The Early Years 1946-1957 is a five-disc compilation recording by American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 guitarist Chet Atkins

Chet Atkins

Chester Burton Atkins , known as Chet Atkins, was an American guitarist and record producer who, along with Owen Bradley, created the smoother country music style known as the Nashville sound, which expanded country's appeal to adult pop music fans as well.Atkins's picking style, inspired by Merle...

, released in 2007.

History

The 158 tracks on this five-disc compilation cover Atkins' career from his very first single ("Guitar Blues") released on Bullet Records to 1957 and Finger Style Guitar

Finger Style Guitar

Finger-Style Guitar is an album by American guitarist Chet Atkins.Some references to it spell the title Finger–Style.The original LP consisted of a light rhythm section on the first side and Chet solo on side two....

. The selections include quite a few of Atkin's vocal performances from the very earliest 78's he recorded. The releases are placed in chronological order so following Atkins' career steps is both educational and enlightening — especially to those seeking to hear his development as a guitarist.

Discs four and five represent Atkins as one of Nashville's leading studio musicians as well as his own solo albums. The liner notes are extensive and include an essay by Drew Kent.

Reception

Allmusic stated in their review: "The result is an entertaining and compelling look at the formative years of a crucial figure in the growth of country music, and guitar fans will get a fine buzz from the first-class picking that graces nearly every cut."

Personnel

• Chet Atkins – guitar, vocals
• Rosalie Allen – vocals
• James Atkins – guitar
• Billie Rose Atkins – vocals
• George Barnes
  George Barnes (musician)
  George Barnes was a world-renowned swing jazz guitarist, who claimed he played the first electric guitar in 1931, preceding Charlie Christian by six years. George Barnes made the first recording of an electric guitar in 1938 in sessions with Big Bill Broonzy.-Biography:George Barnes was born in...
  
   – guitar
• Beasley Singers – vocals
• Joe Biviano – accordion
• Harold Bradley
  Harold Bradley
  Harold Bradley is a pop guitarist and an American country guitarist.Harold played banjo as a child but switched to guitar on the advice of his elder brother, Owen Bradley. Owen arranged for Harold to tour with Ernest Tubb while Harold was still in high school. After graduation, Harold joined the...
  
   – guitar
• Jethro Burns
  Kenneth C. Burns
  Kenneth C. Burns was an American country musician, comedian, and mandolin player. He was better known by his stage name Jethro from his years with Henry D. Haynes as part of the comedic musical duo Homer and Jethro beginning in 1936.-Biography:Burns was born Conasauga, Tennessee on March 10, 1920...
  
   – mandolin, vocals
• Jerry Byrd
  Jerry Byrd
  Gerald Lester "Jerry" Byrd was an American musician who played Lap steel guitar in country and Hawaiian music.-Career:...
  
   – lap steel guitar
• Fran Carroll – bass
• Anita Carter – bass
• Helen Carter – vocals
• Al Chernet – guitar
• Donna Colleen – vocals
• Farris Coursey – drums
• Johnny Degeorge – drums
• Danny Dill – vocals
• Ray Edenton – guitar
• Austin Footrell – vocals
• Malcolm Gold – organ, piano
• "Papa" John Gordie – celeste, piano
• Buddy Harman
  Buddy Harman
  Buddy Harman was an American session musician.-Career:Born in Nashville, Tennessee, he played drums on over 18,000 sessions for artists such as Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, Brenda Lee, Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, Roy Orbison, Connie Francis, Chet Atkins, Marty Robbins, Roger Miller,...
  
   – drums
• Henry "Homer" Haynes
  Henry D. Haynes
  Henry Doyle Haynes was an American entertainer who gained fame on radio and television as Homer of the country music comedy duo Homer and Jethro with Kenneth C. Burns for 35 years beginning in 1936.-Biography:...
  
   – guitar, vocals
• Marvin Hughes – organ, piano, celeste
• Charles Hurta – fiddle
• Louis Innis – guitar, vocals
• Bud Isaacs – pedal steel guitar
• Aaron Kerr – organ
• Anita Kerr
  Anita Kerr
  Anita Jean Grilli , known profesioanlly as Anita Kerr, is an American singer, arranger, composer, conductor, pianist, and music producer. She recorded and performed successfully with her vocal harmony groups in Nashville, Los Angeles, and Europe.-Nashville:Kerr was born in Memphis, Tennessee...
  
   – vocals, choral arrangements
• Red Kirk – vocals
• Millie Kirkham – vocals
• Angus P Klein – accordion
• Phil Kraus – drums
• Buck Lambert – fiddle
• Randy Lanham – guitar
• Grady Martin
  Grady Martin
  Thomas Grady Martin was one of the most renowned, inventive and historically significant American session musicians in country music and rockabilly....
  
   – guitar
• Elbert R. "Dutch" McMillan – clarinet
• Ernie Newton – bass
• Dale Potter – fiddle
• Jack Shook – guitar
• Harold Siegel – bass
• Hank Snow
  Hank Snow
  Clarence Eugene "Hank" Snow was a Canadian-American country music artist. He charted more than 70 singles on the Billboard country charts from 1950 until 1980...
  
  – guitar, vocals
• Brock Speer – vocals
• "Holly" Swanson – bass