Acoustic Masterpieces (Audiofön AF06)
Kansas City (rejected for Leiber/Stoller tribute album Baby, That’s Rock ‘n’ Roll(29 August 1997)), Words Of Love (longest and best version, BBC Arena (12 September 1985)), Blackbird/Blue Moon Of Leningrad/She’s A Woman, Cumberland Gap/Hey Liley, Liley Lo/Freight Train, Cut Across Shorty/Hi Heel Sneakers, Freggie Went-A Courtin’, I’ve Just Seen A Face, Love Me Tender, Midnight Special, Mother Nature’s Son, Rock Island Line, She’s A Woman, Tequila, Things We Said Today (rehearsals for MTV Unplugged, The Barn, Hog Hill Studios, Sussex (January 1991)), Can’t Buy Me Love, There’s A Leak, When The Wind Blows Cool (taken from various Oobu Joobu radio series), Intro, Mean Woman Blues, Matchbox, Midnight Special, We Can Work It Out, The Fool, Things We Said Today, Ain’t No Sunshine (Limehouse Television Studios, Wembley (25 January 1991) for MTV Unplugged – The Official Bootleg, previously unreleased)
Acoustic Masterpieces gathers together several interesting documents. There is nothing that has not been out before but this collects in perfect sound quality some of the more interesting acoustic performances by Paul McCartney in the 1990’s. The first song is a cover of Leiber/Stoller’s “Kansas City.” This can also be found on 4 X Gijon 2004 + Rarities 1995 – 2003 (BR 288) and was recorded on August 29th, 1997 for the unreleased Leiber/Stoller tribute album Baby, That’s Rock And Roll. “Words Of Love” comes from the television program Paul hosted called “The Real Buddy Holly Story” that was broadcast on the BBC in 1985 and released on VHS. ö
The bulk of the disc contains rehearsals for Paul’s appearance on MTV “Unplugged.” Listening to these tracks is a lot of fun as he runs through many old standards and Beatles songs. He sings “Blue Moon Of Kentucky” in a thick Russian accent and changes to the words to “Blue Moon Of Leningrad.” There is a tendency to play skiffle tunes including “I’ve Just Seen A Face” and “Rock Island Line.” After the rehearsals there are three acoustic numbers, “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “There’s A Leak,” and “When The Wind Blows Cool” from various “Oobu Joobu” radio sessions.
The final part of this disc contains several tracks from the “Unplugged” telecast that were not included on the album. This can also be found on Unplugged (The Complete Version) and More Unplugged (PM101) and includes “Things We Said Today”, “Midnight Special”, “Matchbox”, “Mean Woman Blues” and “The Fool.” “Midnight Special” includes the long story regarding the legend discussed in the song and “We Can Work It Out” includes the stop and starts throughout the track. It is packaged in a simple jewel case with very basic artwork and no liner notes, but it is excellent sound quality and a good compilation of very common material.
