The Essential Chet Atkins: The Columbia Years [Sony] (2004)

About this title: The Essential Chet Atkins: The Columbia Years collects 15 tracks from eight albums recorded between 1983 and 1997. While Atkins never fully gives up his country roots, much of this material leans in a definite jazz-pop direction, highlighted by memorable collaborations with Mark Knopfler on "Poor Boy Blues," "So Soft, Your Goodbye," and "I'll See You in My Dreams." Atkins also trades licks with Tommy Emmanuel on "Dixie McGuire" and "Road to Gundaghi/Waltzing Matilda," as well as longtime buddy Jerry Reed on "Sneakin' Around." The selections have been digitally remastered so every tiny musical ... read more

Tracks:

1. Bourree [Bach]
2. Cosmic Square Dance [Atkins/Knopfler/Yan]
3. Wobegon (The Way It Used to Be) [Atkins]
4. Maybelle [Atkins]
5. Dixie McGuire [Emmanuel]
6. Jam Man [Atkins]
7. Poor Boy Blues [Kennerley]
8. Road to Gundaghi/Waltzing Matilda [Traditional]
9. Sneakin' Around [Kass]
10. Dream [Mercer]
11. After You've Gone [Creamer/Layton]
12. I'll See You in My Dreams [Kahn/Jones]
13. Young Thing [Atkins]
14. Imagine [Lennon]
15. So Soft, Your Goodbye [Goodrum]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.