The Cranberries' MTV 'Unplugged' 1995 live sets to finally see light of day next month

On Nov. 7, Island Records/UMe will put out The Cranberries' MTV Unplugged episode on live CD, LP and digital for the first time as a standalone release (additionally, a limited-edition colored vinyl version featuring an alternate cover will also be available exclusively through COMPLEX).

Originally recorded on Feb. 14, 1995, the nine-song performance made its broadcast debut on April 18 that year. Filmed at Howard Gilman Opera House in Brooklyn, NY, the episode was aired during the sixth season of the acclaimed series that highlighted a stripped down and acoustic setting by some of the most popular artists and musicians of the era.

“We’d seen some of the biggest names in music like R.E.M., Pearl Jam, The Cure and Nirvana do their Unplugged’s and were blown away to be following in their footsteps,” recalls drummer Fergal Lawler. 

“MTV were doing a series of recordings in this beautiful old theatre with curved seating. It was a really chilled, relaxed vibe with the audience sitting on the floor.” The band was accompanied by Electra Strings (the string quartet who had accompanied the band on the UK program Later with Jools Holland in 1994).

Among the songs is non-album track “Yesterday’s Gone,” which remains unreleased in a studio format. “Dolores and I literally wrote ‘Yesterday’s Gone’ – apt title! - the day before,” guitarist Noel Hogan reveals. “There was a piano where we were and I said, ‘I have this idea’ and it came together in a couple of hours. The only time we ever played it was for MTV.”

“It was an honour to do MTV Unplugged and I’m really proud that the songs we wrote didn’t need all the bells and whistles you get in the studio to sound good,” adds Noel. “They worked just as well, stripped down and played acoustically, albeit with the help of the brilliant Electra Strings.”

Track listing:

Intro/Dreaming My Dreams
Ode To My Family
Linger
Free To Decide
I'm Still Remembering
Empty
Zombie
Yesterday's Gone