The Day Finger Pickers Took Over The World

Chet Atkins, Tommy Emmanuel | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 11, 1997)
• Original Release Date: March 11, 1997
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000002BT1
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #170,508 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

The godfather of country guitar Chet Atkins, teams up with Australia's most celebrated guitarist Tommy Emmanuel! Australian Only! --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Historically significant, great listen, March 20, 2004

By 

A.Trendl HungarianBookstore.com "What should ... (Glen Ellyn, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Day Finger Pickers Took Over The World (Audio CD)

This is a Chet Atkins album. It has to be. Tommy Emmanuel was playing with his mentor, his inspiration for fingerstyling. Enamored with Atkins, Emmanuel could be said to be an evangelist for his favorite guitarist.

Chet Atkins passed in 2001 after leading the way to popularize country, bluegrass, and to some extent, folk music. His guitar work is legendary. Tommy Emmanuel is his heir. Hearing these two on this album together is bittersweet; it is Atkins' last recording.

It is a relaxed, easygoing collection of whimsical songs. Listen to Atkins full catalog to hear all that made him "Mr. Guitar," emulated by everyone from Willie Nelson to Phil Keaggy, and as heard here, Tommy Emmanuel.

"Ode to Mel Bay" pokes fun at the famous guitar teacher Bay, whose how-to booklets were everywhere in the 1940s until now.

"Day Finger Pickers Took over the World" is a nonsense song where Atkins and Emmanuel switch voices and licks.

"Road to Gundaghi/Waltzing Matilda" highlights a medley of two Australian tunes.

"To B or Not to B" is a sharp, melodic piece. Soft jazz fans will connect with this one.

"Borsalino" has great rhythm. It might be my favorite piece on the album.

"Tiptoe Through the Bluegrass" doesn't seem to have any connection with Tiny Tim's ukulele tune. Decent fun.

"News from the Outback" You'll hear a juice harp (that's what the liner notes are calling it), and some jamming fiddle work, complimenting some fast licks.

"Dixie McGuire" is a nice walk through the park. It sounds like it could be a theme to a romantic comedy.

"Saltwater" is a slow, thoughtful and sad instrumental piece. Julian Lennon penned the original with these haunting lyrics:

"For the world I love is dying And now I'm crying
And time is not a friend (no friend of mine)
As friends we're out of time"

"Mr. Guitar" is Emmanuel's tribute to Atkins.

"Smokey Mountain Lullaby," the last song on the album is sweetly quiet, as lullabies are, almost if Atkins was saying goodnight to the world.

I fully recommend "The Day Finger Pickers Took Over The World" by Chet Atkins & Tommy Emmanuel. I give it five stars not because it shows the best of either guitarist, but because it is historically significant, and a great listen.

Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Journey Home for Chet and the Passing of the Torch, November 15, 2003

By 

Jazz Hermit (Tucson, AZ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Day Finger Pickers Took Over The World (Audio CD)

In the eighties Chet Atkins reinvented himself to fit the new style jazz that was then emerging. In this, his last recording, Chet closed the circle by returning to his fingerstyle roots.

Tommy Emmanuel is a lifelong Chet Atkins fan that is a great fingerstylist in anyone's book. The combination of the two players is satisfying and entertaining. Tommy is probably the closest living guitarist you will find to Chet Atkins style, talent and virtuosity and in this recording I feel that Chet was giving us an introduction to Tommy as his parting gift.

If you want to know more about Tommy I would suggest "The Very Best of Tommy Emmanuel". He is a great showman and a great musician.

May I also recommend "Neck and Neck" with Chet Atkins and Mark Knopfler.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fabulous, as always, December 9, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Day Finger Pickers Took Over The World (Audio CD)

I own every CD that Tommy has recorded, barring "greatest hits." This one is so fun -- it kind of brings you back to his touring roots. And because Chet Atkins was one of Tommy's "mentors" listening to this album brings double the pleasure. You can tell they're having fun recording this album and of course the musicianship is so professional, as always. It may not be the "best" of each musician, but it is certainly a wonderful collaboration of two virtuoso guitarists.