Almost Unplugged
Encyclopedia
Almost Unplugged is a live album by the Swedish hard rock
band Europe
. It was released on CD on September 17, 2008 and on DVD on August 19, 2009.
The album was recorded at Nalen, a venue in Stockholm on January 26, 2008. The band was accompanied by a string quartet and played reworked versions of its own songs, as well as cover versions of songs by bands that have influenced Europe's sound over the years – Pink Floyd
, UFO
, Led Zeppelin
and Thin Lizzy
. The album debuted on the Swedish Album Chart at number 26, and went to number 23 the following week.
The album is dedicated to Michelle Meldrum
, John Norum's
late wife, who died on May 21, 2008.
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
band Europe
Europe (band)
Europe is a Swedish rock band formed in Upplands Väsby in 1979 under the name Force by vocalist Joey Tempest, guitarist John Norum and drummer Tony Reno. Although widely associated with glam metal, the band's sound incorporates heavy metal and hard rock elements...
. It was released on CD on September 17, 2008 and on DVD on August 19, 2009.
The album was recorded at Nalen, a venue in Stockholm on January 26, 2008. The band was accompanied by a string quartet and played reworked versions of its own songs, as well as cover versions of songs by bands that have influenced Europe's sound over the years – Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
, UFO
UFO (band)
UFO are an English heavy metal and hard rock band, who were formed in 1969. UFO became a transitional group between early hard rock and heavy metal and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal...
, Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
and Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Two of the founding members, drummer Brian Downey and bass guitarist/vocalist Phil Lynott met while still in school. Lynott assumed the role of frontman and led them throughout their recording career of thirteen studio albums...
. The album debuted on the Swedish Album Chart at number 26, and went to number 23 the following week.
The album is dedicated to Michelle Meldrum
Michelle Meldrum
Michelle Meldrum-Norum was an American hard rock guitarist known for being a member of the bands Phantom Blue and Meldrum.-Biography:...
, John Norum's
John Norum
John Norum is a rock music guitarist and founder of the Swedish band Europe . Concurrent to his role with Europe, he also maintains a side solo project...
late wife, who died on May 21, 2008.
Track listing
- "Got to Have FaithGot to Have Faith"Got to Have Faith" is a 2004 single released by the Swedish heavy metal band Europe. It was released on September 15, 2004, and was the first single from the album Start from the Dark....
" (Joey TempestJoey TempestJoey Tempest is the vocalist and main songwriter in the Swedish heavy metal band Europe. He has written hits like "The Final Countdown", "Rock the Night" and "Superstitious".-Early life:...
, John NorumJohn NorumJohn Norum is a rock music guitarist and founder of the Swedish band Europe . Concurrent to his role with Europe, he also maintains a side solo project...
) – 4:15 - "Forever Travelling" (Tempest, Mic MichaeliMic MichaeliGunnar Mathias "Mic" Michaeli is the keyboardist in the Swedish rock band Europe. Like many of the other Europe members he grew up in Stockholm suburb Upplands Väsby...
) – 4:22 - "Devil Sings the Blues" (Tempest, Michaeli) – 6:26
- "Wish You Were HereWish You Were Here (Pink Floyd song)"Wish You Were Here" is the title track on Pink Floyd's 1975 album Wish You Were Here. The song's lyrics encompass writer Roger Waters' feelings of alienation from other people. Like most of the album, it refers to former Pink Floyd member Syd Barrett and his breakdown...
" (David GilmourDavid GilmourDavid Jon Gilmour, CBE, D.M. is an English rock musician and multi-instrumentalist who is best known as the guitarist, one of the lead singers and main songwriters in the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. In addition to his work with Pink Floyd, Gilmour has worked as a producer for a variety of...
, Roger WatersRoger WatersGeorge Roger Waters is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. He was a founding member of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd, serving as bassist and co-lead vocalist. Following the departure of bandmate Syd Barrett in 1968, Waters became the band's lyricist, principal songwriter...
) – 4:36 - "DreamerDreamer (Europe song)"Dreamer" is a 1984 single by the Swedish heavy metal band Europe. It was the second single from the Wings of Tomorrow album. The single was only released in Japan. It bears a strong resemblance to the hit single Carrie that was released two years later...
" (Tempest) – 4:23 - "Love to Love" (Phil MoggPhil MoggPhillip John 'Phil' Mogg is a vocalist for the band UFO, which he formed with longtime friends Pete Way and Andy Parker. Mogg wrote the majority of the band's lyrics, with the music being written by Way, Schenker, and later, Raymond, but Schenker left to launch his solo career in 1979...
, Michael SchenkerMichael SchenkerMichael Schenker is a German rock guitarist, best known for his tenure in UFO, in addition to his solo band. He first rose to fame as a founding member of the Scorpions, then achieved fame in the mid 1970s as the lead guitar player for UFO. Since leaving UFO in 1978, he has been leading the...
) – 7:31 - "The Final CountdownThe Final Countdown (song)"The Final Countdown" is a rock song by the Swedish band Europe released in 1986. Written by Joey Tempest, it was the first single from the band's third studio album which was also named The Final Countdown. It is considered by some to be the band's most recognizable and popular song. The song...
" (Tempest) – 5:46 - "Yesterday's News" (Tempest, Kee MarcelloKee MarcelloKee Marcello is a Swedish musician, best known as the former guitarist in the rock band Europe. He is currently pursuing his solo career.-Career:...
, John LevénJohn LevénJohn Gunnar Levén is the bassist in the Swedish rock band Europe. Levén and vocalist Joey Tempest are the only band members who have performed on all of Europe's studio albums....
, Ian HauglandIan HauglandHåkan Jan "Ian" Haugland is the drummer in the Swedish rock band Europe. When he was eight months old, he and his family moved to the Swedish suburb Märsta. He joined Europe in the summer of 1984, replacing Tony Reno. Previously Haugland had played in a number of bands, including Trilogy, where...
, Michaeli) – 6:30 - "Since I've Been Lovin' YouSince I've Been Loving You"Since I've Been Loving You" is a blues-rock song in C minor by English rock band Led Zeppelin, released on the 1970 album Led Zeppelin III.-Overview:...
" (Jimmy PageJimmy PageJames Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
, Robert PlantRobert PlantRobert Anthony Plant, CBE is an English singer and songwriter best known as the vocalist and lyricist of the iconic rock band Led Zeppelin. He has also had a successful solo career...
, John Paul JonesJohn Paul Jones (musician)John Paul Jones is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, composer, arranger and record producer. Best known as the bassist, mandolinist, and keyboardist for English rock band Led Zeppelin, Jones has since developed a solo career and has gained even more respect as both a musician and a...
) – 7:24 - "HeroHero (Europe song)"Hero" is a 2004 single released by the Swedish heavy metal band Europe. It was released on September 20, 2004, as the second single from the band's album Start from the Dark...
" (Tempest) – 4:26 - "Suicide" (Phil LynottPhil LynottPhilip Parris "Phil" Lynott was an Irish musician who first came to prominence as a founding member, principal songwriter, and frontman of the Irish rock band Thin Lizzy....
) – 5:42 - "Memories" (Tempest) – 5:51
- "SuperstitiousSuperstitious (song)"Superstitious" is a 1988 single released by the Swedish heavy metal band Europe. It was the first single released from the album Out of This World. It charted at #31 in the Billboard Hot 100, #9 at the Mainstream Rock Tracks and #34 in the UK Singles Chart....
" (Tempest) – 4:39 - "Rock the NightRock the Night (song)"Rock the Night" is a single released by the Swedish heavy metal band Europe. The song was written by vocalist Joey Tempest in 1984 and premiered on the band's Wings of Tomorrow tour the same year....
" (Tempest) – 5:51
Personnel
- Joey TempestJoey TempestJoey Tempest is the vocalist and main songwriter in the Swedish heavy metal band Europe. He has written hits like "The Final Countdown", "Rock the Night" and "Superstitious".-Early life:...
– lead vocals, acoustic guitar - John NorumJohn NorumJohn Norum is a rock music guitarist and founder of the Swedish band Europe . Concurrent to his role with Europe, he also maintains a side solo project...
– electric & acoustic guitars - John LevénJohn LevénJohn Gunnar Levén is the bassist in the Swedish rock band Europe. Levén and vocalist Joey Tempest are the only band members who have performed on all of Europe's studio albums....
– bass guitar, acoustic guitar - Mic MichaeliMic MichaeliGunnar Mathias "Mic" Michaeli is the keyboardist in the Swedish rock band Europe. Like many of the other Europe members he grew up in Stockholm suburb Upplands Väsby...
– keyboards, backing vocals - Ian HauglandIan HauglandHåkan Jan "Ian" Haugland is the drummer in the Swedish rock band Europe. When he was eight months old, he and his family moved to the Swedish suburb Märsta. He joined Europe in the summer of 1984, replacing Tony Reno. Previously Haugland had played in a number of bands, including Trilogy, where...
– drums, backing vocals - Malin-My Nilsson – violin, string arrangements
- Victoria Lundell – violin
- Jonna Inge – viola
- Anna Landberg Dager – cello
- Andreas Bauman – mixing
- Henrik Jonsson – mastering
- Staffan Lindahl – tour manager / production manager
- Ronny "Rompa" Bernström – live sound engineer
- Anders "Q-lan" Wallertz – lighting designer
- Samuel "Samme" Nielsen – monitor engineer
- Peter "Peter" Erixon – backline tech
- Roger "Spy-T" Albinsson – backline tech
- Thomas Eijerstam – technical manager
- Fredrik Martinsson – web sound engineer
- Gundars Rullis – FOH technician
- Tindra Jonsson Wibers – co-ordinator
- Dimitrios Dimitriadis – cover design