The Night Atlanta Burned/The First Nashville Guitar Quartet

Performer: Chet Atkins
Producer: Chet Atkins; Bob Ferguson; Chet Atkins
Distributor: E1 Distribution (USA)

Notes: Personnel: Chet Atkins (acoustic guitar); Chet Atkins; John Knowles, John Knowles (acoustic guitar); Liona Boyd, John Pell (acoustic guitar). Liner Note Author: Keith Glass. Recording information: C.A. Workshop, Nashville, TN (1975-1979); Music City Music Hall, Nashville, TN (1975-1979); RCA's "Nashville Sound" Studios (1975-1979). Author: Chet Atkins. Arrangers: Chet Atkins; John Pell; John Knowles; Rick Foster. Chet Atkins' extensive solo discography has often been justly criticized for containing too many throw-away albums and being prone to over-orchestrated arrangements. When the spirit moved him, however, he was capable of spearheading dignified, acoustic country-oriented records that showcased his virtuosic picking in tasteful contexts. Two of the most prominent examples are combined onto one disc on this Australian reissue, which according to the packaging marks their CD debut. From 1975, The Night Atlanta Burned -- actually credited to "The Atkins String Co." -- has Atkins heading a "classic country string quartet" that backs his own guitar with violin, viola, mandolin, and "acoustic guitar rhythm." In its low-key, intelligent blend of country, folk, bluegrass, and classical music, it sounds a little like a PBS soundtrack before its time, but in a good way. From 1979, The First Nashville Guitar Quartet has Atkins leading an all-acoustic guitar quartet, also including John Pell, Liona Boyd, and John Knowles. It too is a smooth but not too slick, eclectic blend of the same influences, though a little less daring, principally owing to the more conventional all-guitar arrangements. Those looking to cut to the chase and pick up only the most meaningful of Atkins '70s solo recordings could do worse than to start with this good-value reissue, even if it's not representative of much of what he did in his lengthy career. ~ Richie Unterberger

Among fingerstyle country guitar players, perhaps only Merle Travis can rival Chet Atkins, whose distinctive sound defined an entire generation of Nashville country. Atkins has played an equally important role as a record producer. As RCA's chief Nashville producer in the '50s and '60s, Atkins oversaw sessions for Elvis Presley, the Everly Brothers, Jim Reeves, Don Gibson, and countless others. He was one of the chief architects of the polished country style that came to be known as the "Nashville sound," but his own productions were more tasteful and appealing than those for which the genre is frequently lambasted. Atkins remained active into the '90s, but succumbed to cancer in 2001.

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