The Essential Chet Atkins: The Columbia Years (CD)

• Category:  Music  »  Country  »  Nashville Sound
• Format: CD   Learn more about the CD format using Tower WIKI.
• Release Date: August 31, 2004
• Label: Legacy Recordings
• UPC: 827969279625
• WAPI (Tower ID): 105908767
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• Tower.com Sales Rank: #46843 in Music (See Top 100 Music Bestsellers)
• #126717 in Country (See Top 100 Country Bestsellers)
• #84 in Nashville Sound (See Top 100 Nashville Sound Bestsellers)

Personnel: Chet Atkins (guitar); David Hungate (vocals, bass guitar); Suzy Bogguss (vocals); Tommy Emmanuel (guitar, bass guitar); George Benson , Jerry Reed, Mark Knopfler (guitar); Paul Yandell (banjo); Mark O'Connor (fiddle); Floyd Cramer (keyboards); Guy Fletcher (bass guitar); Lonnie Wilson (drums).

Chet Atkins is heard in a variety of settings on THE ESSENTIAL CHET ATKINS: THE COLUMBIA YEARS. The CD opens with a reverential treatment of J.S. Bach's "Bourree." However, midway through the track, the song falls into a pop/country groove. Later, the piece shifts again, morphing into a synthetic, modern-jazz swing, replete with synthesizers and drum loops. While the use of early 1980's technology dates this arrangement, Atkins's soloing is virtuosic, and he proves here (as he's done in the past) that he is more than just a country picker.

Other tracks include duets with Jerry Reed, Tommy Emmanuel, Mark Knopfler, and George Benson. Atkins's version of John Lennon's "Imagine," as performed with Knopfler, is another highlight. Their rendition of this tune is quite somber, and a lot of rich counterpoint is created between the two guitars. After stating the melody, Knopfler takes some fascinating melodic detours while Atkins maintains the harmonic underpinning. Since all of the tunes compiled for this collection come from Atkins's '80s and '90s recordings, there are no purebred country tracks here. However, the bouncy "I'll See You in My Dreams" employs the ubiquitous country "train rhythm," and Atkins reverts to a more traditional approach on this track.

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