Les Paul with Chet Atkins - Guitar Monsters

All Music Guide

Chester and Lester went at it again in Nashville after the success of their first encounter, and the results are just about as marvelous. Reportedly, there was a lot of tension at these sessions, with Les being in a particularly foul mood and suffering from a cold, but it didn't seem to affect the splendid playing on tunes like "Limehouse Blues," and the rollicking "It Don't Mean a Thing" and nine others. The tension may have given a bit of a real-life edge to the hilarious mutual joshing of "I'm Your Greatest Fan," but who can say? The choice of tunes again falls mostly in Paul's territory, with old standbys like "Over the Rainbow," "Brazil" and "I Surrender Dear," but Atkins gets in Ralph Flanagan's lovable "Hot Toddy," and there is even a countrified take on Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Meditation." Atkins suavely handles both acoustic and electric guitars on the sessions, while Les' brittle, everywhere-at-once electric guitar is heard for the last time (so far) on a full-length album. T...racks from this album, along with those of Chester and Lester, can be heard on the CD Masters of the Guitar Together (Pair PDC-2-1230). - Richard S. Ginell, All Music Guide Read more Less