The Essential Chet Atkins: The Columbia Years is a compilation recording by American guitarist Chet Atkins. The 15 tracks included here are from his recordings on the Columbia label from 1983 to the 1997. The tracks have all been digitally remastered.

The Essential Chet Atkins: The Columbia Years
Greatest hits album by Chet Atkins
Released	August 4, 2004
Recorded	1983 - 1997
Genre	Country, jazz
Length	55:06
Label	Columbia (92796)
Chet Atkins chronology
Solo Sessions (2003) The Essential Chet Atkins: The Columbia Years (2004) The Essential Chet Atkins (2007)

There is more focus on Atkins' jazz-pop work here, but his country roots are still evident. His later collaborations with Mark Knopfler, Jerry Reed, Suzy Bogguss and Tommy Emmanuel are represented here.

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

Track listing

1. "Bourree" (Bach) – 3:52
2. "Cosmic Square Dance" (Chet Atkins, Mark Knopfler, Paul Yandell) – 4:17
3. "Wobegon (The Way It Used to Be)" (Atkins) – 3:17
4. "Maybelle" (Atkins) – 3:10
5. "Dixie McGuire" (Tommy Emmanuel) – 3:53
6. "Jam Man" (Atkins) – 3:20
7. "Poor Boy Blues" (Paul Kennerley) – 4:03
8. "Road to Gundaghi/Waltzing Matilda" (Traditional) – 3:03
9. "Sneakin' Around" (Kass) – 4:26
10. "Dream" (Mercer) – 4:37
11. "After You've Gone" (Creamer, Layton) – 3:32
12. "I'll See You in My Dreams" (Isham Jones, Gus Kahn) – 2:59
13. "Young Thing" (Atkins) – 3:13
14. "Imagine" (John Lennon) – 4:08
15. "So Soft, Your Goodbye" (Randy Goodrum) – 3:16

Personnel

• Chet Atkins – guitar
• Mark Knopfler - guitar
• Jerry Reed - guitar
• Suzy Bogguss - vocals
• Paulinho Da Costa – percussion
• Tommy Emmanuel - guitar

References