Scorpions Acoustica Vinyl

Germany’s Scorpions waited until 2001 to get on the unplugged bandwagon, but then they always were rather unfashionable. Recorded earlier the same year at live shows in Portugal, Acoustica is essentially a greatest-hits package, complete with the mandatory two new songs. It follows on the heels of Moment of Glory, their 2000 collaboration with the Berlin Philharmonic. Acoustica’s recasting of the band’s lite-rock legacy in the language of adult contemporary may be just what the doctor ordered. The track selection encompasses most of the big ballad hits from the post-Lovedrive era, plus a few covers (Kansas’ “Dust in the Wind,” “Drive” by the Cars, and Queen’s “Love of My Life”). The power chords may be missing, but Acoustica is far from stripped down: guitarists Schenker and Jabs can’t resist decorating most songs with pretty little acoustic guitar figures; this works in some cases, and it doesn’t in others. The same goes for the Latin rhythm stylings, string sections, and lush backing vocals. The final result is a sort of midtempo tastefulness. ~ Leslie Mathew

A1 Loving You Sunday Morning
A2 Is There Anybody There
A3 The Zoo
A4 Always Somewhere
A5 Life Is Too Short
B1 Holiday
B2 You & I
B3 When Love Kills Love
B4 Tease Me, Please Me
B5 Dust In The Wind
C1 Send Me An Angel
C2 Under The Same Sun
C3 Rhythm Of Love
C4 Back To You
C5 Catch Your Train
D1 I Wanted To Cry (But The Tears Wouldn’t Come)
D2 Wind Of Change
D3 Love Of My Life
D4 Drive
D5 Still Loving You
D6 Hurricane 2001