MTV Unplugged is a 1993 live album and video by American alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs, recorded for the MTV Unplugged series. The album was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America and spawned the hit single "Because the Night", a cover of the song written by Patti Smith and Bruce Springsteen. Between the recording and release of the album, vocalist Natalie Merchant left the band to pursue a solo career.

Many songs were recorded during the performance that were not included on the album. These included four takes of "How You've Grown" and a brief take of "Puff the Magic Dragon". In addition, three songs were performed with David Byrne as a guest singer: two takes of "Let the Mystery Be" (one of which was released as a B-side to "Few and Far Between" and reissued on Campfire Songs: The Popular, Obscure and Unknown Recordings of 10,000 Maniacs), Dolly Parton's "Jolene" and "Dallas".

More information Review scores, Source ...

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Entertainment Weekly	B− link
Q	link
Rolling Stone	link

Close

The album debuted at its No. 13 peak and spent 45 weeks on the Billboard charts.^[2] In December 1997, it was certified 3× Platinum by the RIAA.^[3]

The single release "Because the Night" reached No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart,^[4] two positions higher than Patti Smith's original version in 1978.^[5] It remains the band's biggest hit.

Cassette/CD

1. "These Are Days" (Rob Buck, Natalie Merchant) – 4:22
2. "Eat for Two" (Merchant) – 4:12
3. "Candy Everybody Wants" (Dennis Drew, Merchant) – 3:19
4. "I'm Not the Man" (Merchant) – 3:46
5. "Don't Talk" (Drew, Merchant) – 5:22
6. "Hey Jack Kerouac" (Buck, Merchant) – 3:29
7. "What's the Matter Here?" (Buck, Merchant) – 4:50
8. "Gold Rush Brides" (Buck, Merchant) – 4:12
9. "Like the Weather" (Merchant) – 4:15
10. "Trouble Me" (Drew, Merchant) – 3:40
11. "Jezebel" (Merchant) – 4:20
12. "Because the Night" (Bruce Springsteen, Patti Smith) – 3:44
13. "Stockton Gala Days" (Jerome Augustyniak, Buck, Drew, Steve Gustafson, Merchant) – 5:25
14. "Noah's Dove" (Merchant) – 5:07

LaserDisc/VHS

1. "Noah's Dove" (Merchant)
2. "These Are Days" (Buck, Merchant)
3. "Eat for Two" (Merchant)
4. "Candy Everybody Wants" (Drew, Merchant)
5. "I'm Not the Man" (Merchant)
6. "Don't Talk" (Drew, Merchant)
7. "Hey Jack Kerouac" (Buck, Merchant)
8. "What's the Matter Here?" (Buck, Merchant)
9. "Gold Rush Brides" (Buck, Merchant)
10. "Like the Weather" (Merchant)
11. "Trouble Me" (Drew, Merchant)
12. "Jezebel" (Merchant)
13. "Stockton Gala Days" (Augustyniak, Buck, Drew, Gustafson, Merchant)
14. "Because the Night" (Springsteen, Smith)
15. "Let the Mystery Be" (Iris DeMent) (with David Byrne)
16. "Jolene" (Dolly Parton) (with David Byrne)
17. "Dallas" (Jimmie Dale Gilmore) (with David Byrne) / End Credits

• During the introduction to "Hey Jack Kerouac", Merchant reads a passage from On the Road by Jack Kerouac. During the introduction to "Gold Rush Brides", she reads a passage from Women's Diaries of the Westward Journey by Lillian Schlissel.^[6][7][8]