Chet Atkins Picks on the Beatles

Chet Atkins Picks on The Beatles
Studio album by Chet Atkins
Released	March 1966
Recorded	RCA 'Nashville Sound' Studios, Nashville, TN
Genre	Country, pop, rock
Length	30:11
Label	RCA Victor LSM 3531 (Mono), LSP-3531 (Stereo)
Producer	Chet Atkins and Bob Ferguson
Chet Atkins chronology
More of That Guitar Country (1965) Chet Atkins Picks on The Beatles (1966) From Nashville With Love (1966)

Chet Atkins Picks on The Beatles is the title of a recording by American guitarist Chet Atkins. Atkins interprets a selection of songs by The Beatles on this album.

History

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

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
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

• Chet Atkins Picks on The Beatles was issued on a CD by BMG Entertainment on 30 January 1996 (RCA 07863 53531-2).

Track listing

All songs by John Lennon and Paul McCartney

Side one

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

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

• Chet Atkins – guitar
• Charlie McCoy - harmonica

References

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. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r105397. Retrieved July 2, 2011. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Rosenfield, Norm. "Chet Atkins Picks on the Beatles > Review". Country Standard Time. http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=497&t=Chet_Atkins_Picks_On_the_Beatles. Retrieved July 8, 2011.