A must for any Chet fan. A real shame that it is not more broadly available in CD format. I partly bought this CD because of the term, 'Solo' within the title however, there is a very soft percussion background on some of the tracks which, to me, is surplus to requirement. Despite this, I love the album for the beautiful and guitar playing, on the part of Atkins. Superb!
5つ星のうち5.0Iconic 1967 Chet Atkins vinyl album now on CD.
2009年10月2日にアメリカ合衆国でレビュー済み
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The Chet Atkins album "Solo Flights" was recorded in 1967. Its purpose was to introduce to America a new guitar design from Gretsch. By 1967, Gretsch was at the height of its fame, largely due to George Harrison of The Beatles. When The Beatles first appeared on the Ed Sullivan TV show, Harrison was playing a 1962 Gretsch "Country Gentleman." The "Octabass Guitar" had fifth (A) and sixth (E) strings that were an octave lower than regular A and E guitar strings. The "Octabass Guitar" had two output cables instead of the usual one-cable design. The neck pickup was wired to pick up only the three bass strings, the Low E, A, and D. Its output was routed through a tape-delay unit, and then to the amplifier. The bridge pickup was wired to pick up only the first three strings, the treble strings, E, B, and G. Its output cable went straight to the amplifier, without adding any delay to the melody notes. America was already familiar with the "Chet Atkins-Style" of playing the melody notes and the bass notes simultaneously on one guitar. The "Octabass Guitar" added a new dimension, producing the "slap back" bass notes in a manner that sounded like an upright acoustic "bass fiddle." The first song on Side A is "Drive-In," written by Jerry Reed, under his pen name "Rich." Other tunes include "Three Little Words," "Cheek to Cheek," "Chet's Tune," and "Autumn Leaves." While the RCA vinyl of "Solo Flights" was not a big seller, it became a "must-have" album for fingerstyle guitarists. This re-release on CD is likely to be a top-seller. The album jacket, with its simple photo of a seagull soaring in a clear blue sky, is a perennial favorite of Chet's fans. I can't thank you enough for making this album available once again. E Oswald. Houston, Texas, USA.
Chet Atkins has never disappointed. And this album is no exception. Every song here is played as if written just for Chet. Truly masterful handling of each song. Chet fans will wrap up in a warm fuzzy of familiar yet unexpected treatments. Those new to Chet's musical world, will be amazed.