January 1965: George's Records

    In the 23 January 1965 issue of Melody Maker's 'Inside Showbiz' column, the Raver reported that George Harrison had been sent Chet Atkins' complete recorded works by Atkins' 15-year-old daughter Merle from the States. At that time, "Mr Guitar" had released twenty-six studio albums for RCA Victor!

    George had been a fan of Akins' guitar style since 1957. By 1963, he had eleven of Chet Atkins' LPs in his collection including 1955's Stringin' Along With Chet Atkins and 1957's Hi-Fi In Focus. George had an uncle who brought Atkins' records over for him from North America. The latter album contained an arrangement of J.S. Bach's 'Bourrée' that George and Paul McCartney learned to impress as their 'party piece'. In 1968, Paul was inspired by this guitar arrangement to write 'Blackbird'.

    Paul was also supposedly influenced by Atkins' 'Trambone' (from 1962's Down Home LP) to write the guitar part for 'Michelle'.

    Junior DJ Pete Waterman remembered George playing Atkins' records backstage a the Matrix Hall, Coventry, on 17 November 1962. In a letter to his sister Louise, written on 29 June 1963 from the Albany Hotel in Birmingham, George mentioned he would like to 'call in at Nashville for a few days too, to see Roy Orbison (whom we met on tour over here) and possibly Chet Atkins, a favourite of mine, if we have time.' George's guitar solo on 1963's 'All My Loving' is often cited for its heavy influence from Atkins' style.

    

    Although Merle Atkins generous gift was (undoubtedly) received gratefully in January 1965, George already owned a good portion of her father's work. George's passions for Atkins inspired not only his own style and choice of Gretsch guitars but also his fellow Beatles. Paul and Linda McCartney got to know Atkins while rehearsing and recording in Nashville in June-July 1974.

    Ironically, Atkins' twenty-eighth studio album (released in March 1966) was titled Chet Atkins Picks On The Beatles, which comprised twelve Beatle covers including 'Michelle'.