Unplugged...and Seated Tracks
1. Hot Legs
2. Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)
3. Handbags and Gladrags
4. Cut Across Shorty
5. Every Picture Tells a Story
6. Maggie May
7. Reason to Believe
8. People Get Ready
9. Have I Told You Lately That I Love You
10. Tom Traubert's Blues (Waltzing Matilda)
11. First Cut Is the Deepest
12. Mandolin Wind
13. Highgate Shuffle
14. Stay With Me
15. Having a Party
Unplugged...and Seated Review
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
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.