Guitar Chet Atkins

Another of Chet Atkins' attempts to break into the jazz world during his Columbia period, this recording veers well across the line into new age wallowing of the most innocuous kind. At this point in time, when a record opened with soothing ocean waves, followed by a gentle wash of synths, you could pretty much expect the new age to be lapping at your feet throughout. As he has with so many other genres, Atkins displays an instinctive grasp of this feel-good idiom, though he has to hold back his powers of invention to conform to its clichés and repetitions. Yet even amidst the twittering sound effects and electronic drums of "Up in My Treehouse" and the listless treatment of Keith Jarrett's "My Song," Atkins' guitar always exudes dignity.

Chet Atkins' albums of easygoing easy listening guitar playing had become a standard feature of the RCA Victor release schedule by the mid-'60s, and this two-fer CD reissue combines two typical efforts, Atkins' 22nd 12" LP, My Favorite Guitars (1965), and his 26th, It's a Guitar World (1967). The two albums were united – nominally – by their international themes…

Chet Atkins earned and held the title of "Mr. Guitar" for 50 years before passing away in the summer of 2001. Signed to RCA in 1947, he would help define the "Nashville Sound" in the late '50s while simultaneously releasing a steady string of instrumental albums. RCA Country Legends captures Atkins on 14 wonderful tracks recorded between 1949 and 1976. Atkins recorded the self-penned single "Barber Shop Rag" with mandolinist Jethro Burns and guitarist Homer Haynes. Burns' speedy runs work as a nice counterpoint, and bring out equally inspired work from Atkins. Curiously, Atkins and his buddies even add vocals on an infectious cut titled "Boogie Man Boogie." There's a nice duet with writer and fellow guitar picker Jerry Reed on "Twitchy," and a spunky take on "Tiger Rag" worthy of Django Reinhardt. There are also a number of solo pieces, including "Petite Waltz," "Yes Ma'am," and the closer, "Liza." These cuts capture a quintessential Atkins, just a man and his guitar, handling the rhythm and lead without blinking.

This reissue places two of Chet Atkins' RCA albums 1969's Lover's Guitar and 1970's Yestergroovin' on one CD. Yestergroovin', presented first on the disc, is an interesting group of jazz standards, original pieces and reworked folk tunes among other songs. Despite the differences in songs and arrangements, the whole album has an easygoing feel that makes it arguably one of the very best albums Chet made in his long career. Lover's Guitar, on the other hand, features Chet playing some pop tunes of the day as well as some more classically oriented pieces including two Tarrega compositions; most of the album has accompaniment from a second guitar and strings but a few tracks feature Chet solo.

They weren't joined at the hip, yet Chet Atkins and Les Paul were far closer than many realize. Chet's half-brother Jimmy Atkins played rhythm guitar in the Les Paul Trio in the '40s. Both Chet and Les's playing reflected Belgian Gypsy jazz virtuoso Django Reinhardt's influence. They not only created records of monumental importance to guitarists in all genres, but their signature model electric instruments advanced guitar technology. ~ Amazon

He was known as ‘Mr Guitar’. One of the greatest and most influential musicians in country music, Chet Atkins was Cashbox magazine’s Instrumentalist of the Year from 1953 to 1971. Additionally, he was an RCA Nashville producer from the late ’50s through to the mid-70’s, masterminding sessions for Dolly Parton, Charley Pride, Don Gibson, Eddy Arnold, Hank Snow, Waylon Jennings, Jim Reeves and countless others.