10,000 Maniacs: Natalie Merchant (vocals, piano); Rob Buck (acoustic guitar); Dennis Drew (piano, Hammond organ, pump organ); Steven Gustafson (acoustic bass); Jerome Augustyniak (drums, percussion).
Additional personnel: Bill Dillon (acoustic & slide guitars, mandolin); Richie Stearns (banjo); Morgan Fichter (violin, background vocals); Mary Ramsey (viola, background vocals); Jane Scarpantoni (cello); Atsuko Sato, Kim Laskowski (bassoon); Amanda Kramer (piano, pump organ); Jerry Marotta (percussion).
Engineers: Ed Thacker, Jay Vicari, Mike Scott.
Recorded at Sony Music Studios, New York.
Recorded during the 1993 tour supporting the OUR TIME IN EDEN album, MTV UNPLUGGED was the last 10,000 Maniacs album to feature co-founder and primary vocalist Natalie Merchant. Robert Buck's sterling guitar playing still forms the center of the band's sound--especially on the stripped down version of "Don't Talk," from the band's watershed album, IN MY TRIBE. Another standout track is "Eat for Two" (from BLIND MAN'S ZOO), which is much slower than the studio version and pairs a full string section with Merchant's lyrics about unplanned pregnancy.
The album focuses heavily on material from OUR TIME, an album that featured Dennis Drew's keyboards prominently. Drew's playing shines here as well and both "Gold Rush Brides" and "Jezebel" are highlights. Along with an excellent take on "Stockton Gala Days," these three songs are proof that the Maniacs gave their live set some serious thought, in many cases improving on their studio versions. A cover version of "Because the Night," a song made famous by Patti Smith, gave the band an unlikely hit single. For those interested, the cellist and backup vocalist on this album, Mary Ramsey, became Merchant's permanent replacement.

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