Bruce Springsteen
In Concert - MTV Plugged

LA RECENSIONE

Like many other big rock figures (Nirvana, Neil Young, Eric Clapton...), in 1992, Bruce Springsteen was also invited by MTV to perform in an acoustic concert for the famous "Unplugged" series. The Boss accepted, but for technical reasons, he preferred to play his pieces in electric version. Certainly a pity, as it would have been nice and interesting to hear Bruce's electric rock played only with acoustic instruments.

This concert resulted in "In Concert - MTV Plugged", which, although not among the Boss's best works, particularly due to the choice of tracks (too many recent pieces and only three classics), is the only live album of the '90s from Bruce that shows him to be in a state of grace, even if the musicians accompanying him are not up to the standard of the E Street Band (with only Roy Bittan present here).
8 out of 13 pieces are taken, with more or less happy outcomes, from "Human Touch" and "Lucky Town", without significant variations from the originals; among these songs, the two pieces that give the albums their titles stand out, as well as "Better Days" and "I Wish I Were Blind". Springsteen also presents two unreleased tracks here: the first is "Red Headed Woman", a cheerful folk ballad that opens his performance; this track, played solely by the Boss, is one of the two acoustic songs on the album. Noteworthy is the other unreleased track, "Light Of Day", eight minutes of pure rock'n'roll, in which Bruce sings, plays, acts, improvises, and engages the audience in a ride of notes, words, and sweat.

But the best part is the (few) classics that Springsteen gives us: a curious version of "Atlantic City", with the electric piano replacing the harmonica, followed by an intense "Darkness On The Edge Of Town", almost on par with the original, and especially by the other acoustic song of the album, a moving "Thunder Road". Here, Bruce, with guitar and harmonica, accompanied by the discreet, almost shy organ of the faithful Bittan, recounts one of his epic tales of life and love along the roads of America. It is the jewel of the album, to be listened to in silence, turning off the lights and closing your eyes...