Chet Atkins Picks on the Beatles

Chet Atkins Picks on the Beatles is the twenty-eighth studio album by American guitarist Chet Atkins. Atkins interprets a selection of songs by The Beatles on this album.

Chet Atkins Picks on the Beatles
Studio album by
ReleasedMarch 1966
RecordedRCA 'Nashville Sound' Studios, Nashville, TN
GenreCountry, pop, rock
Length30:11
LabelRCA Victor LPM 3531 (Mono), LSP-3531 (Stereo)
ProducerChet Atkins, Bob Ferguson
Chet Atkins chronology
More of That Guitar Country
(1965)
Chet Atkins Picks on the Beatles
(1966)
From Nashville with Love
(1966)

History edit

The sleeve features liner notes by George Harrison and there is a photo of Atkins wearing a "Beatle wig" on the back cover. It peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Country Albums charts and No. 112 on the Pop Albums charts.

Atkins never recorded with the Gretsch Country Gentleman 12-string guitar that was made especially for him and is pictured on the cover.[1]

The recording was nominated for Best Instrumental Recording (other than Jazz) at the 1967 Grammy awards.

Reception edit

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic      [2]
Country Standard Time(no rating) [3]

Writing for Allmusic, critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine called the album "an entertaining, if ultimately disposable, artifact... As always, his playing is subtle and tasteful, but the album doesn't provide enough inventive or energetic performances to be of lasting interest."[2] Norm Rosenfield of Country Standard Time wrote "You don't have to be a guitar fan to enjoy Atkins' arrangements that add unexpected harmonies with generous helpings of class. So when Chet picks on the Beatles it's only the highest form of flattery."[3]

Reissues edit

  • Chet Atkins Picks on The Beatles was issued on compact disc on 30 January 1996 (RCA 07863 53531-2).

Track listing edit

All songs by John Lennon and Paul McCartney

Side one edit

  1. "I Feel Fine” – 1:57
  2. "Yesterday” – 3:09
  3. If I Fell” – 2:11
  4. Can’t Buy Me Love” – 2:31
  5. I'll Cry Instead” – 2:36
  6. Things We Said Today” – 2:34

Side two edit

  1. A Hard Day's Night” – 2:27
  2. I'll Follow the Sun” – 2:06
  3. She's a Woman” – 2:40
  4. And I Love Her” – 2:22
  5. Michelle” – 2:46
  6. She Loves You” – 2:34

Personnel edit

References edit

  1. ^ Atkins, Chet and Cochran, Russ. (2003). "Me and My Guitars". Milwaukee. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 0-634-05565-8.
  2. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Chet Atkins Picks on the Beatles > Review". Allmusic. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
  3. ^ a b Rosenfield, Norm. "Chet Atkins Picks on the Beatles > Review". Country Standard Time. Retrieved July 8, 2011.