Personnel includes: Chet Atkins (vocals, guitar, bass); "Sister" Billie Rose Atkins (vocals); Jimmy Atkins, Hank Snow, Jerry Reed, Mark Casstevens (guitar); Jerry Byrd (steel guitar); Dale Potter (fiddle); Charlie McCoy (harmonica, vibraphone); Joe Biviana (accordion); Boots Randolph (saxophone); Marvin Hughes (piano, organ, celeste); "Papa" John Gordy, Floyd Cramer, Hargus Robbins (piano); Kossie Gardner (organ); Charles R. Green, Holly Swanson, Johnny Johnson (bass); Buddy Harman, Larrie Londin (drums).

Producers: Stephen H. Sholes, Charles R. Grean, Chet Atkins, Bob Ferguson.

Compilation producers: Rob Santos, Rich Kienzle.

Recorded between 1947 and 1978. Includes liner notes by Rich Kienzle.

Digitally remastered by Elliott Federman (SAJE Sound, New York, New York).

It's safe to say that Chet Atkins invented what we know as the country guitar style. But this brilliantly programmed retrospective shows that Atkins was equally fluent in scores of other styles. There's not a dud to be found on GUITAR LEGEND: THE RCA YEARS. Each of these tracks, recorded between 1947 and 1978, is a delight. And Atkins makes it all look so easy.

GUITAR LEGEND? is nothing but highlights, though Atkins' stunning solo-guitar transcription of Dave Brubeck's signature piano tune "Take Five" stands out. So does "Centipede Boogie," featuring an up-the-neck solo that scores of rockabilly guitarists (and later George Harrison) were quick to appropriate. And the lightly swinging, tongue-in-cheek instrumental "Satan's Doll" suggests something a diabolical Duke Ellington might have composed.