category: instrumental country / pop / easy listening

Album review:
On this disc, which contains two full LPs from the early 1970s, the legendary country guitarist Chet Atkins teamed up with younger six-stringer Jerry Reed. On each track, Reed holds his own against the master. In fact, Reed and Atkins complement each other's playing in a relaxed, comfortable manner. Reed plays mostly rhythm on these 21 tracks, but once in a while "The Kid," as he is referred to in the liner notes, steps up to the plate and performs a terrific solo.

On ME & CHET, standout tracks include "Serenade to Summertime," a tune supported by a lush string orchestra, and the Hank Williams gospel classic, "I Saw the Light." ME & JERRY presents many excellent renditions of pop songs, particularly Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water," Hammerstein & Kern's "Old Man River," and George Harrison's "Something." It's easy to tell that these two guitarists were having a great time when they recorded these albums--their liner notes are tongue-in-cheek, the photos are amusing, and the chatter between certain tracks indicates that this was clearly a labor of love.

CD Track Listing

Me & Chet
  1. Jerry's Breakdown (Jerry R. Hubbard) (2:09)
  2. Limehouse Blues (Furber / Braham) (2:34)
  3. Liebestraum (Liszt) (2:41)
  4. Serenade For Summer (Sergio Palito) (2:33)
  5. Nashtown Ville (Chet Atkins) (2:04)
  6. Mystery Train (Parker / Phillips) (2:49)
  7. The Mad Russian (Paul Yandell / Jerry R. Hubbard) (2:13)
  8. Flying South (Cindy Walker) (2:32)
  9. Good Stuff (Jerry R. Hubbard) (2:42)
10. All I Ever Need Is You (Reeves / Holiday) (2:05)
11. I Saw The Light (Hank Williams) (3:20)

Me & Jerry
12. Tennessee Stud (Jimmie Driftwood) (3:06)
13. Bridge Over Troubled Water (Simon / Garfunkle) (3:05)
14. MacArthur Park (Jimmy Webb) (2:45)
15. Old Man River (Hammerstein / Kern) (2:52)
16. Nut Sundae (Jerry Hubbard) (2:37)
17. Cannonball Rag (Merle Travis) (2:13)
18. Wreck Of The John B (Hays / Sandburg) (2:55)
19. Stump Water (Jerry Hubbard) (2:15)
20. The January-February March (Jerry Hubbard) (2:48)
21. Something (George Harrison) (2:14)

Total timing: 55:51

Label/No: One Way 35127

Release date: (c)1970, (c)1972, 1998 reissue