category: instrumental country / pop / jazz / easy listening

Album review:
Raven presents for the first time on CD two iconic albums from the acoustic guitar master CHET ATKINS – "The Night Atlanta Burned" (1975) and "The First Nashville Guitar Quartet" (1979). Combined on the one CD, these albums display the breadth and range of his fluid technique. A true Country music legend, Atkins made an indelible impression as a session guitarist and record producer. He helped create the Nashville sound, a style of country music that combined pop with honky tonk. Having recorded for RCA as a solo artist since 1953, by the mid-1970s Atkins was intent on expanding his range. Inspired by John D. Loudermilk’s ‘The Night Atlanta Burned’, the album of the same name was a masterful fusion of classical/country/bluegrass tunes and influences featuring The Atkins String Company, a top-notch chamber country ensemble led by Atkins.

Chet continued the theme in 1979 with "The First Nashville Guitar Quartet", a classy effort featuring four cowboy boot-wearing, tuxedo-clad acoustic guitarists playing in the style of a string quartet. Songs range from covers of the foot-tappin’ ‘Sonora’ and ‘San Antonio Stroll’ to the hauntingly beautiful ‘Women of Ireland’, from Shel Silverstein’s ‘Rings of Grass’ to arrangements of John Philip Sousa’s ‘Washington Post March’ and Bach’s ‘Brandenburg’. With superb audio quality and detailed liner notes this enlightening and top-value 2-for-1 CD is a must for guitar lovers and fans of classic country bluegrass.

CD Track Listing

The Night Atlanta Burned (The Atkins String Company)
1. SONORA (Mike Loudermilk) (3:17)
2. MOSTLY MOZART (trad. arr. Chet Atkins) (3:47)
3. BILL CHEATHAM (trad. arr. Chet Atkins / Rick Foster) (2:39)
4. SAN ANTONIO STROLL (Peter Noah) (2:43)
5. TO ANN (John D. Loudermilk) (2:02)
6. THE NIGHT ATLANTA BURNED (John D. Loudermilk) (2:14)
7. CARNAVALITO (Edmundo P. Zaldivar; arr. Chet Atkins / Jorge Morel) (3:11)
8. WOMEN OF IRELAND (trad. arr. Chet Atkins) (2:26)
9. SCOTLAND (Bill Monroe) (2:30)
10. THE OLD FOLKS OF OKRACOKE (John D. Loudermilk) (1:59)

The First Nashville Guitar Quartet
11. CAROLINA SHOUT (James P. Johnson; arr. Pell / Knowles / Atkins) (2:37)
12. LONDONDERRY AIR (trad. arr. John Pell) (2:48)
13. LOVE SONG OF PEPE SANCHEZ (John Pell) (2:16)
14. SKIRTS OF MEXICO (Ponce; arr. J.Knowles / C.Atkins) (3:09)
15. YOU NEEDED ME (Randy Goodrum; arr. John Knowles) (2:29)
16. BOUND FOR BOSTON (trad. arr. John Knowles) (3:42)
17. WASHINGTON POST MARCH (trad. arr. John Knowles) (2:18)
18. SOMEDAY MY PRINCE WILL COME (Churchill / Morey; arr. J.Pell / C.Atkins) (3:00)
19. RINGS OF GRASS (Shel Silverstein; arr. Pell / Knowles / Atkins) (3:16)
20. RODRIGO CONCERTO (Rodrigo; arr. J.Pell / J.Knowles) (3:33)
21. BRANDENBURG (trad. arr. John Knowles) (2:55)

Total timing: 60:00

Label/No: Raven Records 268 (Australian issue)

Release date: 2007