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Mark Knopfler: Neck and Neck

 A l b u m   D e t a i l s


Label: CBS Records
Released: 1990.10.09
Time:
 38:26
Category: Country
Producer(s): Mark Knopfler
Rating: **........ (2/10)
Media type: CD
Web address: www.mark-knopfler.co.uk
Appears with: Dire Straits
Purchase date: 1999
Price in €: 1,99



 S o n g s ,   T r a c k s


[1] Poor Boy Blues (Kennerley) - 4:01
[2] Sweet Dreams (Gibson) - 3:24
[3] There'll Be Some Changes Made (Higgins/Overstreet) - 6:28
[4] Just One Time (Gibson) - 4:11
[5] So Soft, Your Goodbye (Goodrum) - 3:16
[6] Yakety Axe (Randolph/Rich/Travis) - 3:24
[7] Tears (Grappelli/Reinhardt) - 3:54
[8] Tahitian Skies (Flacke) - 3:18
[9] I'll See You in My Dreams (Jones/Kahn) - 2:59
[10] The Next Time I'm in Town (Knopfler) - 3:21

 A r t i s t s ,   P e r s o n n e l


MARK KNOPFLER - Guitar, Vocals
CHET ATKINS - Guitar, Vocals

FLOYD CRAMER - Piano on [2]
DEBORAH FEINGOLD - Vocals
GUY FLETCHER - Bass, Drums, Keyboards
PAUL FRANKLIN - Dobro, Steel Guitar, Pedabro
LARRY LONDIN - Drums
EDGAR MEYER - Bass
MARK O'CONNOR - Fiddle, Mandolin
STEVE WARINER - Bass
VINCE GILL - Backing Vocals

GUY FLETCHER - Engineer
MIKE POSTON - Engineer
DOUG SAX - Mastering
BILL SCHNEE - Mixing
ALAN YOSHIDA - Mastering

 C o m m e n t s ,   N o t e s


Working with Dire Straits guitarist Mark Knopfler had a rejuvinating influence on Chet Atkins. Knopfler has Atkins moving toward his country roots, but both guitarists still play with a tasteful, jazzy sensibility -- however, Atkins has abandoned the overt jazz-fusion pretensions that sank most of his '80s records. With its direct, understated approach, Neck and Neck is the most focused and arguably the most rewarding record Atkins has released.

Stephen Thomas Erlewine
All-Music Guide, © 1992 - 2001 AEC One Stop Group, Inc.



Two generations of guitarists merge on this cleverly-titled album, with former Dire Straits virtuoso Mark Knopfler taking time off from scoring movies to join Chet Atkins, one of the fathers of electric guitar pickin'. And there's some mighty fine country pickin' on display here, with the duo joined by some of Nashville's all-time finest players, including the late, great Floyd Cramer, Mark O'Connor, Larry Londin, Vince Gill, and Steve Wariner. The material ranges from choice country covers (Doc Watson's "Poor Boy Blues," Patsy Cline's "Sweet Dreams") to rock 'n' roll ("Yakety Ax," a take on Boots Randolph's "Yakety Sax"), jazz (Django Reinhardt's "Tears"), a Knopfler original, and even the old standard "I'll See You in My Dreams." It sounds like they had fun, too!

Bill Holdship - Amazon.com



Two generations of guitarists merge on this cleverly-titled album, with former Dire Straits virtuoso Mark Knopfler taking time off from scoring movies to join Chet Atkins, one of the fathers of electric guitar pickin'. And there's some mighty fine country pickin' on display here, with the duo joined by some of Nashville's all-time finest players, including the late, great Floyd Cramer, Mark O'Connor, Larry Londin, Vince Gill, and Steve Wariner. The material ranges from choice country covers (Doc Watson's "Poor Boy Blues," Patsy Cline's "Sweet Dreams") to rock 'n' roll ("Yakety Ax," a take on Boots Randolph's "Yakety Sax"), jazz (Django Reinhardt's "Tears"), a Knopfler original, and even the old standard "I'll See You in My Dreams." It sounds like they had fun, too!

© 1999 - 2001 Musiciansnews.com All rights reserved



Without Chet Atkins, country music may never have crossed over into the pop charts in the '50s and '60s. Atkins' style grew out of his admiration for Merle Travis, and expanded Travis' signature syncopated thumb-and-fingers roll into new territory. Chet Atkins' role as record producer in the '60s and '70s made the Nashville sound heard and loved throughout the world. On NECK AND NECK, Mr. Guitar teams up with Dire Straits' guitarist Mark Knopfler. Together, the two guitar greats perform a wide variety of music encompassing country, pop, and even European jazz influences. Atkins and Knopfler perform the Boots Randolph tune, "Yakety Sax" that Atkins, decades earlier, turned into a country hit after renaming it "Yakety Axe." The two guitarists also perform the Django Reinhardt ballad, "Tears," employing a delicate and introspective touch. Perhaps the best song here though is the endearing "There'll Be Some Changes Made," which incorporates a virtuoso guitar battle.

Copyright © 2001 Encore Music Company, Inc.



NECK AND NECK is a decent country album - and this is great considering the current state of country music. But the fact that the album is only above average is also shameful, considering it was made by two legendary guitarists: Chet Atkins and Mark Knopfler.

The album starts off fast with dual guitars running through "Poor Boy Blues." Unfortunately, this song doesn't set a standard for the rest of the album. It slows down immediately, only to perk up on two more songs. The slower songs, including five instrumentals, are nice but boring in the long run.

"I'll See You in My Dreams Tonight" is the best of these instrumentals, but even this song leaves Knopfler unchallenged. The best song on the album is the only new song -- Knopfler's "The Next Time I'm in Town." This is Knopfler's only worthy contribution to the album.

I really don't understand Knopfler's role on the album. His occasional solos are sparse at best. And his rhythm guitar is uneventful. Anyone could have played his part. Hopefully this isn't the direction that Knopfler is going -- mellow country twang.

It's obvious that he has a soft spot for country music. Many Dire Straits songs have their roots in country. And his venture last year with The Notting Hillbillies dove even deeper into the Tennessee hills. But these earlier songs, at least, were interesting -- more than just background music. Knopfler wasn't meant to play background music.

Neck and Neck was made more for Chet Atkins fans than Knopfler fans. Atkins is the lead singer and guitarist on most of the songs. And the mellow song selection definitely caters to a middle-age crowd.

"There'll Be Some Changes Made" is proof of this. Atkins adds his own parody lyrics to this country standard and the outcome is truly silly. "I'll start wearing make-up like Jackson and Prince," Atkins sings as he ponders whether he should change his style. "I'll get my money for nothing and my chicks for free."

The song turns into one of those cute, question-answer show tunes with Knopfler responding, "Those groupie girls aren't what they're cracked up to be." Then Atkins: "Well, I had a quiet life here on music row. So, Mark, what you think?" Then Knopfler with the obvious rhyme: "Gee, [pause], I don't know."

Only the 50-year-old refugees from the Crosby/Hope era can appreciate stuff like this.

So if you're a Chet Atkins fan (or, more likely, if your parents are fans) this album won't let you down. It's a nice album, but certainly nothing to brag about. If you're a Mark Knopfler fan, wait for the new Dire Straits album which should be out soon. The only thing you'll miss on Neck and Neck is that original song that closes the album. But I'm sure his upcoming album will have many more songs like this one.

By CHRIS WANJEK
Copyright 1990 by The Tech. All rights reserved.
 

 L y r i c s


POOR BOY BLUES

Do I want you? Yes I do
Do I need you? Baby you know it's true
But I ain't got nothin' that you can use
So I'm sittin' on my own here, with these poor boy blues

One day, baby, you will see
You're gonna give all your love to me
I'm the one, babe, that you're gonna choose
But in the meantime, I got these poor boy blues

Pick it son, pick it nice

Things won't always be the same
Someday soon, everything will change
You'll tell your mama her baby's got good news
But until then, well, I got these poor boy blues


SWEET DREAMS

Instrumental


THERE'LL BE SOME CHANGES MADE

There'll be a change in the weather and a change in the scene
How is that?
I'm gonna start wearin' leather and change my routine
I'll wear dark glasses maybe a toupee
I'll get down and boogie and become risque
I'll start wearin' make-up like Jackson and Prince
You'll see me ridin' in my Mercedes Benz
Nobody wants you when you just play guitar
There'll be some changes made tomorrow
There'll be some changes made

Y'know Chet, you're never gonna get to play that rock & roll
Why is that?
You're kinda country, a little bit old
That hurts
But your money for nothin' and your chicks for free
Well, them groupie girls ain't what they're cracked up to be
Well not all of them anyway
Well I'd really like to find out for myself, don't you know
I've had a kind of quiet life down here on music row
Oh I know
Well uh... like a man, what do you think?
Man, I don't know
I really think that I can make the grade
Daddy-o Daddy-o
There'll be some changes made
I think I was sharp there
Just play one - just play

Yeah
You've played before
Watch it, watch it
Stand back boy

Well I'd really like... to find out for myself,
Don't you know. 'Cause
Like I said I've had a sheltered life
Down here on music row
I don't believe so
Well what... what do you think Mark?
I dunno
I really think that I can make the grade
There'll be some changes made

Now listen to this I'm gonna play some rock and roll

There'll be some changes made... Yeah
There'll be some changes made
Now let's all play

Anybody hurt?
I learned this at... at summer Bible school
Well, I never could trust a saint
I'm only a part-time saint
Pretty good but you're no Mark Knopfler
What about that one there?
Not all that bad
I like that
I like that
Don't make me look bad now, don't make me look bad
Respect for your elders

There'll be some changes made


JUST ONE TIME

If I could see you just one time
Oh how it'd ease my troubled mind
If I could hold you just one time
And then pretend that you're still mine
Oh, how I miss you so
Oh I need you so
I'd give this heart of mine
If I could see you just one time

Lips that used to thrill me so
They now thrill someone else I know
Gone is the love that once was mine
Wish I could see you just one time

Oh, how I miss you so
Oh I need you so
I'd give this heart of mine
If I could see you just one time

Wish I could relive just one time
Turn back the pages and there I'd find
That same old love that once was mine
Wish I could see you just one time

Oh, how I miss you so
Oh I need you so
I'd give this heart of mine
If I could see you just one time


SO SOFT, YOUR GOODBYE

Instrumental


YAKETY AXE

Poverty stricken but still I'm a-stickin' to the things I know to be facts
One day it's feathers and the next day chicken while I'm pickin' my yakety axe
Ev'rybody says that I never will get far, keepin' out of work by pickin' this guitar
Livin' on a shoe-string, puttin' off things like a shave and a hair cut

Money don't matter as long as I scatter a little bit of happiness around
If people keep a grinnin' I figure I'm a winnin' my good old yakety sound
City folks go around turnin' up their noses and countin' their greenbacks and smellin' their roses
But I wouldn't trade my yakety axe, even for a T-bone

I'm confessin' I never took a lesson, all my notes are a matter of guessin'
Hopin' they'll come out in some kinda of manner that'll make the yakety sound
So if you're in the mood and your feet start tappin'
And you feel laid back and your hands start clappin'
Then I'll have done what I wanted to from way back
You're diggin' my yakety axe

Now, a pick


TEARS

Instrumental


TAHITIAN SKIES

Instrumental


I'LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS

Instrumental


THE NEXT TIME I'M IN TOWN

Now it's been somethin' seein' you again
In this time we've had to spend
You've been so good to be around
I thank you for that special thrill
Keep me going on until
The next time I'm in town

Though I won't be back here for a while
Or hear your laughter, see you smile
And I'll remember what went down
I can't tell you how or when
But I'll be seeing you again
The next time I'm in town

Now the faces and the places range
'cross the bridge of time and change
Once again I'm homeward bound
There's one thing I promise you
And that's another rendezvous
The next time I'm in town

Now it's been something seeing you again
And in this time we've had to spend
You've been so good to be around
And I thank you for that special thrill
Keep me goin' on until
The next time I'm in town
'Til the next time I'm in town
'Til the next time I'm in town

 M P 3   S a m p l e s


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