AMG Review of MTV Unplugged [Bonus Tracks]

William Ruhlmann
All Music Guide

Of course, Tony Bennett never was "plugged," so the concept here is redundant, but what the hell. It's been a while since a Tony Bennett live album, and he's always terrific in concert. Certainly, he is here, singing 22 pop standards, including many of his hits and many other songs he's made his own. Elvis Costello and k.d. lang drop by, but they're feeding off Bennett's energy and star power, not the other way around. The album may be part of a successful marketing plan, but forget that and revel in the singing of a masterful song interpreter still, after 40 years, at the top of his game. [The 2006 reissue of the album adds two bonus tracks: the previously unreleased "When Do Bells Ring for Me" and "(Just A) Little Street Where Old Friends Meet"].~ William Ruhlmann, Rovi