The Atkins–Travis Traveling Show Explained

The Atkins-Travis Traveling Show
Type:	album
Artist:	Chet Atkins and Merle Travis
Cover:	Atkins_Travis_Traveling_Show.jpg
Released:	1974
Recorded:	January 15–16, 1974, Los Angeles, California
Genre:	Country, bluegrass
Length:	29:56
Label:	RCA Victor
Producer:	Jerry Reed

The Atkins–Travis Traveling Show is the title of a recording by guitarists Chet Atkins and Merle Travis, released by RCA Records in 1974. The two musical legends team up on 11 songs, earning the 1974 Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance. Rehearsed in Nashville, this album was recorded in California.^[1]

Reception

Writing for Allmusic, critic Richie Unterberger wrote of the album "It was a refreshingly plain production for a time when the country scene in which Atkins and Travis had started as youngsters was getting pretty slick. At the same time, there's a lack of ambition to the endeavor that makes it a secondary curiosity in both men's catalogs, and certainly not one of the top places to start as showcases for their formidable abilities."

Reissues

Originally released on RCA, it was reissued on CD by BMG in 2002.

Track listing

Side one

"Down South Blues" (Atkins, Travis) – 4:36
"Mutual Admiration" (Shel Silverstein) – 2:10
"Muskrat Ramble" (Ray Gilbert, Kid Ory) – 2:33
"If I Had You" (Jimmy Campbell, Reginald Connelly, Ted Shapiro) – 3:07
"Cannonball Rag" (Travis) – 1:22
"Boogie For Cecil" (Atkins, Travis) – 2:29

Side two

"Is There Anything Better Than This" (Shel Silverstein) – 2:30
"Dance of the Golden Rod" (Travis) – 1:53
"Who's Sorry Now?" (Ted Snyder, Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby) – 2:10
"Nine Pound Hammer" (Travis) – 2:53
"I'll See You in My Dreams" (Isham Jones, Gus Kahn) – 3:51

Personnel

Chet Atkins – guitar, vocals
Merle Travis – guitar, vocals
Jerry Reed – guitar
Bill Vandevort – engineer
Mickey Crofford – engineer

Notes and References

Atkins, Chet and Cochran, Russ. (2003). "Me and My Guitars". Milwaukee. Hal Leonard Corporation. .