''The Early Years 1946–1957'' is a five-disc compilation recording by

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

guitarist

Chet Atkins Chester Burton Atkins (June 20, 1924 – June 30, 2001), known as "Mr. Guitar" and "The Country Gentleman", was an American musician who, along with Owen Bradley and Bob Ferguson, helped create the Nashville sound, the country music s ...

, released in 2007.

History

The 158 tracks on this five-disc compilation cover Atkins' career from his very first single ("Guitar Blues") released on Bullet Records to 1957 and '' Finger Style Guitar''. The selections include quite a few of Atkins' vocal performances, from the very earliest 78's he recorded. The releases are placed in chronological order, so following Atkins' career steps is both educational and enlightening — especially to those seeking to hear his development as a guitarist. Discs four and five represent Atkins as one of Nashville's leading studio musicians as well as his own solo albums. The liner notes are extensive and include an essay by Drew Kent.

Reception

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

stated in their review: "The result is an entertaining and compelling look at the formative years of a crucial figure in the growth of country music, and guitar fans will get a fine buzz from the first-class picking that graces nearly every cut."

Personnel

*Chet Atkins – guitar, vocals *Rosalie Allen – vocals *James Atkins – guitar *Billie Rose Atkins – vocals * George Barnes – guitar *Beasley Singers – vocals *Joe Biviano – accordion *

Harold Bradley Harold Ray Bradley (January 2, 1926 – January 31, 2019) was an American guitarist and entrepreneur, who played on many country, rock and pop recordings and produced numerous TV variety shows and movie soundtracks. Having started as a session ...

– guitar *

Jethro Burns Jethro is a male given name meaning "overflow". It is derived from the Hebrew word ''Yithrô''. People named Jethro * Kenneth C. "Jethro" Burns (1920–1989), mandolin player in satirical country music duo Homer and Jethro * Jethro Franklin ( ...

– mandolin, vocals *

Jerry Byrd Gerald Lester Byrd (March 9, 1920 – April 11, 2005) was an American musician who played the lap steel guitar in country and Hawaiian music, as well as a singer-songwriter and the head of a music publishing firm. He appeared on numerous radio p ...

– lap steel guitar *Fran Carroll – bass *Anita Carter – bass *Helen Carter – vocals *Al Chernet – guitar *Donna Colleen – vocals *Farris Coursey – drums *Johnny Degeorge – drums *

Danny Dill Horace Eldred "Danny" Dill (September 19, 1924 – October 23, 2008) was an American country music singer and songwriter. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1975. Biography Dill, born in Clarksburg, Tennessee, got h ...

– vocals *

Ray Edenton Ray Quarles Edenton (November 3, 1926 – September 21, 2022) was an American guitar player and country music session musician. Early life Ray Edenton was born into a musical family on November 3, 1926, and grew up near Mineral, Virginia. His f ...

– guitar *Austin Footrell – vocals *Malcolm Gold – organ, piano *"Papa" John Gordie – celeste, piano *

Buddy Harman Murrey Mizell "Buddy" Harman, Jr. (December 23, 1928 – August 21, 2008) was an American country music session musician. Career Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Harman played drums on over 18,000 sessions for artists such as Elvis Presley, Jerry ...

– drums * Henry "Homer" Haynes – guitar, vocals *Marvin Hughes – organ, piano, celeste *Charles Hurta – fiddle *Louis Innis – guitar, vocals *Bud Isaacs – pedal steel guitar *Aaron Kerr – organ *

Anita Kerr Anita Jean Kerr (née Grilli, October 13, 1927 – October 10, 2022) was an American singer, arranger, composer, conductor, pianist, and music producer. She recorded and performed with her vocal harmony groups in Nashville, Los Angeles, and Eur ...

– vocals, choral arrangements *Red Kirk – vocals *

Millie Kirkham Millie Kirkham (born Mildred Eakes; June 24, 1923 – December 14, 2014) was an American singer who was featured on many classic hit recordings from the mid-1950s through the 1980s. Early life Kirkham was born Mildred Eakes in Hermitage, Tenne ...

– vocals *Angus P Klein – accordion *Phil Kraus – drums *Buck Lambert – fiddle *Randy Lanham – guitar *

Grady Martin Thomas Grady Martin (January 17, 1929 – December 3, 2001) was an American session guitarist in country music and rockabilly. A member of The Nashville A-Team, he played guitar on hits such as Marty Robbins' "El Paso", Loretta Lynn's " Coal ...

– guitar *Elbert R. "Dutch" McMillan – clarinet *Ernie Newton – bass *Dale Potter – fiddle *Jack Shook – guitar *Harold Siegel – bass *

Hank Snow Clarence Eugene "Hank" Snow (May 9, 1914 – December 20, 1999) was a Canadian-American country music artist. Most popular in the 1950s, he had a career that spanned more than 50 years, he recorded 140 albums and charted more than 85 singles on t ...

– guitar, vocals *

Brock Speer Brock Speer (December 28, 1920 – March 29, 1999) sang bass for the Speer Family Southern Gospel musical group and was a leader in Southern Gospel music. One might say that Southern Gospel music was Speer's life. David Liverett's book, ''This Is ...

– vocals *"Holly" Swanson – bass

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Early Years 1946-1957, The 2007 compilation albums Chet Atkins compilation albums