Unplugged

Unplugged (The Official Bootleg) is a live unplugged performance by Paul McCartney, recorded and released in 1991. Following the vastness of his world tour recently captured on Tripping the Live Fantastic, McCartney relished the opportunity to strip back his songs and appear on the newly-launched acoustic-only show. Consequently, McCartney was among the first in a long line of artists to release an unplugged album.

Unlike other artists who appeared on the acclaimed show with acoustic instruments plugged into amplifiers (producing the sound heard), McCartney's instruments were 100% unplugged. Microphones were carefully placed close to guitars, pianos, etc. to pick up the sound (this can be seen on the album, where a large rectangular microphone can be seen in front of McCartney's acoustic guitar).

Using the same line-up that recently backed him (save for Blair Cunningham who replaced Chris Whitten on drums more late), McCartney used the opportunity to dust off some of his more rare tracks, including three from his 1970 debut album McCartney, alongside some obscure covers amid a helping of familiar Beatles hits.

With McCartney in a loose and carefree context, critical response to Unplugged (The Official Bootleg) was very warm.

Initially released in a limited edition run in 1991, Unplugged (The Official Bootleg)—with artwork that recalls CHOBA B CCCPs—was reissued in a more permanent fashion in the late 1990s. Upon its original issue, it reached #7 in the UK and became McCartney's highest peaking US album in almost ten years, reaching #14.