THE ESSENTIAL CHET ATKINS (2 CDS)

Additional personnel: Jerry Reed, Lenny Breau, Les Paul, Mark Knopfler, Merle Travis. Liner Note Author: Rich Kienzle. Recording information: 1946-1995. Photographer: Deborah Feingold. THE ESSENTIAL CHET ATKINS is a solid two-disc overview of one of country music's true pioneers. Chet Atkins, as an artist, session guitarist, and producer, is one of the key figures in country music, the man most responsible for the development of the pop-oriented "countrypolitan" sound in the 1960s. This 40-track anthology covers all of Atkins's career and includes such canonical Atkins favorites as "Guitar Blues (Pickin' the Blues)" and "Country Gentleman," which provided the guitarist with his nickname. The set also includes comparative rarities such as a collaboration with Mother Maybelle Carter on the old folk standard "Root Hog Or Die" and the late-1950s stab at rock & roll, "Teen Scene." This is an ideal starting point for novices.

• Genre: Country
• Format: CD
• Released: 7/24/2007