MTV Unplugged
By the time she made her bow onMTV Unplugged, Mariah Carey was already a multi-platinum-selling artist who owned the charts, but didn't command much respect because no one had ever seen her perform live. As it turned out, Miss Thing could deliver as sure as Domino's, emoting significantly over soulful arrangements of several hits and a cover of the Jackson Five's "I'll Be There." That track became a No. 1 hit and earned a solo recording deal for featured backup singer Trey Lorenz.  This may not be Carey's best record, but it's certainly her most surprising.--Daniel Durchholz