Neck and Neck

Performer: Mark Knopfler
Artist: Floyd Cramer; Vince Gill
Engineer: Guy Fletcher; Mike Poston
Producer: Mark Knopfler
Distributor: Sony Music Distribution (

Notes: Personnel: Chet Atkins, Mark Knopfler (guitar); Paul Franklin (steel guitar, pedabro, dobro); Mark O'Connor (mandolin, fiddle); Floyd Cramer (piano); Guy Fletcher (keyboards, bass, drums); Edgar Meyer, Steve Wariner (bass); Larrie Londin (drums); Vince Gill (background vocals). Personnel: Chet Atkins (vocals, guitar); Mark Knopfler (vocals, guitar); Paul Franklin (steel guitar, dobro); Mark O'Connor (mandolin, fiddle); Floyd Cramer (piano); Guy Fletcher (keyboards, bass guitar, drums); Steve Wariner, Edgar Meyer (bass guitar); Larrie Londin (drums); Vince Gill (background vocals). Audio Mixer: Bill Schnee. Recording information: CA Workshop, Nashville, TN; Hillbilly Heaven, London, England; Sound Emporium, Nashville, TN. Unknown Contributor Roles: Chet Atkins; Deborah Feingold; Paul Franklin. Without Chet Atkins, country music may never have crossed over into the pop charts in the '50s and '60s. Atkins' style grew out of his admiration for Merle Travis, and expanded Travis' signature syncopated thumb-and-fingers roll into new territory. Chet Atkins' role as record producer in the '60s and '70s made the Nashville sound heard and loved throughout the world. On NECK AND NECK, Mr. Guitar teams up with Dire Straits' guitarist Mark Knopfler. Together, the two guitar greats perform a wide variety of music encompassing country, pop, and even European jazz influences. Atkins and Knopfler perform the Boots Randolph tune, "Yakety Sax" that Atkins, decades earlier, turned into a country hit after renaming it "Yakety Axe." The two guitarists also perform the Django Reinhardt ballad, "Tears," employing a delicate and introspective touch. Perhaps the best song here though is the endearing "There'll Be Some Changes Made," which incorporates a virtuoso guitar battle.

Although his much-heralded band, Dire Straits, didn't officially disintegrate until the 1990s, lead guitarist Mark Knopfler had enjoyed an impressively prolific solo career since he was recruited to score the 1983 film LOCAL HERO. The soundtrack's sparse and poignant melodies impressed filmgoers and directors, and an alternate career for the rocker was born. He went on to write acclaimed scores for several films, as well as making notable appearances on albums by a diverse roster of big-name artists. As a solo artist, Knopfler occasionally goes back to his singer-songwriter roots and releases the odd album, to the great pleasure of his many fans. In 2006, he released ALL THE ROADRUNNING, a lovely duet album with singer Emmylou Harris.

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