Chet Atkins Sails CD

Personnel: Chet Atkins (banjo); Mark Knopfler, Earl Klugh, Billy Joe Walker, Paul Yandell, Millard Green (guitar); Baba Ram Dave (sitar); Aristotle Onassid (bazoki); Terry McMillan (harmonica); Jim Horn, Mike Haynes (horns); Mike Lawler, Darryl Dybka, Clayton Ivey, Randy McCormick (keyboards); David Hungate (bass); Larrie Londin, Bob Mater (drums); Mark Hammond, Dave Humphries (programming).
Recorded at CA Workshop, Sound Emporium, Nashville, Tennessee.
Personnel: Chet Atkins (guitar); Mark Knopfler, Billy Joe Walker (guitar); Earl Klugh (acoustic guitar).
Another of Chet Atkins' attempts to break into the jazz world during his Columbia period, this recording veers well across the line into new age music -- at this point in time, when a record opened with soothing ocean waves, followed by a gentle wash of synths, you could pretty much expect the new age to be lapping at your feet throughout. As he has with so many other genres, Atkins displays an instinctive grasp of this feel-good idiom. Yet even amidst the twittering sound effects and electronic drums of "Up in My Treehouse," Atkins' guitar always exudes dignity. Encouragingly, several of the tunes that Atkins composed himself are the most interesting ones on the disc. "Laffin' at Life" allows for some fingerpicking by the master and some OK doodling by other guitarists and keyboardists, and the smooth jazz "On a Roll" has other facets of the Atkins personality, with Earl Klugh apparently taking a guest solo. One of Atkins' favorite latter-day collaborators, Mark Knopfler, is also on the record. ~ Richard S. Ginell
Another of Chet Atkins' attempts to break into the jazz world during his Columbia period, this recording veers well across the line into new age wallowing of the most innocuous kind. At this point in time, when a record opened with soothing ocean waves, followed by a gentle wash of synths, you could pretty much expect the new age to be lapping at your feet throughout. As he has with so many other genres, Atkins displays an instinctive grasp of this feel-good idiom, though he has to hold back his powers of invention to conform to its clichés and repetitions. Yet even amidst the twittering sound effects and electronic drums of "Up in My Treehouse" and the listless treatment of Keith Jarrett's "My Song," Atkins' guitar always exudes dignity. Encouragingly, several of the tunes that Atkins composed himself are the most interesting ones on the disc. "Laffin' at Life" allows for some fingerpicking by the master and some OK doodling by other guitarists and keyboardists, and the smooth jazz "On a Roll" has other facets of the Atkins personality, with Earl Klugh apparently taking a guest solo. One of Atkins' favorite latter-day collaborators, Mark Knopfler, is also on the record, to little discernable effect. Obviously, then, this is not one of the better Atkins Columbia discs. ~ Richard S. Ginell
Chet Atkins' 1987 instrumental release SAILS finds the guitarist in a pop/jazz setting. Blurring the lines between his country roots and a jazzy sensibility, Atkins creates music that's both ethereal and introspective.
There's a slick patina of sound supported not only by Atkins' guitar but also by keyboards, strings, horns and percussion; the result is a rich and diverse layering of chords and rhythms combined with Atkins' lyrical guitar work. Standout tracks include the reflective ballad, "Love Letter," and "Laffin' at Life," the latter of which features Atkins' trademark fingerpicking style.