1993 Rock Album Was A Chart-Topping Hit — And It Was Recorded Entirely Live

On March 13, 1993, legendary guitarist Eric Clapton began a three-week run at the top of the U.S. charts with his album Unplugged.

The album was recorded as part of MTV's renowned series, which saw iconic musicians perform in front of a live studio audience with acoustic instruments to create a quiet, intimate atmosphere.

Other acts to appear on Unplugged included Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, and—perhaps most famously—Nirvana.

'Unplugged' Became A Record-Breaking Live Album

While live albums typically underperform in sales compared with studio albums, Clapton's Unplugged performance was a massive success that ended up topping charts across the world.

The record quickly found its place among the fastest-selling live albums ever, selling over 26 million copies around the world and quickly becoming Clapton's best-selling record of all time.

The album included a cover of Clapton's recent hit "Tears in Heaven", which was written about the singer's four-year-old son who passed away. The record also features tracks such as "Layla", "Old Love", and "Lonely Stranger".

Clapton's live performance of "Tears in Heaven" became a huge cultural moment, with many fans voicing their support for the singer during an understandably painful period of his life. His son's death in 1991 had made headlines across the world, as he tragically fell from a balcony in New York City.

Unplugged won three Grammy Awards the following year, including Album of the Year. As a single, "Tears in Heaven" also won Song of the Year and Record of the Year. It peaked at No. 5 on the U.K. Singles Chart and has since been named on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list.

In 2013, Unplugged was re-released to mark its 20th anniversary under the name Unplugged: Expanded & Remastered. The new edition featured six previously unreleased tracks, and the DVD offered an hour of additional footage from the live performance.