Track Listing

1. Poor Boy Blues
2. Sweet Dreams
3. There'll Be Some Changes Made
4. Just One Time
5. So Soft
6. Your Goodbye
7. Yakety Axe
8. Tears
9. Tahitian Skys
10. I'll See You In My Dreams
11. Next Time I'm In Town

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8595 in Music
• Released on: 1993-08-30
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Dimensions: .23 pounds

Amazon.co.uk Review
Two generations of guitarists merge on this cleverly-titled album, with former Dire Straits virtuoso Mark Knopfler taking time off from scoring movies to join Chet Atkins, one of the fathers of electric guitar pickin'. And there's some mighty fine country pickin' on display here, with the duo joined by some of Nashville's all-time finest players, including the late, great Floyd Cramer, Mark O'Connor, Larry Londin, Vince Gill and Steve Wariner. The material ranges from choice country covers (Doc Watson's "Poor Boy Blues" and Patsy Cline's "Sweet Dreams") to rock & roll ("Yakety Ax", a take on Boots Randolph's "Yakety Sax"), jazz (Django Reinhardt's "Tears"), a Knopfler original and even the old standard "I'll See You in My Dreams". It sounds like they had fun, too! --Bill Holdship

CD Description
Without Chet Atkins, country music may never have crossed over into the pop charts in the '50s and '60s. Atkins' style grew out of his admiration for Merle Travis, and expanded Travis' signature syncopated thumb-and-fingers roll into new territory. Chet Atkins' role as record producer in the '60s and '70s made the Nashville sound heard and loved throughout the world.
On NECK AND NECK, Mr. Guitar teams up with Dire Straits' guitarist Mark Knopfler. Together, the two guitargreats perform a wide variety of music encompassing country, pop, and even European jazz influences. Atkins and Knopfler perform the Boots Randolph tune, "Yakety Sax" that Atkins,decades earlier, turned into a country hit after renaming it "Yakety Axe". The two guitarists also perform the Django Reinhardt ballad, "Tears", employing a delicate and introspective touch. Perhaps the best song here though is the endearing "There'll Be Some Changes Made", which incorporates a virtuoso guitar battle.

Customer Reviews

TWO GREAT GUITARISTS
This recording is a great collaboration of two fantastic artists. Chet Atkins plays with so much confidence, a old hand that can really rock and roll. Knopfler on the other hand really seems like he is enjoying himself with some great solos and chord changes. The Dire straits front man really shows his skill in being able to play such varied music styles. My paricular favourites were "changes made" a funny, and light hearted banter between two rock and roll legends. The last track..next time I'm in town is what Knopfler played last track in his last series of concerts with his country band "The Notting hillbillies". Sadly Chet Atkins died last year, a great loss to the music world.Long may his spirit live on with his music.

Wonderful, mellow & fun
Great guitar playing, humour, & fun music. Fantastic CD to have in the car or to unwind to after a long day.

Not only is the music good foot-tappin' stuff, the quality of the recording is outstanding. This is pure, unadulterated, superb guitar playing by two of the best people in the business. A real pleasure to own.

great cd
this is a brilliant cd by two great guitarists and not bad singers. if you like/love traditional country music or even if you dont you will enjoy it. the cd i bought had a different title " neck and neck " non country fans will convert after hearing this cd!