category: instrumental country / blues / jazz / easy listening

In a career that stretched over a half century, master guitarist Chet Atkins recorded nearly one hundred albums under his own name. Many consider the albums included here, made between 1955 and 1960, as his definitive work. Moving beyond traditional country, Atkins created a vast new audience with CHET ATKINS IN THREE DIMENSIONS, STRINGIN' ALONG WITH CHET ATKINS, FINGER STYLE GUITAR, HI-FI IN FOCUS and CHET ATKINS AT HOME. They weren’t country albums, though they included country tunes. They weren’t jazz records, but they featured jazz and pop standards. They offered melodies by Bach, Brahms and Chopin, but they were hardly classical records. They included compositions by Ernesto Lecuona, but they’re not flamenco.

This 7-CD box set (total of 214 tracks) also includes remastered versions of Chet's original LP's MISTER GUITAR, TEENSVILLE, CHET ATKINS' WORKSHOP and his acoustic Spanish guitar set, THE OTHER CHET ATKINS. Tracks from the orchestrated 'Living Stereo' classic CHET ATKINS IN HOLLYWOOD appear here in their original, superior 1958 versions. Many other numbers only appeared on singles or EPs, including tracks issued as The Rhythm Rockers featuring Chet. Twenty six RCA Victor masters and alternate takes here were previously unissued including tracks from two abandoned projects: MY BROTHER SINGS (featuring Jim Atkins on vocals) and an Elvis Presley tribute. Twenty SESAC recordings (never commercially available) and the 1959 HUM & STRUM ALONG WITH CHET ATKINS LP are also included.

This set is the summation of Chet Atkins' art. Budding and seasoned guitarists alike spent hours with these albums trying to unscramble Atkins’s technique. The list of musicians indebted to his groundbreaking virtuosity is enormous including such legendary artists as: Jerry Reed, Lenny Breau, Paul Yandell, John Knowles, George Harrison, Carl Perkins, Scotty Moore, Nokie Edwards (The Ventures), Dave Edmunds, as well as the newer generation of guitarists: Tommy Emmanuel, Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits), Muriel Anderson, Richard Smith (England), Jim Nichols, Thom Bresh, Buster B. Jones, David Paul, Ray Cummins and countless others. The Ventures learned "Walk Don’t Run" from Atkins’ 1957 recording, included here. Other Atkins staples include "The Poor People Of Paris, In The Mood, Tiger Rag, Trambone, Blue [Ocean] Echo, Petite Waltz, Yankee Doodle Dixie, Jitterbug Waltz, Django’s Castle" and the rhythmic "Boo Boo Stick Beat", which is featured in two versions.

As a bonus, this set includes Atkins’s first known solo recordings "Empty Slippers" and "Why Don't You Leave Me Alone" (a 1945 demo acetate from WNOX, Knoxville). Also featured is all tracks from THE MOST HAPPY FELLA, a rare EP featuring Atkins accompanying Eddy Arnold on songs from Frank Loesser’s 1956 musical.

In the companion 112-page hardcover book, Rich Kienzle documents Atkins' life and music during these years, including his parallel career as a producer who helped shape the emerging 'Nashville Sound'. -- Bear Family Records, 2004¹

Original LP covers

Original EP covers

Disc 1
  1. Cherry Pink & Apple Blossom White (Larue / David / Louiguy) (2:05)
  2. (The Wallflower) Dance With Me, Henry (Etta / Otis) (2:21)
  3. Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup (Anna Sosenko) (2:21)
  4. Tweedle Dee (Winfield Scott) (2:23)
  5. Hey, Mr. Guitar (Hey, Mr. Banjo) (w/The Anita Kerr Singers: vocal chorus) (Morgan / Malkin) (2:02)
  6. Unchained Melody ('55 version) (Zaret / North) (2:27)
  7. Tennessee Polka (previously unissued) (Erwin King) (2:03)
  8. Blues In The Night (Arlen / Mercer) (2:25)
  9. Black Mountain Rag (Tom Magness) (2:29)
10. Somebody Stole My Gal (Leo Woods) (2:11)
11. Shine On Harvest Moon (Norworth / Bayes) (2:09)
12. Jingle Bells (trad. arr. Chet Atkins) (2:04)
13. Christmas Carols (trad. arr. Chet Atkins) (2:51)
14. Cecilia (Ruby / Dreyer) (2:27)
15. Arrivederci, Roma (previously unissued) (Sigman / Ranucci) (2:48)
16. Sleigh Bells, Reindeer & Snow (possibly Merle Atkins: vocal) (previously unissued) (Chet Atkins) (1:59)
17. New Spanish Two-Step ('55 version - previously unissued) (Duncan / Wills) (2:12)
18. Intermezzo (Provost) (2:32)
19. Tenderly (Grosz / Lawrence) (3:23)
20. Minute Waltz (Chopin) (1:46)
21. Minuet (from French Harpsichord Suite) ~ Prelude From Six Short Preludes (J.S. Bach) (2:28)
22. Schön Rosmarie (Fritz Kreisler) (2:00)
23. Tip-Toe Through The Tulips With Me (Dubin / Burke) (2:20)
24. Arkansaw Traveler (arr. Roy Lanham) (2:21)
25. Little Rock Getaway (Joe Sullivan) (2:18)
26. Ochi Chornya (Dark Eyes) (trad. arr. Chet Atkins) (2:45)
27. Londonderry Air (trad. arr. Chet Atkins) (2:45)
28. La Golondrina (The Swallow) (trad. arr. Chet Atkins) (2:46)
29. Jean's Song (Marguerite Monnot) (1:59)
30. Honey (Gillespie / Whiting / Simons) (2:16)
31. The Poor People Of Paris (Jean's Song) (2nd version) (Marguerite Monnot) (2:17)
32. Honey (2nd version) (Gillespie / Whiting / Simons) (2:19)
  Total timing: 75:49

Disc 2
  1. The Lady Loves Me (Moesser / Giese / Peterson / Long / Heather) (2:22)
  2. New Spanish Two-Step ('56 version - guitar duet w/Hank Snow) (Duncan / Wills) (2:08)
  3. Reminiscing (guitar duet w/Hank Snow) (Clarence E. Snow) (2:14)
  4. Memphis Blues (W.C.Handy) (2:45)
  5. Oh! By Jingo (Brown / Von Tilzer) (1:53)
  6. Hello Ma Baby (Howard / Emerson) (2:34)
  7. Indian Love Call (R.Friml) (2:57)
  8. Alice Blue Gown (H.Tierney) (2:20)
  9. The Third Man Theme (Anton Karas) (3:05)
10. Blue Gypsy (Chet Atkins / Boudleaux Bryant) (2:57)
11. St. Louis Blues (W.C.Handy) (2:59)
12. Dance Of The Golden Rod (John H. Tower) (2:01)
13. Unchained Melody ('56 version) (Zaret / North) (2:58)
14. Gavotte In D (Gossee) (1:41)
15. Malaguena (Ernesto Lecuona) (2:46)
16. Glow Worm (Lincke) (2:13)
17. In The Mood (Razaf / J.Garland) (2:17)
18. Heartaches (Klenner / Hoffman) (2:07)
19. Swedish Rhapsody (Hugo Alfven) (2:33)
20. Waltz In A-Flat (Brahms) (1:48)
21. Adelita (Tarrera) (1:38)
22. Petite Waltz (Joe Heyne) (2:48)
23. Liza (Kahn / Ira & George Gershwin) (2:46)
24. Trambone (Chet Atkins) (2:12)
25. Peanut Vendor (w/The Rhythm Rockers) (Simons / Gilbert / Sunshine) (2:01)
26. Blue [Ocean] Echo (Chet Atkins / Boudleaux Bryant) (2:20)
27. Tricky (w/The Rhythm Rockers) (Gus Jenkins) (2:40)
28. Martinique (w/The Rhythm Rockers) (Wilbur DeParis) (2:37)
29. Dig These Blues (w/The Rhythm Rockers) (Chatman Bros / Greene / Marshall) (2:24)
30. Colonial Ballroom (Chuck Thompson / Chet Atkins) (2:26)
31. Midnight ('57 version - previously unissued) (Chet Atkins / Boudleaux Bryant) (2:26)
  Total timing: 75:09

Disc 3
  1. El Cumbanchero (Rafael Hernandez) (2:05)
  2. Anna (Girodana / Vatro) (2:07)
  3. Tiger Rag (Sharbarro / Edwards / Ragas / Shields / Larocca / Decosta) (1:53)
  4. Jitterbug Waltz ('57 version - previously unissued) (Fats Waller) (3:20)
  5. Lullaby * (Neumann / Pereper / Whitney / Blake) (2:14)
  6. August Moon * (Cunow / Bradley) (2:37)
  7. Beloved * (Richards / Santesi / Goddard) (2:23)
  8. I Feel It In My Soul * (Speer) (2:09)
  9. The Lord Done Brought Him Out * (Stanphill) (2:19)
10. The Red Leaves Of Autumn * (O'Connell) (2:17)
11. Because * (Stanphill) (2:11)
12. No Greater Love * (Durham) (2:35)
13. It's About Time * (Hoff) (2:27)
14. Don't Tease My Heart * (Stoalting / Allan) (2:27)
15. Fascinating Melody * (O'Connell) (2:49)
16. Moon Over Burma * (Livernash) (2:50)
17. A Great Love * (O'Connell) (2:38)
18. My Love Will Never Grow Old * (Johnson) (2:07)
19. Saw Mill River Road * (O'Connell) (2:39)
20. Delightful Interlude * (O'Connell) (2:33)
21. Head Over Heels * (Stone) (2:43)
22. I Must Be Losing My Heart * (Sterling) (2:10)
23. I Won't Cry Anymore * (Miller / Allan) (2:00)
24. When It's Cherry Blossom Time * (Bradley) (2:03)
25. Portuguese Washerwoman (Lucchesi / Popp) (2:08)
26. You Do Something To Me (previously unissued) (Cole Porter) (2:19)
27. Shadow Waltz (Warren / Dubin) (2:25)
28. Walk Don't Run (Johnny Smith) (2:26)
29. Tara's Theme (Max Steiner) (2:27)
30. Lullaby Of The Leaves (Pitkere / Young) (2:39)
 * SESAC Repertory sessions w/The Anita Kerr Singers: vocal chorus (tracks previously unissued for commercial release)
  Total timing: 72:15

Disc 4
  1. Ain't Misbehavin' (Waller / Razaf) (2:19)
  2. Avorada (trad. arr. Chet Atkins) (1:31)
  3. Bourré (J.S. Bach) (1:29)
  4. Johnson Rag (Hall / Kleinkauf / Lawrence) (2:12)
  5. Yesterdays (Kern / Harbach) (2:20)
  6. Hidden Charm (James Rich) (2:30)
  7. You're Just In Love (Irving Berlin) (2:36)
  8. Don't Blame Me (previously unissued) (Fields / McHugh) (3:17)
  9. Jungle Drums (Ernesto Lecuona) (2:26)
10. Czardas (Monti) (2:03)
11. Martha (trad. arr. Chet Atkins) (2:08)
12. Sophisticated Lady (Ellington / Parish / Mills) (2:48)
13. April In Portugal (Paul Ferrai) (2:26)
14. Nagasaki (Warren / Dixon) (2:23)
15. Muskrat Ramble (previously unissued) (Kid Ory) (2:14)
16. Say 'Si Si' (Lecuona) (2:14)
17. Ay Ay Ay (trad. arr. Chet Atkins) (2:36)
18. Yankee Doodle Dixie (LP version) (trad. arr. Chet Atkins) (2:05)
19. In The Chapel In The Moonlight (Billy Hill) (2:53)
20. Vilia (trad. arr. Chet Atkins) (2:10)
21. Yankee Doodle Dixie (EP version) (trad. arr. Chet Atkins) (2:05)
22. Siesta (James Rich / Chet Atkins) (2:30)
23. Jessie (trad. arr. Chet Atkins) (2:09)
24. Slinkey (Chet Atkins) (2:04)
25. Asleep In The Deep (w/Jim Atkins: vocal) (previously unissued) (Lamb / Petrie) (3:02)
26. Out Of Nowhere (w/Jim Atkins: vocal) (Green / Hayman) (2:57)
27. Even Tho' (w/Jim Atkins: vocal) (Jones / Peepels / Pierce) (3:14)
28. When Day Is Done (w/Jim Atkins: vocal) (Katscher / SeSylva) (2:28)
29. I'll Be With You In Apple Blossom Time (w/Jim Atkins: vocal) (Fleeson / Von Tilzer) (2:08)
30. Swanee River (w/Jim Atkins: vocal) (Stephen Foster) (1:38)
  Total timing: 71:11

Disc 5
  1. My Funny Valentine (previously unissued) (Rodgers / Hart) (2:39)
  2. I Know That You Know (Caldwell / Youmans) (1:55)
  3. Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart (previously unissued) (James F. Hanley) (2:46)
  4. I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles (Kenbrovin / Kellette) (1:36)
  5. Country Style (Burke / Van Heusen) (2:05)
  6. Estrellita (Manuel M. Pierce) (2:51)
  7. Little Old Lady (Carmichael / Adams) (2:17)
  8. Let It Be Me (Mann / Curtis / Becaud) (3:16)
  9. Meet Mister Callaghan (Eric Speer) (2:23)
10. Santa Lucia (Don Titman; A.Fassio) (2:45)
11. Armen's Theme (Ross Bagdasarian) (2:07)
12. Theme From 'Picnic' (George W. Duning) (3:22)
13. The Three Bells (Reisfeld / Villard) (2:58)
14. The Theme From 'Limelight' (Charles Chaplin) (3:08)
15. Greensleeves (trad. arr. Chet Atkins) (2:42)
16. Theme From A Dream (Boudleaux Bryant) (3:59)
17. Jitterbug Waltz ('58 version) (Fats Waller) (2:59)
18. Peek-A-Boo Moon * (Garson / Shuman) (2:07)
19. Backwoods (James Rich) (2:13)
20. Walkin' The Strings (Merle Travis) (1:13)
21. Beautiful Brown Eyes * (Smith / Delmore) (2:45)
22. Tennessee Waltz * (Stewart / King) (2:06)
23. Birmingham Jail * (trad. arr. Chet Atkins) (2:57)
24. The Prisoner's Song * (Guy Massey) (2:21)
25. In The Good Old Summertime * (Shields / Evans) (2:07)
26. Titanic * (Dean Hudson) (2:22)
27. Cold Cold Heart * (Hank Williams) (2:31)
28. John Henry * (trad. arr. Chet Atkins) (2:25)
29. Goodnight Irene * (Ledbetter / Lomax) (2:36)
30. Music! Music! Music! * (Weiss / Baum) (1:57)
 * w/The Anita Kerr Singers: vocal chorus
  Total timing: 75:43

Disc 6
  1. Bill Bailey * (Hughie Cannon) (2:17)
  2. Sweet Bunch Of Daisies * (trad. arr. Chet Atkins) (2:15)
  3. Hello Bluebird (Cliff Friend) (2:10)
  4. Rainbow (Wenrich / Bryan) (2:30)
  5. Country Gentleman (Chet Atkins / Boudleaux Bryant) (1:55)
  6. Piano Concerto In C Minor (Tschailkowsky) (2:30)
  7. Show Me The Way To Go Home (Irving King) (2:28)
  8. Django's Castle (Manoir de mes reves ) † (Django Reinhardt) (2:31)
  9. Blackjack (w/Raymond C. Walker: vocal) (John D. Loudermilk) (2:25)
10. Boo Boo Stick Beat (alternate version) (Harman / J.D.Loudermilk) (2:07)
11. Boo Boo Stick Beat (Harman / J.D.Loudermilk) (2:09)
12. Blue Rhapsody [Teensville] (previously unissued) (w/Floyd Cramer: piano) * (Wayne Cogswell) (2:13)
13. 'Til There Was You (alternate version) * (Meredith Willson) (2:22)
14. High Noon (previously unissued) * (Washington / Tiomkin) (2:54)
15. Take A Message To Mary * (Boudleaux & Felice Bryant) (2:20)
16. Sleep Walk † (Ann, Santo & Johnny Farina) (2:33)
17. Night Train * † (Forrest / Washington / Simpkins) (2:34)
18. One Mint Julep * † (Rudolph Toombs) (2:08)
19. Come Softly To Me * † (Troxel / Christopher / Ellis) (2:00)
20. White Silver Sands * † (C.G.Matthews) (2:17)
21. Hot Toddy † (Ralph Flanagan) (2:24)
22. Hot Toddy (alternate version) † (Ralph Flanagan) (2:23)
23. Till There Was You * (Meredith Willson) (2:29)
24. Teensville (w/Floyd Cramer: piano) * (Wayne Cogswell) (2:13)
25. Oh, Lonesome Me (w/Floyd Cramer: piano) * (Don Gibson) (2:18)
26. Delicado (Waldyr Azevedo) (2:20)
27. Sabrosa (Rene Touzet) (2:07)
28. Maria Elena (Heagney / Barcelata) (2:55)
29. Peanut Vendor (Simons / Gilbert / Sunshine) (2:19)
30. Marcheta (V.Schertzinger) (2:22)
31. Begin The Beguine (Cole Porter) (3:19)
32. Poinciana (Song Of The Tree) (Simon / Bernier) (2:03)
33. Yours (Quiereme Mucho) (Roig / Sherr) (2:31)
 * w/The Anita Kerr Singers: vocal chorus / refrain
 † w/Boots Randolph: saxophone
  Total timing: 78:36

Disc 7
  1. Siboney (Ernesto Lecuona) (2:06)
  2. El Relicario (Sanchez Jose Padilla) (2:04)
  3. Tzena, Tzena, Tzena (Myron / Grossman / Parish) (2:04)
  4. The Streets Of Laredo (trad. arr. Chet Atkins) (2:41)
  5. Lambeth Walk (alternate version) (Gay / Furber) (2:46)
  6. In A Little Spanish Town (Lewis / Young / Wayne) (2:14)
  7. Lullaby Of Birdland (alternate version) (George Shearing) (2:05)
  8. Hot Mocking Bird (alternate version) (arr. Forrest 'Bud' Isaacs) (2:11)
  9. Tammy (Livingston / Evans) (1:57)
10. Goofus (Harold / King / Kahn) (2:34)
11. Theme From 'A Summer Place' (alternate version) (Max Steiner) (2:07)
12. Whispering (alternate version) (Schonberger / Coburn / Rose) (2:08)
13. Marie (alternate version) (Irving Berlin) (2:15)
14. Bonita (alternate version) (James Rich) (2:47)
15. Whatever Will Be, Will Be (alternate version) (Livingston / Evans) (2:10)
16. Sleep (E. Lebieg) (2:18)
17. Rainbow's End * (Killen / Cogswell) (2:20)
18. Theme From 'The Dark At The Top Of The Stairs' (Max Steiner) (3:07)
19. Hocus Pocus (James 'Spider' Rich) (2:05)
20. Blue Moon Of Kentucky (previously unissued) * (Bill Monroe) (2:18)
21. Heartbreak Hotel (w/Floyd Cramer: piano) * (Axton / Durden / Presley) (2:27)
22. It's Now Or Never * (Schroeder / Gold) (2:03)
23. Warm All Over (from 'The Most Happy Fella') (Eddy Arnold: vocal) + (Frank Loesser) (2:18)
24. Big D (from 'The Most Happy Fella') (Eddy Arnold: vocal) + (Frank Loesser) (2:15)
25. Don't Cry (from 'The Most Happy Fella') (Eddy Arnold: vocal) + (Frank Loesser) (2:27)
26. Standing On The Corner (from 'The Most Happy Fella') (Eddy Arnold: vocal) + (Frank Loesser) (2:24)
27. Why Don't You Leave Me Alone (acetate) (Chet: vocal) + (Bill Stephens) (2:14)
28. Empty Slippers (acetate) (Chet: vocal) + (Stephens / Collins) (2:42)
  * w/The Anita Kerr Singers: vocal chorus / refrain
  + Bonus selections
  Total timing: 65:18

Label/No: Bear Family Records BCD-16539 (German import)

Release date: (c)1955-1960, 2004 reissue

¹ edited content by Funky Junk Ent.