CHET ATKINS WROTE YAKETY AXE FULL
CHET ATKINS WROTE YAKETY AXE TV

Hit versions by The Ventures (US #2/R&B #13/UK #8 1960), The John Barry Seven (UK #11 1960), The Ventures (as “Walk, Don’t Run ’64” US #8 1964).įrom the wiki: “‘Walk, Don’t Run’ is an instrumental composition written and first recorded by jazz guitarist Johnny Smith in 1954. Written and first recorded by Johnny Smith (1954). Read more → 1950s, Jazz Walk, Don’t Run May 20, 2014 Cale’s recording reached #42 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972. A re-recording of ‘After Midnight’ was released from the album as a single in 1972.

CHET ATKINS WROTE YAKETY AXE FULL

It was nice to make some money.’ Cale’s friend and producer Audie Ashworth then encouraged him to capitalize on the song’s success by recording a full album, Naturally, released in 1972. I was in my thirties, so I was very happy. He recalled to Mojo magazine that when he heard Clapton’s version playing on his radio, ‘I was dirt poor, not making enough to eat and I wasn’t a young man. “Cale was unaware of Clapton’s 1970 recording of the song until it became a radio hit. Clapton’s single peaked at #18 in late 1970. ‘After Midnight’ was the first of several Cale cover songs released by Clapton and it first appeared on his 1970 self-titled debut album. When Eric Clapton was working with Delaney & Bonnie Bramlett, Delaney Bramlett introduced Eric to Cale’s music.

But, the song would become the catalyst for his future solo recording career success. Cale wrote ‘After Midnight’ in 1966 and first released it as single (on Liberty Records) the same year with no apparent chart success. Cale (re-recording US #42 1972), Eric Clapton (re-recording Rock #4/UK #99 1988).Īlso recorded by The Pioneers (1971), Chet Atkins (1972), Sergio Mendes (1972), Maggie Bell (1974), Pretty Lights (2009).įrom the wiki: “J.J. Hit versions by Eric Clapton (US #18 1970), J.J. In 1990 Atkins was joined by the British guitarist/singer-songwriter Mark Knopfler in a version of Yakety Axe on which Atkins recited verses written by Merl Travis, the man whose style of guitar picking originally inspired Atkins.Written and first recorded by J.J. As an actor in the 1970s, Reed co-starred with Burt Reynolds in several movies, including all three of the ‘Smokey and the Bandit’ films for which he also composed the sound track. Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash both recorded songs written by Reed. Reed was an associate of Atkins, and the latter is on record as saying that Reed helped him work out the fingering for Yakety Axe.Īs well as being acknowledged as one of the best country guitar players, Reed was an actor, composer and singer. A track I played frequently was Jerry Reed’s version of Yakety Axe.

CHET ATKINS WROTE YAKETY AXE TV

Randolph and Atkins sometimes played the tune as a duet during joint TV appearances.įor a short while in the early 1990s I produced a country music record show for a small hospital radio station. In 1965, Atkins recorded a guitar version of the tune which he called Yakety Axe. Yakety Sax was Randolph’s updating of a piece originally composed by James Q ‘Spider’ Rich and references a saxophone solo on a 1958 Coasters recording of the Lieber and Stoller song ‘Yakety Yak’.Īnother musician who worked alongside Randolph on recordings by Elvis and other Nashville based stars is the country guitarist Chet Atkins. Hits featuring Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Brenda Lee and REO Speed Wagon all benefited from his distinctive saxophone style. British saxophonist Peter Hughes was responsible for the version used on Hill’s show.īoots Randolph was a Nashville based session musician who played on recordings by many country and rock artistes during the 60s and later. Originally recorded in 1963 by its composer, Boots Randolph, the raucous nature of the saxophone notes and the insistent rhythm were an ideal accompaniment to the jerky motion of Hill’s many pursuers. If you are old enough to remember the Benny Hill show, after it transferred to Thames Television in 1969, you will know the tune that accompanied the closing chase sequence.

Chet atkins wrote yakety axe