Unplugged...and Seated [Live]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
This low-key 1993 live retrospective marked something of a return to form for Rod the Mod, who for many years had more or less abdicated his position as a performer of consequence to pursue a more frivolous pop-star persona. With his former Faces bandmate Ron Wood in tow, Stewart revisits hits like "Hot Legs," "Tonight's the Night," and "Maggie May"--and more adventurous choices like Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready" and Tom Waits's "Tom Traubert's Blues"--with an effortless grace and a renewed expressiveness that makes Unplugged ... And Seated a consistent pleasure. --Scott Schinder

Tracks:

Hot Legs
Tonight's The Night
Handbags And Gladrags
Cut Across Shorty
Every Picture Tells A Story
Maggie May
Reason To Believe
People Get Ready
Have I Told You Lately
Tom Traubert's Blues (Waltzing Matilda)
The First Cut Is The Deepest
Mandolin Wind
Highgate Shuffle
Stay With Me
Having A Party

Amazon.com

This low-key 1993 live retrospective marked something of a return to form for Rod the Mod, who for many years had more or less abdicated his position as a performer of consequence to pursue a more frivolous pop-star persona. With his former Faces bandmate Ron Wood in tow, Stewart revisits hits like "Hot Legs," "Tonight's the Night," and "Maggie May"--and more adventurous choices like Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready" and Tom Waits's "Tom Traubert's Blues"--with an effortless grace and a renewed expressiveness that makes Unplugged ... And Seated a consistent pleasure. --Scott Schinder

Customer Reviews:

A Complete Surprise.......2007-04-11

I've never been a Rod Stewart fan, having hated his mid-period 'If you think I'm sexy' stuff and then just gave up on him until I heard this. A superb unplugged session from the early 1990's.

Starting with a fiery version of 'Hot Legs', you know immediately this is Rod Stewart going back to his early 70's rock 'n' roll best. Track three is 'Handbags and Gladrags', now very familiar in the UK as the theme to 'The Office' that it came as quite a shock to here somebody sing it. I haven't heard the original version but this must push it close.

Its not a perfect album though. Rod should have left Tom Waits 'Tom Traubert's blues (walting matilda)' well alone. Once you've heard Tom Waits original version nothing else is worth listening to. If you don't know Tom Waits, he has a voice that makes Rod Stewarts sound like an operatic soprano!

Fortunately Rod saves the best until last and 'Mandolin Wind', 'Highgate Shuffle' and 'Stay with Me' are all rock 'n' roll Rod from the early 70's - absolutely superb. Sadly the DVD of this isn't available, but it was filmed, and hopefully it will be released one day.

old & new.......2007-03-08

Like the new Rod Stewart, but love the old Stewart. The more I listen to Unplugged, the more I appreciate his talent and place in R&R pantheon.

Many of the numbers brought me back to the Rod of Faces.......2007-02-27

Every Picture Tells A Story, Gasoline Alley were two tremendous albums, which, contributed greatly to the Soundtrack of my life. High School, with a girl friend who played these two albums over and over again. At first, I wasn't a big fan, but hey, I wanted the girl. After we broke up, I found myself listening to those two albums on my own. Sadly Rod and The Faces split, and disco was right around the corner, Rod succumbed.

From time to time, he had a decent song here and there, Downtown Train, People Get Ready, Forever Young to name the majority.

When I first was exposed to this album, I was taken back in time, Rod's vocals were excellent, the Band, including Ronnie Wood tight, you could tell the audience was enjoying something special. Than, Rod had to make one mistake, mentioned during one of the Face's number that his wife wasn't even born yet. Boy did I feel old.

But if you are interested in hearing what are basically the best of Rod, but sung live, this is the album to get. You won't be disappointed.

Rod Stewart in the Acoustic.......2005-10-18

Sometimes performers get so caught up in the studio that they forget their business is to entertain. Rod Stewart apparently remembers how to entertain well as is proven by this excellent CD recorded back in 1993. Rod Stewart clearly enjoys himself and the crowd enjoys Rod as he rocks his way through a string of classic songs.

The range of songs is quite good. There is the classic "Hot Legs," with Rod Stewart growling his way in a gritty fashion that rarely comes across in the studio. There is an excellent rendition of "Tonight's the Night" that feels more honest and sensual than the studio recording. "Handbags and Gladrags" shows a poignant side of Rod Stewart.

For a change of pace Stewart rocks his way through "Cut Across Shorty," an upbeat song that gets everyone moving. After this song everyone is pumped and Stewart keeps up the pace with another rocker, "Every Picture Tells a Story." The studio version of "Maggie May" is as good as any studio version is, but the live version here is far superior. For some reason Rod Stewart comes across better in this live regarding. If you have ever been a fan of this song you should buy this CD for this song.

Remaining consistent with the quality of the other songs is "Reason to Believe." This version is again, in my opinion, better than the studio version. I think Rod Stewart's voice matches this venue better than a studio. Or perhaps Rod Stewart's voice has reached the point where he sounds great.

"People Get Ready" has wonderful strings backing Rod Stewart's vocals. Rod Stewart does justice to Curtis Mayfield's song. I usually object to the backing vocals in live performances, but the backing vocals on this song are performed well. The pace remains steady in the love song "Have I Told You Lately," yet another winner on this CD. "Tom Traubert's Blues (Waltzing Matilda)" is gloriously poignant and can easily affect your mood, and is yet another in a series of mellow songs. The pace remains slow with the tear-jerker "The First Cut Is the Deepest."

The pace picks up slightly with "Mandolin Wind," particularly as this song gets into the fourth minute, when the speed picks up substantially and Stewart manages a few yells reminiscent of the 1960s. "Highgate Shuffle" is a blues song that Stewart and the band have a lot of fun with, as evidenced by the casual style of the song. I suspect that had they been allowed to go on the song could have been much longer.

The CD finishes with "Stay with Me" and "Having a Party." The former song has dynamic vocals and a fast pace. The last song is a fun song and though Stewart sounds a little tired at the end, it seems to me that he is enjoying himself.

As I have expressed in a number of previous reviews, I am usually not a fan of live albums. However, with improved technology, the right venue and the right artist, the results can be surprising. I consider myself a casual fan of Rod Stewart, but this CD is worthy of having in any pop-rock fan's collection. Rod Stewart sounds very good throughout this CD, and I consider many of these performances to exceed his studio recordings. Stewart is enthusiastic and animated, and the quality of his voice is perfect for the songs and the environment. Fans of live pop albums will want this CD. Fans of Rod Stewart will absolutely require this album.

My first grade theme song .......2005-02-23

When I was in first grade in 1993, my bus driver would always play 95.9 R96, and everyday after school and then a few days apart they played this version of "Having A Party" and I bought this CD 8 years later and still loved that song, and my friends listened to it and all remembered it as a favorite to all of us. Then a few years later I learned to like Rod Stewart even more and the entire CD is very good.

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