category: instrumental country / pop / jazz / easy listening

Album review:
This is Atkin's last CD before he died a couple years back and is a compilation of cuts that earned him the Grammy Award in various years. There are several collaborative efforts, primarily with Jerry Reed (Nut Sundae, Sneakin' Around) and Dire Straits legend Mark Knopfler (Cosmic Square Dance, So Soft, Your Goodbye and Poor Boy Blues). Merle Travis sits in on "I'll See You in My Dreams," and the father of the Gibson, Les Paul, accompanies Chet on a stunning rendition of "Caravan."

This CD provides a great overview of a true legend's remarkable career and each cut is of time capsule quality in terms of engineering (Chet's grandson, Jonathan Russell, re-mastered the tracks). The highlight for me, really is the chance to hear the interplay between Knopfler and Atkins. They are two of the truly outstanding guitarists of our era. One can tell that they thoroughly enjoyed playing together and fed off of each other. -- Bruce Kendall "BEK" (Southern Pines, NC)

CD Track Listing

  1. Tears (Reinhardt / Grappelli) (2:46)
  2. Nut Sundae (guitar duet w/Jerry Reed) (Jerry Hubbard) (2:39)
  3. Snowbird (Gene McLellan) (2:16)
  4. I'll See You In My Dreams (guitar duet w/Merle Travis) (Kahn / Jones) (3:20)
  5. The Entertainer (Scott Joplin; arr. John Knowles) (2:18)
  6. Caravan (guitar duet w/Les Paul) (Ellington / Tizol) (3:18)
  7. Ready For The Times To Get Better (A.Reynolds) (4:09)
  8. Cosmic Square Dance (guitar duet w/Mark Knopfler) (C.Atkins / P.Yandell / M.Knopfler) (4:17)
  9. So Soft, Your Goodbye (guitar duet w/Mark Knopfler) (Randy Goodrum) (3:20)
10. Poor Boy Blues (guitar & vocal duet w/Mark Knopfler) (P.Kennerley) (4:05)
11. Sneakin' Around (guitar duet w/Jerry Reed) (R.L. Kass)) (4:27)
12. Young Thing (Chet Atkins) (3:15)
13. Jam Man (Chet Atkins) (3:22)

Total timing: 43:37

Label/No: Columbia 85375

Release date: 2002 reissue