Released after the studied, meticulous
Flowers in the Dirt, the live acoustic concert album
Unplugged was a breath of fresh air, and it remains one of the most enjoyable records in
McCartney's catalog. Running through a selection of oldies -- not only his own, but
Beatles and rock & roll chestnuts --
McCartney is carefree and charming, making songs like "Be-Bop-a-Lula" and "Blue Moon of Kentucky" (which finds
Paul melding
Bill Monroe with
Elvis) sound fresh. But the real revelations of the record are the songs
McCartney hauls out from his debut -- "That Would Be Something," "Every Night," and "Junk" -- which sound lovely and timeless, restoring them to their proper place in his canon. They help make
Unplugged into a thoroughly enjoyable minor gem. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine