Neck and Neck | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | October 9, 1990 | |||
Recorded | CA Workshop, Nashville, Sound Emporium, Nashville, Hillbilly Heaven, London, 1990 [1] | |||
Genre | Country, country rock, western swing | |||
Length | 38:26 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Producer | Mark Knopfler | |||
Chet Atkins Collaborations chronology | ||||
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Mark Knopfler chronology | ||||
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Neck to Neck is a collaborative album by American guitarist Chet Atkins and British singer-songwriter and guitarist Mark Knopfler, released on October 9, 1990, by Columbia Records. " Poor Boy Blues" was released as a single.
At the 33rd Annual Grammy Awards in 1991, the track "Poor Boy Blues" won Best Country Vocal Collaboration, while the track "So Soft Your Goodbye" won Best Country Instrumental Performance. [2]
Atkins originally recorded "Yakety Axe", a parody of Boots' Randolph's "Yakety Sax", on his 1965 album More of That Guitar Country. This new recording features lyrics and a new arrangement that were composed by Merle Travis. Atkins also previously recorded "I'll See You in My Dreams" on an album with Travis.
The track " There'll Be Some Changes Made" was later included as track 10 of the 15-track 1996 Rolls-Royce Sound System Demonstration Disc and accompanying cassette. [3]
In his review for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave the album four out of five stars, calling it "the most focused and arguably the most rewarding record Atkins has released." [2] Erlewine singled out Knopfler's influence on the legendary guitarist:
Working with Dire Straits guitarist Mark Knopfler had a rejuvenating influence on Chet Atkins. Knopfler has Atkins moving toward his country roots, but both guitarists still play with a tasteful, jazzy sensibility—however, Atkins has abandoned the overt jazz fusion pretensions that sank most of his '80s records. [2]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [2] |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Poor Boy Blues" | Paul Kennerley | 4:01 |
2. | " Sweet Dreams" | Don Gibson | 3:24 |
3. | " There'll Be Some Changes Made" | William Blackstone, Benton Overstreet [Note 1] | 6:28 |
4. | "Just One Time" | Don Gibson | 4:11 |
5. | "So Soft, Your Goodbye" | Randy Goodrum | 3:16 |
6. | "Yakety Axe" | Boots Randolph, James Rich, Merle Travis | 3:24 |
7. | "Tears" | Stéphane Grappelli, Django Reinhardt | 3:54 |
8. | "Tahitian Skies" | Ray Flacke | 3:18 |
9. | " I'll See You in My Dreams" | Isham Jones, Gus Kahn | 2:59 |
10. | "The Next Time I'm in Town" | Mark Knopfler | 3:21 |
Total length: | 38:26 |
Chart (1990) | Peak |
---|---|
Canadian Albums Chart | 71 |
Norway Albums Chart | 5 |
Sweden Albums Chart | 8 |
Swiss Albums Chart | 3 |
UK Albums Chart | 41 |
US Billboard 200 Chart [2] | 127 |
US Billboard Top Country Chart [2] | 27 |
Year | Single | Peak positions |
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CAN Country | ||
1990 | "Poor Boy Blues" | 92 |
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