Neck and Neck

Mark Knopfler, Chet Atkins | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 24, 1990)
• Original Release Date: October 9, 1990
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000026UV
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (59 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,351 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #2 in Music > Country > Instrumental
  • #22 in Music > Country > Classic Country > Nashville Sound
  • #43 in Music > Jazz > Traditional Jazz & Ragtime > Traditional Jazz General

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Who Needs Picks?, October 13, 2004

By 

Robert I. Hedges - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Neck and Neck (Audio CD)

This album from these two masters of guitar fingerpicking will leave anyone who loves the guitar, country, blues, or melodic rock delighted. I have been a Mark Knopfler fan since early Dire Straits, and learned about Chet Atkins from Mark. Anybody Mark thinks is great is definitely worth a listen. I became a Chet Atkins fan a bit late in life, and this album was a big part of that.

This CD shines precisely because it is not flashy or showy; rather it is imbued with craftsmanship and quality musicianship in every bar. The whole album is strong, but I am especially fond of "There'll Be Some Changes Made" in which Chet and Mark trade good humored jabs about their musical heritage, "I'll See You in My Dreams", a mastercrafted classic, and the laid back "Tahitian Skies." Throughout the CD the vocals are relaxed and effortless, and although Knopfler has an appealing if somewhat gravelly voice, Atkins is a little more atonal and wavering in his singing style. Of course the focus here is not vocal performances, but guitar virtuosity, and that is abundant.

This is a CD that will be appreciated by all guitarists who grasp how truly difficult it is to produce a recording this melodious and synchronized, regardless of how easy these two masters make it look. "Neck & Neck" is highly recommended.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Picking!, May 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Neck and Neck (Audio CD)

This isn't a country music CD; it's a collaboration between two great guitar players who like and respect one another. One of the most enjoyable parts of listening to the music is to pick out who's playing what. There's humor, too,and it's good road music. It's a winner, and wears well over time.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hard to beat pickin', November 27, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Neck and Neck (Audio CD)

If you want to hear some good -- often great -- guitar picking, without the pretense, by two masters, this is your album. These two virtuosos challenge each other to greater and greater heights, and they deliver. "Yackety Axe" alone contains more riff variety than you will find in any five songs by mere mortals. I'm not a country fan per se, but Chet Atkins is a pleasure to listen to. That Knopfler can keep up with (and occasionally pass?) him makes you realize just how good he is. Of course, if you're looking for the usual junk, then this isn't for you.