Search - Chet Atkins - Rare Performances 1955-75 on DVD

The Master Musician and His Music

Gary Jones | Greenville, Pa. United States | 05/05/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Chet Atkins was, is, and always will be the master of guitar. This video starts with a very young Chet Atkins and uncovers even then, the absolute genius of this man. No matter where he is or what song he plays, he never misses a lick. Though it may be considered vintage or classic by some, it is still very current and tasteful. Anytime one has the chance to view this master at his work, I would suggest this, "don't miss the opportunity." This video shows Chet at his best as always, and one does not need to be a guitarist as myself to enjoy this video over and over again. One can immediately tell from this video that Chet loved his guitar and he loved his profession. This is a great collection for any music lover."

The Greatest Guitarist Ever

I G Thurston | Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire United Kingdom | 08/03/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A Chet Atkins set of 'live' performances from his early years up to 1975 includes his signature Gretsch Electric Guitar plus his Classical Guitar and shows demonstrably how he makes that which is very difficult look easy. No guitarist has ever come near!His sad passing on June 30th 2001 leaves the world poorer and us 'believers' will never forget him.Iain Thurston Lancashire England"

The original Atkins diet

The Delite Rancher | Phoenix, Arizona | 08/09/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

""Chet Atkins - Rare Performances 1955-75" shows the young guitar player in action during his best years. The performances show him with electric and acoustic guitars in solo, quintet and orchestral situations. From 1955 to 1975, the DVD moves from black and white to color footage. While it is a dream to initially see Chet live, it soon becomes clear that he wasn't much of a live entertainer. While his gentle power is obvious, it doesn't translate so well to the visual medium. Atkins seldom looks at the audience, there is little interaction between him and his fellow musicians and his half-hearted singing falls short of what one might expect from such an innovator and studio gem. Unless the viewer is a guitar aficionado who hangs onto his every move, the video gets old quickly. For such finger picking fans, the DVD offers many quality close-ups to fully appreciate his mastery. Don't get me wrong, "Rare Performances" is precious because it is one of the few video documents of Chet Atkins, just keep your expectations reasonable."

History in the making

H. R. Human | Cape Town, South Africa | 03/02/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This was superb view of the way he showed his unbelievable skills in his early "Black & White" years of filming. He stands alone although he certainly stands together with the likes of Les Paul, Bert Weedon etc."