Chet Atkins Chester & Lester CD

Additional Tracks

Personnel includes: Chet Atkins, Les Paul, Paul Yandell (guitar); Randy Goodrum (piano); Henry Strzelecki, Bob Moore (bass); Larrie London (drums).
Recorded in 1976.
Digitally remastered by Denny Purcell & Jonathan Russell (Georgetown Masters, Nashville, Tennessee).
2 LPs on 1 CD: CHESTER & LESTER (1976)/GUITAR MONSTERS (1978).
Personnel includes: Chet Atkins, Les Paul (guitar); Randy Goodrum (piano); Henry Strzelecki, Bob Moore (bass); Larrie London (drums).
Recorded in Nashville, Tennessee.
Personnel: Bobby Thompson (guitar); Paul Yandell, Ray Edenton (guitar); Randy Goodrum (piano); Henry Strzelecki, Bob Moore (bass guitar); Larrie Londin (drums).
Les Paul is known not only for his contributions to the development of the electric guitar, but for his wizardry in the studio as well (he was a pioneer in the use of multi-track recordings). Part of what makes CHESTER AND LESTER such a treat, however, is the straightforward, easy feel of the session, which seems leagues removed from Paul's painstakingly meticulous experiments. A duo date with Chet Atkins (who was greatly influenced and inspired by Paul), CHESTER AND LESTER showcases two guitar icons playing together as friends.
There is a heavy country flavor to these proceedings, but that doesn't keep either guitarist from flinging around stylistic references to jazz and other genres. Atkins' laid-back fingerpicking style is the perfect counterpoint to Paul's fretboard flurries. The sheer mythic weight created by these two innovators playing side by side is almost enough in itself to recommend the album, but--not surprisingly--the music is wonderful too.
Chester & Lester is a beautiful and fun album by two masters. It was recorded in the mid-'70s when Chet Atkins was in his fifties and Les Paul was in his sixties. The latter had been in retirement for a decade before the recording of this album. Nashville studio musicians, including Randy Goodrum on piano and Larrie Londin on drums, back up the master guitarists, but this is by no means a country album. In fact, this album swings on classics such as "Birth of the Blues," "Avalon," and "Caravan." Other classic songs, including "It's Been a Long Time" and "It Had to Be You," are beautifully rendered, featuring Les Paul's instantly recognizable ringing bell tone and Chet Atkins' fluid, slightly twangy sound. The recording has an informal feel, with between-song banter (and even some joking in the middle of songs) included on the record, which adds to the enjoyment and warmth of this album. The listener knows that the musicians are having a great time. According to the liner notes, only two songs have any overdubs, so, "You hear the music just as it came down." And it all "came down" beautifully. ~ Tim Griggs
In 1998, One Way released Chester & Lester/Guitar Monsters, which contained two complete albums -- Chester & Lester (originally released on RCA) and Guitar Monsters (originally released on RCA) -- by Chet Atkins on one compact disc. ~ Jason Birchmeier
After eight years away from the microphones, Les Paul joined forces with country music's Chet Atkins in a marvelously relaxed, tasty session of cross-cultural jamming. The sound of the backup band may be Nashville country, but the tunes, mostly drawn from Paul's repertoire, are jazz and pop standards ("Caravan," "It's Been a Long, Long Time," "Avalon," etc.). Both players improvise, duel and converse with the spontaneity of jazz always in the air -- and unlike almost all of Les' recordings since 1947, there is no overdubbing except on "Caravan" and "Lover, Come Back to Me." You won't have any problem telling Chester and Lester apart on these tracks; Les' bright, almost metallic sound and twirling, yet now more economical flurries are a world away from Chet's mellow fingerpicking, lightly tarted with echo. Yet the two styles play brilliantly off each other; one potent example occurs as Chet superimposes the theme from "Picnic" fro