Alice In Chains’ ‘MTV Unplugged’ Re-Release Tops Physical Sales Chart

Last month, Alice in Chains topped the Physical Sales chart with just under 30,000 units sold of their 1996 album ‘MTV Unplugged’.  To celebrate the 30^th anniversary of one of singer Layne Staley’s final shows, the band reissued the record on vinyl earlier this year.  It’s an important moment in their history since it’s really the final time we see Staley for an extended period in public.  They’d go on to play some opening slots for Kiss in 1996, but those weren’t full sets.  In a way, this is the final full AIC show with Layne.

Back in the 1990s, some thought this show didn’t properly showcase their catalog since some songs lost their power without electricity, but time has been kind, and eventually, this became one of the fanbase’s favorite albums.  Two songs charted as promo singles: “Over Now” from their self-titled 1995 album hit #4 and “Would?” hit #19.  “Over Now” was about as strong as the studio take but “Would?” does lose a bit of its forcefulness.  But that’s not what ‘Unplugged’ was about – it was to display the compositions more than the decorative sounds and Alice in Chains knew how to write a song.  Their work is still being lauded 30 years later.