Chet Atkins got fired four times because he "wasn't country" enough. His whole career was a series of musical experiments, which is why his music never got tired like that of many of his contemporaries. This recording is from 1959, thirty years after the song was written. If you've only heard the version from the sixties freak parade Tiny Tim, this will be a refreshing change. It certainly highlights Atkins' skills on the electric guitar.
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Chet Atkins had a lot of friends in the music business. He was a session man and did studio work for Big Bands and Jazz groups. One of his connections and personal friends was a neighbour of ours (Glen Murch Sr.) who was a guitarist who performed with Big Bands on the road and did session work as well.
I was fortunate to meet Mr. Atkins when I was a kid. The setting was my friend's living room where Chet and Mr. Murch. had some casual jams and played around with standards from the 40s and 50s. When they took breaks for a beer and sandwiches Chet allowed us to pass around his Gretsch and plunk a few chords.
A very warm and generous man.
Chet was certainly one of the early greats of the electric guitar, and did some amazing things. As a student of the six-string, one quote of his always stood out with me. Guitarists care about the guy playing the fastest licks. Chuck said, “It's important to other musicians, but on records, fast picking doesn't mean a thing. People want to hear melody and nice harmony.”
There's a very obvious talent for pleasant melodies and harmonies in that piece.
One of my all time favorites, Along with Mark Knopfler.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wTVLIZaxMk#t=43
Their album Neck AND Neck was some great work.
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