In addition to material from Morissette's first two U.S. albums, MTV Unplugged featured performances of "No Pressure over Cappuccino" and "Princes Familiar", two previously unreleased songs from her tours, and "These R the Thoughts", a previously released b-side. Morissette has stated that "Princes Familiar" in particular is one of her favorite and most vocally challenging songs. She performed it on her 2005 Diamond Wink Tour, where she dedicated it to "all of the dads in the audience." The ballad "No Pressure over Cappuccino", one of the first songs she wrote following the release of Jagged Little Pill, "was inspired by [her] twin brother," Wade."No Pressure Over Cappuccino", performed by Alanis Morissette, Berkeley 1996.
Featuring cleaner vocals, slower arrangements and a few drastic reinventions (particularly in the case of "You Oughta Know"), MTV Unplugged foreshadowed much of Morissette's later, softer work, particularly 2005's Jagged Little Pill Acoustic and the accompanying Diamond Wink Tour.
Track listing
Personnel Alanis Morissette – vocals, guitar, harmonica and flute Nick Lashley – guitar Joel Shearer – guitar Deron Johnson – keyboards, background vocals in "King of Pain" Chris Chaney – bass Gary Novak – drums and percussion Chris Fogel – mixing Brad Dutz – percussion David Campbell – musical arranger and viola Suzie Katayama – cello and string arrangement for "You Oughta Know" Joel Derouin – violin Laura Seaton – violin Erik Friedlander – cello Juliet Haffner – strings contractor
Charts
Weekly charts +Weekly chart performance for MTV UnpluggedChart (1999–2000)PeakpositionAustralian Albums (ARIA) N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.101Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)42European Top 100 Albums (Music & Media)6Portuguese Albums (AFP)1
Year-end charts +1999 year-end chart performance for MTV UnpluggedChart (1999)PositionDutch Albums (Album Top 100)63 +2000 year-end chart performance for MTV UnpluggedChart (2000)PositionBelgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)67Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)25German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)80Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)44
Certifications
References