Chet Atkins Reviews the Sounds of March 1969

[@davidellis5141]

Wes Montgomery was a very smooth player. Sadly , died of a heart attack in 1968.

[@davehire1433]

Also, for much of his career he kept his day job at the RCA television factory in Indianapolis.

[@karlsonkab51]

vs $$$$ luck of the Irish with Keith Richards. Monk Montgomery was a fine bassist and one who did solo bass early . (I'm not fond of modern solo bassists as prefer Ray Brown approach to underpinning and solo) @@davehire1433

[@jasonrothbaum7266]

He finds the good in everything. Truly a gentleman.

[@jacklowe3429]

Tear Drop City is a very underrated Monkees track. Kudos to Chet for recognizing its quality.

[@jeffalderson279]

Should have been a hit for them a great song

[@lonedrone]

Not bad but it's really just a copy of "Last Train to Clarksville".

[@chriskroll4166]

@@jeffalderson279 I have every monkeys album and I am surprised at how many great songs they have .

[@meatballadams2336]

I think I read where it was supposed to be released as their first single, but the studio decided on "Last Train to Clarksville" instead and sat on this recording until they stuck it on an album a few years later.

[@bobwallace9814]

I'm sure Chet recognized the Wrecking Crew members as he knew them all personally and had played with them.

[@divingduck1970]

I met CA and talked with him a bit after one of his concerts, a solo show. He was so humble I forgot all about our time together until after he died. Carried his own gear, guitar and amp, and had no entourage at all. This has been the best Blind Date ever!

[@rustyshimstock8653]

Nice that Chet works in a plug for Lenny Breau. A great guitarist who died way too young. His collection, Boy Wonder, is worth a listen.

[@jaex9617]

I love the diversity of reviewers and records in these videos. It's also fantastic how open-minded and respectful the reviewers generally are. This really was a golden era. ☮️ ❤️ 🎵

[@dantean]

Brilliant of them to get Chet for Blind Date reviewing pop records of the day. Brilliant.

[@grokeffer6226]

Chet Atkins was an excellent guitar player. He was my Dad's favorite musical artist. He got a good batch of recordings to review. Wichita Lineman was high on the charts that week and was one of my all-time favorite Country songs.

[@grokeffer6226]

@60s Man 60s Guitars Sounds great! Jimmy Webb was a great song writer. I always liked Glen's Galveston, too. Sad when he died. He was well admired by other artists.

[@radiomindchatter7994]

Chet had it in the ear that's for sure. Loved how they slipped one of his productions in there!

[@bipbopboom]

Nice save when Chet finally recognized an artist he signed and the song he produced. Ha!! Another fun episode!! Cheers!!!

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Cheers, Jon!

[@itslateandimfat]

Chet loved Lenny Breau so much.

[@davidpanzer1166]

Danny Gatton was also a huge fan of Lenny Breau

[@chrisbacos]

Interesting and eye-opening to hear the perspective of a country musician.

[@dirtylemon3379]

Look at those chart lists at the end. It makes me feel glad I was alive to hear those sounds coming out of the radio as it was actually happening.

[@Sp33gan]

I'm very impressed with Chet Atkins' wide knowledge and appreciation of the different styles presented here. His awareness of Lenny Breau is wonderful, though not surprising as a fellow guitarist should know who else is out there. The same with his appreciation for Wes Montgomery. A side fact on Lenny Breau - he became a huge influence on Randy Bachman, lead guitarist for The Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive. Really enjoyed this episode, YP. Thanks, always, for sharing ♥♫♪

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Glad you enjoyed, Fab Gear! Cheers.

[@scottjackson1420]

And, the Hollies first single after the departure of Graham Nash, Sorry Suzanne, enters the charts. Great time for music.

[@Josie2013]

After the Hollies foray into psychedelia many fans were happy to have them sound like the Hollies again.

[@ustheserfs]

love how chet summoned wes' name like that. shows me he knew his contemporaries.

[@djhrecordhound4391]

Chet knew guitar inside and out, and his production/A&R time at RCA Victor probably kept his ears fresh to any new players/pickers that came along.

[@389383]

Very distinctive style.

[@caryheuchert]

Chet is one of the greats. In the late 70s, when I started learning guitar, the first book I bought was a Chet Atkins method book, authorized by him. I still have the book to this day.

[@soulfoodie1]

'I dn't know why I love you' is such an underrated gem by Stevie Wonder and rare excursion into psychedelia. Ironically Jose Felliciano would go on to cover some of Stevie's songs most notably 'Golden Lady '

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Great song.

[@jaex9617]

I wouldn't have made the connection that Atkins did, but he was right on target. Lots of insight in his comments!

[@jaex9617]

@@martins.7060 Maceo Parker does an amazing Ray Charles tribute performance now. And he's no slouch, himself.

[@haysfordays]

I love the Stones cover of "I Don;t Know"

[@haysfordays]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rWfcd6RmprKUftk

[@elmolewis9123]

Lenny Breau had his own weekly 1/2 hour TV show from Canada in the mid-'60s that was all live. Well worth the watch. Love the channel.

[@officalhumblefish565]

Love Chet and love hearing what we has to say about the music of 69

[@jeffclement2468]

Buck Owens featuring a fuzztone guitar? I never would've guessed.

[@EdwinJack64]

Excellent video YP! I like the positive way of reviewing of Chet Atkins. There were a couple of very nice singles between them. In the UK Top 30 single chart "BlackBerry Way" by The Move caught my eye, great record! Thx! 👌

[@jaex9617]

Me too. I don't know much about him, but what a fantastic job he did here. The positivity is absolutely contagious.

[@EdwinJack64]

@@jaex9617 Yes, I have to admit I don't know much about him either (my old dad has some of his records 😆), but it's still a talent when people do that. Even criticism is delivered in a mild non hurtful manner! Thanks for your reply and cheers!

[@djhrecordhound4391]

Chet was a guitar legend; his books and courses got a LOT of players started. He was also a major figure at RCA Victor from the 40s to the 70s(?), and produced MANY LPs for RCA in that time. If you like comedy/parodies (or just excellent musicianship), look up Homer and Jethro. I mentioned them because Kenneth "Jethro" Burns was married to Chet's sister, and he was a master of the mandolin, both in country and later in jazz.

[@boomtownrat5106]

The “California Sound” Chet was referencing about the Buck Owens recording, was actually known as the Bakersfield Sound (a city in California’s San Joaquin Valley), a type of country music influenced by rock and roll, and electric instruments (as heard on the recording). Like everything in life, It was a reaction. A reaction against the over-produced, pop-influence of the Nashville sound in which Chet Atkins was an architect.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

I love that fuzz guitar on the Buck Owens single. Great stuff.

[@boomtownrat5106]

@@YesterdaysPapers When one says the name of Buck Owens, unfortunately (my opinion),it gets associated with the television show Hee Haw that he hosted with Roy Clark. Hee Hee was a country incarnation of the topical-humored comedy show called Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In. The show was basically silly (again, my opinion) but highly popular. He was so much more than that show portrayed. He was a brilliant musician. He owned a music hall/ museum in Bakersfield called the Crystal Palace that I visited a few times over the years.

[@deirdre108]

Wasn't Chet's idea of what he called "The Nashville Sound" was to rid the music of fiddles, banjos, steel guitars and other "homely" instruments and make it similar to middle of the road pop?

[@boomtownrat5106]

@@deirdre108 country music saw declining music sales by the mid-twentieth century. The rise of rock sent sales of county downward. So the Nashville sound resulted in trying to appeal to a wider audience by making country more like pop music but with a twang. From the late 50s forward you saw crossover country songs that would chart on the country and pop charts. The Bakersfield Sound wasn’t having none of that. They embraced a lot of rock’s sensibilities by being electrified, and having strong rhythm sections.

[@boomtownrat5106]

That fuzz guitar was courtesy of Don Rich, a member of The Buckaroos.

[@tattyshoesshigure5731]

Better than usual selection of records they gave Chet to review, Wes Montgomery’s ‘Road Song’ is sublime. Not heard of Country Fever before, I’m a big fan of Albert Lee’s playing but he’s so low profile he often slipped off the radar!

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Not very familiar with Country Fever either. That single sounded pretty cool.

[@totz_the_plaid9625]

I wonder if they ever tailored their choices to the guest reviewer. This selection feels like they may have.

[@cassandrajoiner9933]

They definitely were messing with a couple of interviewed artists.

[@lindadote]

Chet Atkins was a magnificent guitarist and he certainly had a good ear and respect for his peers. Yet again, I’m struck by the diversity of music in the Hit Charts, whereas the Album Charts seem more indicative of what was popular. That said, Stevie Wonder was doing brilliantly and deservedly so. Nice work as always YP and your outro is typically excellent! Thank you.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Thank you very much, Linda! Glad you dig the outro.

[@lindadote]

@@YesterdaysPapers …..I think all of your renditions are really cool.

[@redchandler]

I'm a huge fan of Chet Atkins so I loved his reviews of the songs! It was a treat watching this!

[@andzwe]

It is clear where his preferences lie, but nevertheless respectful to the contemporary artists of the time.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Yeah, he seemed pretty open-minded about new bands and artists.

[@djhrecordhound4391]

You got me commenting everywhere YP, and I love it!!!! Your production values are so good (with your music, video editing, and overall content), this is the only channel where I can tolerate that automated voice. (I worked radio production in another lifetime, so that's one of my biggest pet peeves about KZbin.)

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Thank you very much, DJR! Glad you enjoy the channel.

[@michaelrochester48]

I love the Rolling Stones 1975 metamorphosis version of Stevie wonders I don’t know why. Supposedly the Rolling Stones recording this song when they first learned that Brian Jones had drowned

[@YesterdaysPapers]

I love that cover, too. Mick Taylor's guitar is amazing on that recording.

[@charlesachurch7265]

Great presentation thanks xxx.

[@paulcooper8818]

I'm joining the chorus, terrific outro this vid!

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Thanks, Paul!

[@barrymurphy1337]

Always love your outro music yp, but this week's is the best yet!

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Thank you very much, Barry!

[@FawleyJude]

I wonder if "the other guy" he referred to who played like Wes Montgomery was George Benson?

[@jaex9617]

I was thinking the same thing.

[@lindadote]

@@jaex9617 …..as was I.

[@djhrecordhound4391]

Soon as I heard the clip of Wes Montgomery, I thought of Lenny Breau (who was actually mentioned). That's only because the style sounded like one of Lenny's biggest fans--Randy Bachman--especially in B.T.O. hits like "Blue Collar" and "Lookin' Out For Number One".

[@jaex9617]

@@djhrecordhound4391 Breau is another artist for me to check out.

[@davidpanzer1166]

I'm pretty sure it was. They did some stuff together

[@jerrywatt6813]

Chet &wess you're in good company YP great show cheers !

[@buzzawuzza3743]

Those were pretty reasonable and polite comments.

[@jonhillman871]

i really like that chet atkins was appreciating artistic records, and commercial records aimed at young audiences. the great ones can also be the good ones.

[@SophieLovesSunsets]

I love the Peter Sarstedt song at the top of the charts. Really lovely. Also, wow a lot of Motown on that chart rundown. Fantastic outro as per usual, YP. I just went back to listen to it a few times. Very cool. Happy Valentines Day 😘🌹❤

[@paulnolan4971]

I see what ya did there. I often wonder where she went to. Did he ever resolve that lol

[@SophieLovesSunsets]

@@paulnolan4971 😂

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Happy Valentine's Day, Sophie! Glad you enjoyed the outro. I noticed that too about the charts. Plenty of soul singles there, and even some reissued soul hits in the UK charts.

[@SophieLovesSunsets]

@@YesterdaysPapers 💕❤

[@simonKagree]

Wonderful ears!

[@paulnolan4971]

Chet was a nice guy.

[@michaelrochester48]

Lennie Breau is the main inspiration for Randy Bachman of the Guess Who and BTO

[@caryheuchert]

Chet was also one of Randy’s heroes.

[@blackportspeakercabinets4145]

This is why the 60's Top 40 formats were the greatest time in music. From Cream to Dean Martin.

[@DubSun33]

A lot of mellow tunes this week. Niiiice.

[@heli-crewhgs5285]

Grrrreat!

[@389383]

@@heli-crewhgs5285 Horrrible.

[@richsackett3423]

That Solomon King side was Squaresville, man.

[@danieleyre8913]

LOL there's no "was" about that.

[@jaex9617]

Oh, damn...🔥

[@michaelpdawson]

It took me a minute to figure out where I knew the tune from. It’s “Liebesträume” by Liszt.

[@richsackett3423]

@@michaelpdawson You mean like this? kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqvOkICqlM55os0

[@paulnolan4971]

lol squaresville

[@soundshaper]

Wonder if the guy Chet's talking about back in the US that sounds a lot like Wes Montgomery was George Benson.

[@michaelrochester48]

One of the true Underrated guitarists

[@389383]

Hardly underrated. Most popular country guitarist in the world.

[@beezlus_]

tear drop city is an underrated monkees tune

[@deirdre108]

Some interesting anomalies on the MM Pop 30--"You've Lost That Loving Feeling" by the Righteous Brothers (in March '69?) . I think it was originally released in the US in '65. Also "Gentle On My Mind" by Dean Martin was quite a surprise. I don't remember hearing that in the States, though Martin had a TV variety show around the same time so there's probably a tie-in there. However, good to see that as the 1960's were on their last lap, "The Sound Of Music" soundtrack was still hanging there in the Top 10.

[@The_Great_Darino]

That Buck Owens song was kickin’!

[@neilforbes416]

1:07 Stevie Wonder - it was "My Cherie Amour" which was the intended 'A'-side of this disc.

[@nathalieplum2137]

Chet is super sweet ☺

[@kandigloss6438]

I don't have much to say about Chet Atkins since that era of county music is a bit of a blind spot for me, but I will say that Solomon King section had me laughing to the point of crying. 🤣🤣

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Hahaha!

[@wolfslps6216]

I love your videos so much! Where do you find the articles that you use in them?

[@karlsinclair9918]

I liked the Albert Lee track..! I found out Steve Ellis covered this stevie wonder track for his abandoned solo lp with hookfoot. I'm a big fan of that track... Ellis cover isn't bad either

[@YesterdaysPapers]

The Stones covered that track, too. It's on the "Metamorphosis" album that Decca put out in the mid-70s. I think it was just an unfinished demo but Mick Taylor's guitar playing is incredible.

[@karlsinclair9918]

@@YesterdaysPapers I will have heard it years ago..I'll dig it back out

[@brianholihan5497]

What a gentleman. His technique was so stellar that several of the performers he reviewed must have seemed like 2 + 2. But was quick to compliment them anyway.

[@jamesdrynan]

Good old Chet! Nice that he mentioned Lenny Breau. A huge talent taken too early by drugs. I saw him in Toronto and he blew the audience away with his playing style.

[@SmartCookie2022]

I thought I'd check out some of the Top 30 singles for that week. For instance, Cilla Black's "Surround Yourself With Sorrow" getting to #2 and sounding like something off that year's Eurovision Song Contest. Then there's Sandie Shaw's "Monsieur Dupont" at #8, which if I'm honest, sounded just like another Eurovision song. Then there's Donald Peers' "Please Don't Go" which peaked at #3. All said and done, a very odd month for music.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Hahaha! I agree, those songs do sound like they were straight out of the Eurovision Song Contest.

[@pencilpauli9442]

As the charts scrolled through, was thinking that the records had been pressed square that month. If 67 was the Summer of Love, maybe the 69 was the Autumn of Hip Replacement Therapy?

[@389383]

Singles were starting to get worse and worse as so many artists focused on albums as a whole.

[@raymondbonington9355]

@@YesterdaysPaperssandie shaws last top 20 hit by the way in the uk .

[@stephenwalker2924]

José Feliciano is the one artiste I can think of who could cover a song, make it sound better or different (or maybe take it to great places never envisaged by the original writers) and make it his own without ruining the songs in themselves, so to speak. "Light My Fire," "And the Sun Will Shine," "The Windmills of Your Mind," "Hi-Heel Sneakers" and "Marley Purt Drive" are all fantastic songs in their own right - but Feliciano just made them even better somehow. He could reimagine a song and create an alternative universe where he created that song: that song was his for a time. He proved that a cover could be as good as the orginial, just different and new.

[@deebee5241]

Great outro 🤘 Chet got pretty lucky 😂

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Thanks!

[@MrMjp58]

Interesting to hear Chet’s views on this collection. It’s funny, but there don’t seem to be very many records reviewed in this series that went on to be chart hits. Maybe they were selected for the reviewer, especially. Who reviewed the the big records of the time? I used to read the NME in the early 70’s (till it embraced punk rock), and I seem to recall that the singles they reviewed, mostly went on to be big, or at least moderate hits. I can’t swear to it though….

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Chris Welch and Nick Jones usually reviewed the week's new singles for the Melody Maker. Derek Johnson was usually in charge of reviewing singles for the New Musical Express. Most of the singles featured on these Blind Dates were reviewed by them.

[@daveyvane]

Chet calling something “kinda square” is pretty funny

[@scottjackson1420]

My thought about Stevie is that today, this b-side "My Cherie Amour" is far better known than is "I Don't Know Why."

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

AMAZING that back in 1969 they were having to deal with the head-scratcher of "modern country music." I had to LOL

[@zeusapollo8688]

I will check out the Gary Burton album

[@subg8858]

My Cherie Amour was the B Side??

[@djhrecordhound4391]

Personally I doubt it, since it was somewhat common to reverse the song listing on the backs of 45 sleeves.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Yep, it was the B-side in the UK and Europe: www.discogs.com/es/release/3446037-Stevie-Wonder-I-Dont-Know-Why

[@bruceblackburn9423]

I noticed that too....crazy days 🤣

[@JuiCeBoX19]

Cool episode here. A very open minded Chet here. I chuckled when he didn't recognize his own production though 😅

[@pcno2832]

0:23 I don't remember "Teardrop City" being a hit; it sounds like something they might have put together at the last minute from stuff the Monkees, who were almost over at this point, had recorded earlier. I know what he means about Stevie Wonder's version "I don't know why." being almost too frenetic; I liked it, but I'd say the Rolling Stone's cover was a little better.

[@kevhead1525]

My cherie amour was originally a b-side. Huh. It's fun seeing singles where the execs were wrong about what will and won't be a hit.

[@djhrecordhound4391]

Wasn't it more common for 45 b-sides to be listed at the top on the back of picture sleeves? Either way, it was a surprise to see it as such.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

It was the A-side in the UK. There's even a video of Stevie performing the song on Top of the Tops.

[@djhrecordhound4391]

@@YesterdaysPapers Well then, I stand properly corrected. It's very possible that it started as an a-side over here, and radio deejays played the flip. I'm still learning that was the story behind hits I've known my whole life. Thank you for setting me straight YP!

[@carlodave9]

That Top 30 was a mess! Very interesting though. It’s almost like for a moment the industry wasn’t sure if it should go backwards or forwards. A few months later that would sure change.

[@fumanchu1977]

"there's a guy in America whose name i can,t remenber, but he plays like Wes... " Would that be George Benson, Chet?!

[@paulnolan4971]

Hey YP 1) Is that you on the outro again 2) Is it always you and 3) I'm gonna hate myself if I cant figure out this cover you've done :D

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Hey Paul 1- Yes 2- Yes 3- It's a sort of soul/funk adaptation of "Gimme Shelter" by the Stones.

[@paulnolan4971]

@@YesterdaysPapers GDI I can hear it now lol. Also cool, very cool.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

@@paulnolan4971 Thanks!

[@YesterdaysPapers]

@Deli6505 Thanks!

[@brushwoodthicket]

For Stevie Wonder, I kept shouting at the screen, turn the record over!

[@deadlyoneable]

“I don’t know why” - I didn’t know Stevie wonder did that. I only knew that as the stones. Did the stones write it? I know it was a weird track on metamorphosis

[@YesterdaysPapers]

It was written by Stevie Wonder, the Stones covered it.

[@deadlyoneable]

@@YesterdaysPapers ah yes thank you. And I see some others asked it in the comments. You are right. That solo by mick Taylor is one of his best. So melodic.

[@paulnolan4971]

No Beatles presence in the singles chart again. I guess they were winding down😁

[@mladen8127]

Chet is delightfully positive compared to Andrew Oldham last week. Are you in any danger of running out of blind dates anytime soon?

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Not yet! Hahaha

[@paulgoldstein2569]

An odd choice for an artist for Blind Date. But although Chet was an accomplished Country musician and producer, he obviously had an ear for later Pop. Not long before his passing, he recorded an album with Mark Knopfler. But I was surprised he could not tell whether the Buck Owens single was actually by Buck or somebody else who sounded like him, when they were both Country artists. But back in 1965, Buck recorded the original of Act Naturally. During the seventies, he re-recorded it with Ringo Starr who sang on The Beatles' more famous version. But I was mystified that Chet did not know whether The (Young) Rascals were American. But maybe he was a little too old to be an expert on Pop music.

[@willieluncheonette5843]

Don't have much to say about his comments (they seem pretty straight forward) but I do love Chet. I have posted this song before when I had a google plus channel. I think it's sublime.. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zmm3fqdvZruChKc From the album The Other Chet Atkins 1960 ."For people whose hearts need a little melting... Was aware of this song, a childhood favorite, but not this rendition. What a gorgeous sound on this Spanish guitar---it goes straight to your heart. And what a beautiful feeling Chet has for this song. Can't imagine too many songs more delicate and heartfelt than this."

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Great rendition of "Streets of Laredo". His guitar playing is amazing.

[@willieluncheonette5843]

@@YesterdaysPapers Knew you would dig it.

[@ericwinnert]

For the first couple of notes I thought Wes Montgomery was Phil Upchurch, maybe that who Chet means.

[@robertscorey1369]

What’s the song at the end of the video?

[@YesterdaysPapers]

It's a sort of soul/funk adaptation of "Gimme Shelter" that I recorded.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

@@ErikThomasMusic Thanks!

[@robertscorey1369]

@@YesterdaysPapers Great Work!Love the Sound of it.Right Up my Alley. If you have your music posted or accessible I would definitely check it out.

[@sherrybirchall8677]

He really had a nice bunch to review, but I was surprised that YP didn't give him more Britsh releases to review. Maybe YP likes Chet Atkins more than Johnny Cash, so they didn't want to give him bad stuff to review, so he would get raked over the coals like Johnny Cash. On a side note, I didn't know Dean Martin recorded Gentle On My Mind.

[@iauhdinavlissaid872]

Yesterday's Papers Stevie Wonder with his I don't know why was issued in 1968, and not ' 69 See the Biography and Discography

[@skintslots]

This is a UK channel so maybe Stevie Wonder released it in the UK in 69?

[@FiveLiver]

I didn't recognise any of those records, even the Monkee's one was unfamiliar.

[@MrDino1953]

Apart from Albatross by Fleetwood Mac, everything else on the Top 30 was alba-dross.

[@90sLongBranchRocked]

People were a lot more accepting of each other. The TV is a liar.

[@spudwas]

Tear drop city?? Also "My Cherie Amour" the B side?.....come on U.K.

[@djhrecordhound4391]

Someone else commented that the editors may have tailored selections closer to Chet's tastes. I may be wrong, but I don't think Tear Drop City really was the a-side (unless Motown intended it as a 'double a-side' single). I have lots of 45 picture sleeves from the USA, UK, and Canada, where the back lists the b-side on top.

[@LeeTomboulian-uj5zv]

I like this fine = this doesn’t grab me, but I don’t want to alienate anyone

[@katbela3971]

THE MONKEES had a fantastic sound; unfortunately, they were branded as a prefabricated band. Happy Valentine's Day, Yesterday's Papers, three days late; sorry.🤭🤗🌹

[@skintslots]

It was because The Wrecking Crew,the famous session musicians,played on most or all of their early hits.

[@golfcoursemanager33]

pretty weak selection of songs considering how much great music was being made at the time. wasted opportunity....