MTV Unplugged (Maxwell EP)

MTV Unplugged is a live EP by American neo soul singer Maxwell, released by Columbia Records in mid-1997. The album features recordings of Maxwell's performance on the MTV concert series program MTV Unplugged, filmed in New York City earlier in the year. The album includes covers of songs such as Kate Bush's "This Woman's Work" and Nine Inch Nails "Closer."[1]

MTV Unplugged
Live album (EP) by
Maxwell
ReleasedJuly 15, 1997
RecordedMay 7, 1997 at Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York City, New York
Genre
Length34:18
LabelColumbia
CK 68515
ProducerMUSZE (Maxwell)
Maxwell chronology
Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite
(1996)		 MTV Unplugged
(1997)		 Embrya
(1998)

The singer was asked to do MTV Unplugged, despite only having released only one album, Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite. Maxwell's episode of MTV Unplugged first aired on the network on July 22, 1997".[2]

Background

Despite only having released only one album, the music video television channel MTV saw his burgeoning popularity and asked him to tape an episode of the concert series MTV Unplugged in New York City. The show was taped live on June 15, 1997, and he performed his own songs as well as covers of songs by Kate Bush ("This Woman's Work") and Nine Inch Nails ("Closer").[3] (Unfortunately he clashed with his label about the release of a full album of his session, resulting in the release of only an extended play, or EP instead,[4] containing seven songs.) The MTV Unplugged performance of "...Til the Cops Come Knockin" was included as a bonus track on the international release. The episode of MTV Unplugged first aired on the network on July 22, 1997".[2]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[5]
Entertainment Weekly(C)[6]
NY Amsterdam News(favorable)[7]
Rhapsody(favorable)[8]
Yahoo! Music(favorable)[9]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Suite Urban Theme"Maxwell5:17
2."Mello: Sumthin (The Hush)"Maxwell3:05
3."The Lady Suite"Maxwell, Hod David4:20
4."This Woman's Work"Kate Bush4:25
5."Whenever Wherever Whatever"Maxwell, Stuart Matthewman4:45
6."Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)"Maxwell, Itaal Shur4:10
7."Gotta Get: Closer"Maxwell, Trent Reznor7:16
8."...Til the Cops Come Knockin" (international bonus track)Maxwell, David6:41

Charts
Chart (1997) Peak
Position
The Billboard 200 (U.S.) 53
U.S. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 15
French Albums Chart 26
Dutch Albums Chart 58
UK Albums Chart 45

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[10] Gold 500,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone

See also

References
  1. Maxwell's Unplugged Session tv.com
  2. Maxwell's Unplugged CD mtv.com
  3. "Maxwell Unplugged". tv.com.
  4. Maxwell Unplugged CD Archived 2008-10-13 at the Wayback Machine entertainment.circuitcity.com.
  5. Allmusic review
  6. "Unplugged EP - EW.com".
  7. NY Amsterdam News review
  8. "MTV Unplugged". 15 July 1997.
  9. "Yahoo Music".
  10. "American album certifications – Maxwell – UNPLUGGED". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
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