Almost Alone

By the time he was in his 70s, Chet Atkins had done almost everything he could do in music, experimenting with a complete range of sounds, genres, and collaborators. But he was reluctant to do what many of his fans wanted most: an album of solo guitar music. In 1996 he relented, and while Almost Alone isn't a purely unaccompanied work, it's close. It's impossible to ignore the intense poignancy of the performances here, as Chet dedicates songs to friends and collaborators who've meant the most to him, including Maybelle Carter, Susie Bogguss, and Mark Knopfler. He moves around a wide range of song sources—from Hawaiian music to Cole Porter to hoedown tunes—but the playing is never grandiose, always understated. Few guitarists could even attempt “Ave Maria” in any kind of authentic way. Yet by the album's end it's apparent that in his 50-year career, Atkins has earned the right to play this ancient prayer, and he delivers it as a farewell of the deepest gratitude and dignity.