Album of the Day

Eric Clapton had a quarter-century of rock superstardom under his belt when he entered an English studio on this day in 1992 to tape an installment of MTV's Unplugged series. The resulting Reprise album became a phenomenal success, reaching R.I.A.A. Diamond sales status and earning six Grammys. The haunting single “Tears In Heaven,” written in memory of Clapton's young son, accounted for three of those awards, and a stripped-down reworking of “Layla” was another highlight, but the singer-guitarist is in peak form throughout the set. The 14 songs on the original album – and the six unreleased outtakes on the Deluxe Edition of UNPLUGGED – reveal how ideally suited Clapton is for the role of acoustic blues troubadour. A signature album of the 1990s, and one whose relaxed and intimate appeal remains strong.