The Very Best Of Chet Atkins

Despite the fact that this isn't on RCA and one can debate the "very best-of" in the title some, this is nonetheless a great double-disc collection by guitar great and country music pioneer Chet Atkins. These 40 sides cover the 1940s, '50s, and early '60s as Atkins developed as an artist who sang cowboy songs in quartets, into a swashbuckling guitarist, and finally as a countrypolitain superstar -- a sound he developed in Nashville studios while heading RCA's country division. Whether it's killer pickin' swing, such as on "Canned Heat," or the easy yet jazzy country of "Indian Love Call," or the bluegrass inspired "Main Street Breakdown," Atkins' genius is on display in spades. In addition to the music, there is complete discographical annotation inside, and a decent if rudimentary liner essay. Best of all, the price is extremely attractive. This is one well worth seeking out as a great mix for the seasoned fan and the merely curious. ~ Thom Jurek|