Without a doubt, the ‘90s were definitely the decade of the TV concert special with an accompanying best-selling album. Between MTV Unplugged, VH-1 Storytellers, Live From the 10 Spot, Sessions at West 54th and more, it sometimes felt as if every major network had at least one weekly televised concert film.
Getting great bands and singers to appear on TV wasn’t just a great thing for the networks; it was often very lucrative for the musicians as well. Artists who were already top sellers could look forward to having ready-made live albums that were almost guaranteed to land somewhere near the top of the Billboard charts.
The ‘90s TV concert phenomenon was also a boon for artists whose popularity was flagging. Eric Clapton’s Unplugged album sold an estimated 28 million copies worldwide and was certified Diamond in the United States, giving Clapton years of renewed chart dominance.
It was also the decade of the rock-and-roll reunion, with several long-separated bands getting back together in the ‘90s to enjoy guaranteed financial security for the rest of their lives. After breaking up in 1980, the Eagles got back together for an MTV special in 1994. The accompanying album Hell Freezes Over was certified 9x Platinum in the United States; even the video version of the album sold more than a million copies.
Neither Eric Clapton nor the Eagles, however, appear on this list. As much as we enjoy watching a Journeyman ply his trade, the best TV concert films of the ‘90s have retained their relevance in the ensuing decades because they gave us intimate glimpses of our favorite artists as they stretched their boundaries and revealed new sides of themselves.
It’s time to enjoy some tunes. Fire up your favorite streaming service, grab some herbal refreshment and get ready for a Rokin good time.
Nirvana: MTV Unplugged in New York
Certified 8x Platinum in the United States and selling more than 10 million copies globally, MTV Unplugged in New York is notable for so many reasons that it’s easily deserving of its own article. The main reason why the concert has become a cultural touchstone is because of its poignancy as Nirvana’s last major appearance before the death of Kurt Cobain. The fact that the album was released posthumously pretty much guaranteed that it would top the charts worldwide – which is exactly what happened, despite the fact that it included almost none of Nirvana’s most famous songs.
The main reason why MTV Unplugged in New York is one of the best concert films of the ‘90s, though, is because it revealed the members of Nirvana for what they were: incredible musicians. The band didn’t need a wall of distortion and cymbals to cover sloppy musicianship. Even in an acoustic setting with every note laid bare, Nirvana managed to record the entire special in a single take.
MTV Unplugged in New York is also memorable for what it wasn’t. It’s easy to envision the concert as a glimpse of what Nirvana might have accomplished in their second act as they moved past their grunge roots and embraced a greater level of nuance in their music. Instead, it functions as the band’s unintended farewell and a tantalizing glimpse of what might have been.
No Quarter: Jimmy Page and Robert Plant Unledded
Although Led Zeppelin reunited for Live Aid in 1984 and for the 40th anniversary of Atlantic Records in 1988, both performances were poorly rehearsed and did little to cement the band’s legacy as one of the best live rock acts ever. Led Zeppelin was the third-best selling band of all time after the Beatles and Queen, and fans around the world were clamoring for a full-scale reunion of the three surviving members.
No Quarter wasn’t that. In fact, bassist John Paul Jones reportedly wasn’t even told about the 1994 reunion of Jimmy Page and Robert Plant until after it took place. No Quarter omitted many of the most popular Led Zeppelin Songs – even “Stairway to Heaven” – and most of the Zeppelin classics that Jimmy Page and Robert Plant did perform had significantly altered arrangements.
MTV spared no expense in producing No Quarter, which featured a full backing band along with an Egyptian ensemble and members of the London Metropolitan Orchestra. The special was also filmed in three locations: London, Wales and Morocco.
No Quarter was such a successful collaboration that it spawned a major world tour for Page and Plant as well as a follow-up album of all-new material (Walking into Clarksdale). Plant decided to end the partnership after a second world tour in 1998, however, citing a desire to exit stadium performances and return to playing smaller venues.
Led Zeppelin did end up staging a full reunion concert in 2007 at a celebration honoring the career of famed Atlantic Records executive Ahmet Ertegun. Many fans hold No Quarter in higher esteem, though, as a thrilling document of Page and Plant’s continued musical restlessness even in middle age. As an added benefit, Plant was still able to sing Zeppelin’s songs in their original keys in 1994 – something that was no longer possible by 2007.
Fleetwood Mac: The Dance
The Who might be the poster children for on-again, off-again rock bands – but if there’s a prize for second place, it would have to go to Fleetwood Mac. Although they’ve never officially broken up, even many of Fleetwood Mac’s most ardent fans have no interest in anything the band does unless it includes all three of Stevie Nicks, Lindsay Buckingham and Christine McVie.
Fleetwood Mac’s trio of singer/songwriters hadn’t performed together in several years by the late ‘90s, with Buckingham departing the band in 1987 and Nicks leaving in 1991. The full Rumours lineup got back together in 1997, though, for the MTV special The Dance along with its 5x-Platinum accompanying album.
The Dance featured just about every Fleetwood Mac classic that fans could possibly want to hear, and the band’s legendarily volatile chemistry was on full display throughout the performance. Few could forget the striking image of Nicks staring at Buckingham at the climax of “Silver Springs.” Buckingham was also in excellent form and delivered a blistering performance of “Big Love” in a new arrangement for solo guitar.
The extremely successful reunion marked the return of Fleetwood Mac as a going concern, sparking a successful American tour as well as Say You Will, the band’s final full-length album to date. McVie didn’t take part in the tour or album, though she eventually returned to the band in 2014. McVie continued to perform with Fleetwood Mac until her death in 2022.
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