On This Holy Night / / Christmas with Chet Atkins

Vocalist-arranger Anita Kerr and guitarist-producer Chet Atkins were two of the architects of the Nashville Sound that transformed country music in the late 1950s and early 60s. a consummate Django Reinhardt / Andres Segovia influenced guitarist who, in addition to a successful solo career, worked with Elvis Presley, the Everly Brothers and Jim Reeves, Chet Atkins eventually ran RCA's a & R department in Nashville, signing such million-selling talents as Floyd Cramer, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton to the label. Anita Kerr is without doubt one of the greatest musicians America has produced. During those halcyon days she provided high-quality vocal arrangements and wrote string parts for literally hundreds of Nashville Sound sessions. She arranged both orchestra and chorus for such big hits as Skeeter Davis's 'End of the World' and Roy Orbison's monumental 'Only the Lonely'. Her stamp was on the city's music. Chet Atkins felt that Kerr 'gave a sophistication and smoothness to country music that made it so much more palatable to audiences all over the world.' This Christmas edition combines ON THIS HOLY NIGHT, which Anita Kerr and her singers recorded for the Nashville-based music publisher services organization SESAC in 1959, with the delightful CHRISTMAS WITH CHET ATKINS, a superlative set which, with backing from Kerr, showcases Chet's traditional, classical and modern pop influences with tremendous verve. It is unarguably one of the best seasonal records ever made.