Chet Atkins in Three Dimensions

Performer: Chet Atkins
Distributor: City Hall

Notes: In his second 12" album, the young master guitarist tries to transcend categories and stereotypes, dividing the album into three distinct sections. The first deals with sometimes surprising treatments of four folk tunes; "Arkansaw Traveler" is a particularly amazing tour de force that takes us to other strange places before reaching the tune. Part two is devoted to pop songs, again in varied treatments. His "Little Rock Getaway" at first bears a partial resemblance to the recording by Atkins' early influence Les Paul; "Blues in the Night" combines a jazz sensibility with various classic country licks; and Atkins gets away with a perfectly respectful treatment of "Tip Toe Through the Tulips." Then Atkins takes a big left turn into classical music, playing Bach quite respectably (if colorlessly) on classical guitar. He switches back to electric for Provost's "Intermezzo," Kreisler's "Schon Rosmarin," and Chopin's "Minute Waltz," using discreet tape echo effects and brandishing the country influence now and then. A all-encompassing record like this was the envy of every open-minded guitarslinger of the time. ~ Richard S. Ginell

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.

Shipping or Dimension weight in pounds: 0.3

Shipping Options and Policies