The Guitar Genius - Chet Atkins

 

Blackjack

The Guitar Genius

Chet Atkins

Vocals by Jim Atkins

A&R Coordinator: Ethel Gabriel

RCA Camden CAL 753

1963

From the back cover: There's a pleasant surprise in store for Atkin's fans on this record. Turns out that in addition to the well-known Atkins called Chet, there's another Atkins called Jim. Everybody knowns that Chet plays the guitar the greatest – and now the secret is out: Chet's brother Jim sings the greatest.

This record is no more display of family togetherness; older brother Jim needs no leg up from anyone. Here is a rich, trained baritone that handles a ballad or an uptempo ditty with fluid ease. If you had to describe Jim's voice in words, you could say he has the pleasant timbre of a Bing Crosby yet with an unmistakeable lilt all his own. For some ten years, Jim was the featured soloist with the Fred Waring orchestra on the old Chesterfield radio show. In the '40's he had his own show on WNEW when that important New York City station was heavy on live programming. Prior to that, in 1939, Jim, who also plays rhythm guitar, started a trio with Lew Paul in Chicago. He is currently program director of the Bob Hope radio station, KOA, in Denver, Colorado.

The musical chores on the album are evenly split between the Brothers A. Chet takes over five bands instrumentally and Jim is featured on the other five. As a guitar bonus – and just as you'd expect – Chet and group furnish the backing for Jim's singing. Though Chet has never been known to deliver anything but his best on any assignment, it is with understandable pride that he trots out just a mite more inspiration for this task.

Chet's instrumental side are Hidden Charm; Blackjack; It's Now Or Never; Heartbreak Hotel, which as Elvis Presley's first RCA Victor release racked up an amazing three-million-plus sales; and Dara's Wind Wat Waai. This last is a contemporary South African song which translates to There's aA Breeze That Blows. Chet heard it in South Africa during his triumphant 1962 tour with Jim Reeves and Floyd Cramer.

Brother Jim's vocals are more familiar fare. They include Stephen Foster's Swanee River, here done in brisk uptempo style with Chet's fancy picking' in support; the evergreen I'll Be With You In Apple Blossom Time; Out Of Nowhere, from the 1931 Bing Crosby movie, "Dude Ranch"; Even Tho'; and When Day Is Done, the pop standard of 1926.

All told, it's a great disc for the Atkins and their fans – and a memorable Camden debut for Jim.

From Billboard - April 27, 1963: The well-known Nashville guitar man has become an important seller in the pop instrumental field, and his impeccable stylings can be just as important in the budget area. Here he does a group of tunes – "Black Jack," "Apple Blossom Time," "Heartbreak Hotel" and the interesting South African ditty "Daar's 'N Wind Wat Waai." He also joined in some tunes by the vocals of his brother Jim (Jimmy Atkins to fans of the Fred Waring troupe of a decade or more back).

Heartbreak Hotel

Swanee River

Blackjack

I'll Be With You In Apple Blossom Time

Daar's Wind Wat Waai

It's Now Or Never

Out Of Nowhere 

Even Tho'

When Day Is Done