Four Master Class Albums 1978-1997

Chet Atkins

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Four Master Class Albums 1978-1997 Review

by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Raven's 2014 double-disc set Four Master Class Albums 1978-1997 collects four duet albums Chet Atkins recorded with four different world-class guitarists during the last act of his career. The first is Guitar Monsters, credited to Chester & Lester, aka Chet Atkins and Les Paul. With Paul, Atkins relies primarily on jazz standards (they do find space for Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Meditation"), which is thoroughly pleasant and fine, but perhaps the most telling moment is the pretty silly "I'm Your Greatest Fan," where they shuck and jive and trade licks and corny jokes. It's not a major statement, it's just some fun. Neck and Neck, Atkins' 1990 album with Mark Knopfler, isn't quite a lark. Recorded near the peak of Knopfler's stardom with Dire Straits, this is cheerful yet sober, two exacting guitarists getting things just right; it's as immaculate an album as Atkins ever made. On the other side of that spectrum is 1992's Sneakin' Around, where Chet once again pairs with his old running partner Jerry Reed and the two do another amiable jam session. "The Claw" is dragged out again, pleasurable as always, and they have some smiles with Reed originals. If the cavernous production sometimes sinks the record -- "Summertime" and "Nifty Fifties" drown in pristine echo -- it's still worth a smile. Finally, there's The Day Finger Pickers Took Over the World, a 1997 duet with Australian guitarist Tommy Emmanuel. Again, the production is a little bit too clean but this is perhaps the most robust record here, Atkins and Emmanuel clearly enjoying their amiable sparring match. All in all, a pretty good selection of pretty nice records.

Track Listing - Disc 1

Title/Composer Performer Time Stream
1 Chet Atkins feat: Les Paul 02:48 SpotifyAmazon
2 Chet Atkins feat: Les Paul 03:38 SpotifyAmazon
3 Chet Atkins feat: Les Paul 02:39 SpotifyAmazon
4 Chet Atkins feat: Les Paul 02:30 SpotifyAmazon
5 Chet Atkins feat: Les Paul 02:57 SpotifyAmazon
6 Chet Atkins feat: Les Paul 03:47 SpotifyAmazon
7 Chet Atkins feat: Les Paul 02:56 SpotifyAmazon
8 Chet Atkins feat: Les Paul 04:02 SpotifyAmazon
9 Chet Atkins feat: Les Paul 02:37 SpotifyAmazon
10 Chet Atkins feat: Les Paul 02:49 SpotifyAmazon
11
Chet Atkins feat: Les Paul 02:58 SpotifyAmazon
12 Chet Atkins feat: Mark Knopfler 04:03 SpotifyAmazon
13 Chet Atkins feat: Mark Knopfler 03:25 SpotifyAmazon
14 Chet Atkins feat: Mark Knopfler 06:29 SpotifyAmazon
15 Chet Atkins feat: Mark Knopfler 04:13 SpotifyAmazon
16 Chet Atkins feat: Mark Knopfler 03:17 SpotifyAmazon
17 Chet Atkins feat: Mark Knopfler 03:25 SpotifyAmazon
18
Chet Atkins feat: Mark Knopfler 03:55 SpotifyAmazon
19 Chet Atkins feat: Mark Knopfler 03:20 SpotifyAmazon
20 Chet Atkins feat: Mark Knopfler 03:00 SpotifyAmazon
21 Chet Atkins feat: Mark Knopfler 03:23 SpotifyAmazon
22 Chet Atkins feat: Jerry Reed 05:03 SpotifyAmazon

Track Listing - Disc 2

Title/Composer Performer Time Stream
1
Chet Atkins feat: Jerry Reed 04:20 SpotifyAmazon
2 Chet Atkins feat: Jerry Reed 03:37 SpotifyAmazon
3 Chet Atkins feat: Jerry Reed 04:34 SpotifyAmazon
4 Chet Atkins feat: Jerry Reed 02:41 SpotifyAmazon
5 Chet Atkins feat: Jerry Reed 03:25 SpotifyAmazon
6 Chet Atkins feat: Jerry Reed 03:54 SpotifyAmazon
7 Chet Atkins feat: Jerry Reed 04:21 SpotifyAmazon
8
Chet Atkins feat: Jerry Reed 04:26 SpotifyAmazon
9 Chet Atkins feat: Jerry Reed 04:24 SpotifyAmazon
10 Chet Atkins feat: Jerry Reed 05:28 SpotifyAmazon
11
Chet Atkins 03:10 SpotifyAmazon
12 Chet Atkins 03:20 SpotifyAmazon
13 Chet Atkins 03:40 SpotifyAmazon
14 Chet Atkins 03:08 SpotifyAmazon
15 Chet Atkins 03:09 SpotifyAmazon
16 Chet Atkins 02:56 SpotifyAmazon
17 Chet Atkins 03:52 SpotifyAmazon
18 Chet Atkins 03:34 SpotifyAmazon
19 Chet Atkins 02:53 SpotifyAmazon
20 Chet Atkins 03:02 SpotifyAmazon
21 Chet Atkins 03:28 SpotifyAmazon
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