MTV Unplugged

MTV Unplugged is a extended play by American singer Mariah Carey, released in the United States on June 2, 1992 by Columbia Records. It produced the U.S. number 1 single "I'll Be There", which was the only new song on the album. To date, MTV Unplugged has sold over 6 million copies worldwide.[1]

History

Finally having conquered her stage fright and tired of critics suggesting she could not actually sing and that her high notes were synthesized creations in the studio, Carey booked an appearance on the television show MTV Unplugged. The arrangements of the songs were different from the versions created in the studio, because MTV Unplugged involved the use of acoustic instruments only. Carey's whistle register workout on the opening number, "Emotions", brought cheers from the audience and convinced any skeptics that her vocal abilities were real. After the program aired, Carey's cover version of The Jackson 5's "I'll Be There" (1970), performed as a duet with backing singer Trey Lorenz, was released as a single due to high demand and topped the U.S. charts. It is her only number 1 out of her eighteen which she hasn't written or co-written by herself, because it is a cover. At present, it also remains as the only number 1 single released from the Unplugged series. The EP yielded a second single, "If It's Over", which was not released in the U.S. and failed in most markets. Carey's appearance on the show gained her respect from many critics, who had previously dismissed her as a studio artist unable or unwilling to play live. The popularity of her performance also led to promotional activities for the album Emotions being cut down.

The entire set list, brief as it was, was subsequently released as an album, which incorporated Carey talking before each song to introduce it. The MTV Unplugged EP peaked at number 3 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart and remained in the top twenty for fourteen weeks, and on the chart for fifty-seven (making one re-entry).
The RIAA certified MTV Unplugged 3x platinum in December 1994, after it has sold 2,731,000 copies.[2] It was certified gold in Switzerland.[3] The video release MTV Unplugged +3 also captures this performance. Legacy Recordings re-packaged the EP along with the DVD MTV Unplugged +3 and released it on September 18, 2007.

In Australia, the album finished 25th on ARIA 1992 End of Year Chart.[4] The album has sold an estimated 144,700 copies in France since its debut.[5]

Track listing

"Emotions" (Mariah Carey, David Cole, Robert Clivillés) – 3:59
"If It's Over" (Carey, Carole King) – 3:47
"Someday" (Carey, Ben Margulies) – 3:56
"Vision of Love" (Carey, Margulies) – 3:36
"Make It Happen" (Carey, Cole, Clivillés) – 4:09
"I'll Be There" (Featuring Trey Lorenz) (Berry Gordy, Bob West, Hal Davis, Willie Hutch) – 4:42
"Can't Let Go" (Carey, Walter Afanasieff) – 4:35

Charts
Chart Peak
position
Australian Albums Chart[6] 7
Austrian Albums Chart[7] 21
Canadian Albums Chart[8] 11
Dutch Albums Chart[9] 1
French Albums Chart[10] 17
German Albums Chart[11] 30
Japanese Albums Chart[12] 13
New Zealand Albums Chart[13] 1
Swiss Albums Chart[14] 36
UK Albums Chart[15] 3
U.S. Billboard 200[16] 3

Certifications
Country (Provider) Certification
(sales thresholds)
Canada (CRIA) Platinum[17]
France (SNEP) 2x Gold[18]
Netherlands (NVPI) 2x Platinum[19]
New Zealand (RIANZ) 2x Platinum[20]
Switzerland (IFPI) Gold[21]
United Kingdom (BPI) Gold[22]
United States (RIAA) 3x Platinum[23]