Chet Atkins, Superpickers RCA 1973

[Mike Dennis]

Rediscover

Chet Atkins, Superpickers RCA 1973

Hot Album! Featuring Chet Atkins, Johnny Gimble on fiddle,
Charlie McCoy on harmonica, Weldon Myrick on steel guitar,
Larrie London on drums, Hargus Robbins on piano and others.

Songs include: Paramaribo, Fiddlin’ Around, Mr. Bojangles,
Beef and Biscuits, Sweet Dreams, Just Another Rag, Canadian Pacific,
Bells Of Saint Mary’s, Are you From Dixie? (‘Cause I’m From Dixie Too).

Enjoyable recording, a great collection of songs performed by some of Nashville’s hottest pickers of the day. Instrumental. Could be a five star classic.

Myrick’s steel playing is fantastic, his use of the Matchbro to get
the Dobro sound while playing steel guitar is a wonderful technique in itself.


It has been re released on CD as a compilation with another Chet collection of pop rock instrumentals, but I don’t think the two collections are well matched. On CD, Picks The Hits/Superpickers. Find the original LP Superpickers on Ebay.

<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Mike Dennis on 04 September 2006 at 09:03 AM.]</p></FONT>

[Joey Ace]

<U>Superpickers</U> is a great album!

Weldon is a member here, but hasn't posted recently.

Search in "Steel Players" for his user name and you'll find several interesting comments from him.

[Jack Stoner]

I have one of the original 33 1/3 LP's. A great album.

[John Sluszny]

Me too!(is that the one with Chet and the guys sitting on top of a car?,I'm not home right now so I can't check it out!)

[Joey Ace]

That's the one.
The music was so alive and fun on that record.

I love Chet (have over 80 of his LPs) but some of that era sounded too perfect, in an easy listening FM radio sort of way.

<U>SuperPickers</U> was a breath of fresh air.

Chet's RCA collaboration albums (with Jerry, Doc, Lenny, Les) were also fun to listen to.

[Jack Stoner]

I too have a lot of Chet albums.

There is a picture of my 1961 PX6120 Gretsch on several of his albums (it is orange with single cutaway and real F holes).

[Randy Mason]

I have the LP too. We wore it out.

[Bill Cunningham]

Regarding Weldon's dobro sound with the Matchbro on this album, I believe he was actually playing an 8 string dobro that he had tricked out with Bigby palm pedals. I am particularly remembering the sound on his "Canadian Pacific" ride.

I seem to remember that he didn't use this rig very long as it was next to impossible to keep in tune.

Nashville insiders please correct me or confirm.......

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Bill Cunningham
<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Bill Cunningham on 06 September 2006 at 10:48 PM.]</p></FONT>

[Darvin Willhoite]

I think you're right Bill, this album was probably recorded before the Matchbro was conceived.

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Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording

[Bobby Caldwell]

This is one of my favorite all time albums. After this post I got it out and listened again. WOW is all I can say. Listening to Chet's guitar is like a visit with and old friend. You forget sometimes how nice that can be. Everyone envolved played so good, but then I wouldn't expect less from the players on this project. What a great listen. Thanks for the post and all the memories. Bobby<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Bobby Caldwell on 15 September 2006 at 04:13 PM.]</p></FONT>

[Stephen Gambrell]

That's right, Bill it's the 8-string with the palm pedals. There's a picture of that guitar, AND Weldon, in Stacy Phillips' Dobro book.

[Darvin Willhoite]

I listen to this album quite a bit too. I transferred it to CD a couple of years ago to make it more convenient. Their arrangement of "Mr. Bojangles" is fantastic, and I always get a kick out of "Are You From Dixie". Great stuff from some of the best musicians ever.

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Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording