Customer Reviews

Neck And Neck

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Two great guitarists having fun with their music. First and last tunes are the best but they kind of lose it on one or two. Guitars never fail though.

There is something irrepressably endearing about this odd combo of old & new guitar wizards, each with obvious delight in the other's playing. They lay down grooves that simmer with restrained elegance and precision licks more akin to swing music than country/rock. Absolutely engaging, toe-tappin' fun for music fans of all tastes and ages. I have most of the Mark Knopfler/Dire Straits albums, but this is my favorite. Sgt. Pepper says: "Guranteed to raise a smile".

In the style of Chester and Lester the great partnering of Chet Atkins and Les Paul, comes Atkins and Mark Knopfler. It is always great to see to excellent guitarists with different styles sit in with each other and jam, and "Neck and Neck" is no different. But, it does not quite have the same magic as the old Chester and Lester albums. Here, Knopfler pulls on his Country roots and plays more to the music style of Atkins. It may be hard to recognize Knopfler's playing as it is a departure from his rock, but is in line with his Notting Hillbillies days.

The album opens with a country-blues tune, "Poor Boy Blues" with both men doubling on guitar and vocals. Each takes a turn at soloing, the master and the student, both quick and excellent. The tune is an upbeat toe-taper. The days of Chester and Lester are revisited with "There'll Be Some Changes Made" where Atkins and Knopfler go back and forth about their playing style...Atkins to start playing rock and roll and wearing leather and makeup like "Jackson and Prince" while Knopfler tries to keep him where he belongs. The barbs they give each other while they trade solos are fun. "Yakety Axe" is kinda fun Country ditty. "Tahitian Skies" sounds like a mix of their versions of "Why Worry", airy and jazzy.

This is a good album from two guitar greats. Nothing to amazing comes out of this, just good songs with some solid guitar work. You'll get a couple of laughs out of this album, and if you like Atkins and Country, this is a good album to have.

I've been a fan of both Mark Knopfler and Chet Atkins for quite some time and when I saw this album, I bought it. It's a great album and the music is very much Chet Atkins-style. My biggest complaint about the album, though, is that the first song was mixed very badly: the drums were too loud and the vocals were not loud enough. The song has a strikingly similar sound to "Walk of Life" too. My only other complaint is that it only has 10 tracks on it. Other than that, it's a superb album and I would recommend it to anyone who is a MK or Chet Atkins fan.

Two generations of leading and groundbreaking guitarists combined their efforts into this precious and timeless piece of wonderful music. Chet Atkins, one of the most important and respectable of country musicians, and a pioneer of the electric guitar; and Mark Knopfler, Dire Straits frontman and a man clearly in touch with the country roots of rock music - go from straight country to mood instrumentals to rock n' roll, all infused with some of the finest pickin' I've ever heard and always having lots of fun. Knopfler's production (he had produced most of his releases since 1980's Dire Straits album 'Making Movies') clearly shows in the beautiful and light-hearted sound, but the arrangements and recordings are pretty basic. The whole thing mainly revolves around two guitars, with just a hint of a rhythm section and some strings on a couple of songs.

This cleverly titled album has the strength to appeal to almost every listener. And not only is it a fantastic start for a rock lover for learning to appreciate the roots of rock n' roll, it's also one of the finest country albums around. Straight country songs like 'Poor Boy Blues', 'Just One Time' and 'The Next Time I'm In Town' are performed wonderfully and Mark and Chet's arrangements are sublime. Other tracks stand out though: 'Tahitian Skies' is a beautiful instrumental take on Mark's 1985 classic 'Why Worry', which outshines the original incredibly. 'Tears' and 'Sweet Dreams' are also wonderful instrumentals which give Mark and Chet a chance to show how well they work together. More energetic is the rockabilly number 'Yakety Axe' - a take on Boots Randolph's 1963 instrumental 'Yakety Sax' - on which Chet shines amazingly, and which has terrific guitar work from both. Finally, my favorite - 'There'll Be Some Changes Made' - an adaptation of an old Benny Goodman song (at least he performed it; I have no idea if his performance was even the original). Mark and Chet wrote new lyrics for the song, turning it into Chet singing about wanting to go with the times and become a rocker, and Mark trying to turn him away. The dialogue between the two takes place in two dimensions - vocally and on guitar, and makes it the funniest as well as the most clever song on the album. Mark and Chet really had a ball on this one, improvising most of the dialogue as well as the solos ("Not bad, but you're not Mark Knopfler..." "Don't make me look bad now, respect for your elders..."). The solos challenge each other and intertwine beautifully to make the song a treat.

'Neck & Neck' is one of the most wonderful purchases for lovers of this lovely instrument. If you're an Atkins fan, you won't be disappointed; and if you're only in it for Knopfler and only vaguely know Atkins's name, you're in for a lovely surprise. And if you're as snooty about country music as I was before I heard this album, don't forget where rock comes from, and don't forget where everything about Knopfler and Dire Straits comes from. Mandatory listening.

I bought this once, and played it to death. These two should have made more music together. Sadly, CA is gone now, but MK really carries his legacy, him and Steve Howe do anyway. If you want a bluegrassy blues fingerpicky recording that is full of fire, this is it. quite good. Legendary as far as I am concerned

CHET: "...I'll change the scene, I'll change my new team, I'll wear dark glasses, become risky, I'll start like jackson and prince: you'll see me riding in my mercedes benz! nobody wants you when you just play guitar, there'll be some changes made."
MARK: "chet, you never played a rock'n roll, your kind of country is a little bit old ..."
CHET: "that's hurts, but your money for nothing and your chicks for free...
MARK: "groupie girls..."
CHET: "I really liked to find out for myself, don't you know, I have a kind of quiet life down here on the music road..."
- only to hear this ironic dialogue between the great guitar-players you should buy this CD.
Chet Atkins died, aged 77, and they never can play together once more - this CD is the best way to remember this wonderful session, these duelling guitars, challenging each other to greater heights...

I was grabbed right off the bat with the first number and it just gets better from there. These two seem like such a natural pairing it's a shame they only did it once. A sequel album would have been wonderful.

If you're only thinking about buying this album, stop thinking and start ordering. You will be as taken as I was when you first pop in your player.

What's better than one great guitar player?? two of course. This album is 12 years old but sounds as fresh today as when it was released. Great talent besides the late chet are the writing talents of Don Gibson on two selections, Boots Randolph's Yakety Sax which was released by Chet as Yakety Axe. This version is ruined with lyrics by Merle Travis. Vince Gill adds vocal background to a couple selections and Steve Wariner plays bass. Some selections are purely instrumental while others and mildly sung by Chet and Mark. My favourites are 'Sweet Dreams' with the late Floyd Cramer on piano and the Dire Straits song 'Tahitian Skies'.

Stupendous; Mind Boggling; These Guys Rock ! These Are the True Kings of Rock And Roll !!