Chet Atkins in Three Dimensions

In his second 12" album, the young master guitarist tries to transcend categories and stereotypes, dividing the album into three distinct sections. The first deals with sometimes surprising treatments of four folk tunes; "Arkansaw Traveler" is a particularly amazing tour de force that takes us to other strange places before reaching the tune. Part two is devoted to pop songs, again in varied treatments. His "Little Rock Getaway" at first bears a partial resemblance to the recording by Atkins' early influence Les Paul; "Blues in the Night" combines a jazz sensibility with various classic country licks; and Atkins gets away with a perfectly respectful treatment of "Tip Toe Through the Tulips." Then Atkins takes a big left turn into classical music, playing Bach quite respectably (if colorlessly) on classical guitar. He switches back to electric for Provost's "Intermezzo," Kreisler's "Schon Rosmarin," and Chopin's "Minute Waltz," using discreet tape echo effects and brandishing the country influence now and then. A all-encompassing record like this was the envy of every open-minded guitarslinger of the time.