category: instrumental country / pop / bluegrass / folk / classical / easy listening

Album review:
Chet Atkins is not the most flambouyant guitarist, but his skill and technique make him not only one of country music's best guitarists, but a highly influential guitar player during the formative years of rock 'n' roll, having played guitar on most of the Everly Brothers early recordings including "Bye Bye Love" and "Wake Up Little Susie."

This 20-track collection begins with a 1954 recording of "Mr. Sandman" and concludes with 1982's "Chet's Medley." Heavily influenced by Merle Travis, this all-instrumental set shows why Atkins is Nashville's superpicker. His song selections run the gamut from country to pop to tin pan alley to movie themes and all stops in between.

If this set leaves you wanting more! Also superb is the two-fer set with Les Paul: "Chester & Lester / Guitar Monsters" (out-of-print) and the pairing with Mark Knopfler on Neck & Neck. But "The Essential Chet Atkins" will serve adequately as a primer for this legendary guitarist. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. -- Steve Vrana (Aurora, NE)

CD Track Listing

  1. Mister Sandman (Pat Ballard) (2:21)
  2. The Poor People Of Paris (Jean's Song) (Marguerite Monnot) (2:02)
  3. Boo Boo Stick Beat (Murray Harmon / J.D.Loudermilk) (2:13)
  4. Alley Cat (Frank Bjorn) (2:24)
  5. Travelin' (James Miller) (2:20)
  6. Yakety Axe (w/Charlie McCoy: harmonica) (Randolph / Rich) (2:05)
  7. Yesterday (Lennon / McCartney) (3:13)
  8. Blue Angel (Natalico Lima) (2:27)
  9. Theme From "Zorbra The Greek" (Mikis Theodorakis) (3:03)
10. Snowbird (Gene MacLellan) (2:18)
11. Steeplechase Lane (Jerry Hubbard) (2:27)
12. Jerry's Breakdown (guitar duet w/Jerry Reed) (Jerry R. Hubbard) (2:13)
13. Black Mountain Rag (Tommy Magness) (2:36)
14. Fiddlin' Around (w/Johnny Gimble: fiddle) (J.Gimble) (3:10)
15. Somewhere, My Love (Lara's Theme from the Film "Doctor Zhivago") (Webster / Jarre) (2:36)
16. The Entertainer (Theme From The Film "The Sting") (Scott Joplin; arr. John Knowles) (2:20)
17. Londonderry Air (w/The First Nashville Guitar Quartet) (trad.arr. John Pell) (2:51)
18. On My Way to Canaan's Land (w/Doc Watson: guitar & vocals) (trad. arr. Chet Atkins) (3:08)
19. Medley: (guitar duet w/Doc Watson) Tennessee Rag (Chet Atkins) / Beaumont Rag (trad. arr. Doc Watson) (2:38)
20. Chet's Medley: • Four Walls (West / Moore) • I Can't Stop Loving You (Don Gibson) • Send Me the Pillow You Dream On (Hank Locklin) • Five Hundred Miles (Hedy West) • Oh Lonesome Me (Don Gibson) (4:31)

Total timing: 52:55

Label/No: RCA 66855-2

Release date: 1996 reissue