Music Television's Unplugged series has been as much a hallmark of an artist's talent as his or her latest musical release.
It sifts the musically challenged like the embarrassingly simple Spice Girls and Milli Vanilli from the musically talented like Eric Clapton and R&B chanteur Maxwell, artists who have gained accolades because of the calibre of their Unplugged performances.
An MTV Unplugged appearance can be a factor in silencing those critics who question the vocal gymnastics often heard on recorded tracks of their favorite artist or create new fans for would-be performers.
What stands between listeners and the artists is the music -- not the glitz and glamour of today's modern musical wizardry like samples and synthesizers.
The Unplugged stage also gives listener the experience of hearing their favorite artists live with their music uncut. It's the next best thing to a concert without the hassle of buying a ticket and the compact is there to play over and over again.
Pair the long MTV Unplugged tradition of making artists with such well-known entertainers as Mariah Carey and Erykah Badu and what you get are tracks which have faired better on the radios than their recording studio counterparts.
Well, R&B power hyphenate producer-songwriter-singer Babyface tackles the acoustic realm of MTV's Unplugged in his latest release simply titled "Babyface: MTV Unplugged-NYC 1997."
Just consider the performance unforgettable and the release a must-buy for fans of Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder, Boyz II Men, Milestone, Whitney Houston and of course, Babyface.
Just like the cuddly purple figure of children's televison, Barney, Babyface hosts this Unplugged performance with the help of his friends which include Clapton, R&B singer Shanice and Stevie Wonder. And to take the analogy further, Babyface sings the tunes which teach about love and its loss.
Clapton joins Babyface for two tracks including his chart-topper "Change the World" and one of two new songs on the compact, "Talk to Me." Babyface, born Kenneth Edmonds, sings the lyrics and Clapton fronts as the guitarist. The two together make beatific music.
Next Babyface croons one of his hits, "Whip Appeal" which explores the mysterious pull a lover has on him.
He sings "And no one does it like me/and no one but you/has the kind of whip appeal on me/keep on working on me, work it on me."
Shanice follows giving an all-out performance of the Babyface written and Toni Braxton sung "Breathe Again."
Relatively short, approximately two minutes, Shanice heartily sings her rendition of the song. A very original interpretation of the Babyface work, the track features Shanice dipping deep to hit notes that should send your pets running.
The song first appeared on Toni Braxton's debut work.
Newcomer Beverly Crowder teams with Babyface to sings Whitney Houston's "Exhale" which was first featured on the now multi-platinum "Waiting to Exhale" movie soundtrack. Crowder begins with a gusty start and ends with a show stopping ending, belting out the shoops of the song's chorus with fervor.
Members of Babyface's latest musical creation Milestone provide the voices to the next three tunes which include "I'll Make Love to You" and "End of the Road" -- first made famous by the Philadelphia quartet Boyz II Men. Original yet similar, the tunes are well-crafted and, above all, well-sung. Voice improvisations only add icing to the proverbial cake.
Their last song is "I Care About You" which Milestone sings on the latest "Soul Food" movie soundtrack which Babyface produced.
R&B artist Stevie Wonder joins Babyface in all the musical revelry for the last two songs, "Gone Too Soon" and "How Come, How Long."
This Unplugged session is a jam session of sorts with Babyface hosting an all-star line-up with some of the biggest names in the industry. A greatest hits compilation of the artist, this Unplugged performance is pure unadulterated music. Buy the release and enjoy a front row seat to Babyface's music in the privacy of your own room.
