Chet Atkins Picks on the Beatles

History

The sleeve features liner notes by George Harrison and there is a photo of Atkins wearing a "Beatle wig" on the back cover. It peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Country Albums charts and No. 112 on the Pop Albums charts.

Atkins never recorded with the Gretsch Country Gentleman 12-string guitar that was made especially for him and is pictured on the cover.

The recording was nominated for Best Instrumental Recording (other than Jazz) at the 1967 Grammy awards.

Reception

Writing for Allmusic, critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine called the album "an entertaining, if ultimately disposable, artifact... As always, his playing is subtle and tasteful, but the album doesn't provide enough inventive or energetic performances to be of lasting interest." Norm Rosenfield of Country Standard Time wrote "You don't have to be a guitar fan to enjoy Atkins' arrangements that add unexpected harmonies with generous helpings of class. So when Chet picks on the Beatles it's only the highest form of flattery."

Reissues

Track listing

All songs by John Lennon and Paul McCartney

Side one

1. "I Feel Fine” – 1:57
2. "Yesterday” – 3:09
3. “If I Fell” – 2:11
4. “Can’t Buy Me Love” – 2:31
5. “I'll Cry Instead” – 2:36
6. “Things We Said Today” – 2:34

Side two

1. “A Hard Day's Night” – 2:27
2. “I'll Follow the Sun” – 2:06
3. “She's a Woman” – 2:40
4. “And I Love Her” – 2:22
5. “Michelle” – 2:46
6. “She Loves You” – 2:34

Personnel