Chet Atkins and Friends - Music From the Heart (VHS)

eBay claims that there isn't a DVD for this 1987 Cinemax Session, but if you check my feedback...you’ll find my recent purchase. Granted, it came from England, but it is the exact same show. I viewed it on my cable when it was released and made a copy with my VHS. Lord only knows where it is now.

What a group of friends! Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits, Michael McDonald (Doobie Brothers) and David Pack (of Ambrosia) made up the backing musicians and vocals. After Chet and Mark showing there stuff, the next friends are the Everly Brothers, singing a medley of their hits, then sing a Knopfler written song, Chet had released, as did the Everly Brothers, “Why Worry Now”. Then Chet thought that he needed a higher voice and Emmylou Harris, quite a bit younger and very pretty added “Precious Memories”, (but the jacket says “Precious Moments“ WRONG.

As each performer finished their songs, they each hung around doing harmony. With Emmylou, David Pack and the Everlys, that’s some great harmony! Michael McDonald’s rendition of his hit, “I Keep Forgetting”, with the harmony really get the show pumping. Next up was the time for SUPER-STARS! Waylon Jennings sings, “A Rose In Paradise” (listed on the jacket from the DVD as, “Fire In His Eyes”). WRONG AGAIN! As Waylon goes into, “Good Hearted Woman”, he is joined by another “outlaw”, Willie Nelson (to the crowd’s delight). I must confess, I wish Willie would have done his solo of a better song from his extensive list, but he sang, “I Am A Cowboy”, including yodeling. Chet and Pack do “Sunrise”, which Chet had recorded with George Benson, followed by a beautiful job of covering John Lennon’s classic, “Imagine” with Chet and Knopfler. Chet is known for his work on fret boards, not his singing voice, but he sings a VERY moving song about his father, “I Still Can't Say Goodbye”. There wasn’t a dry eye in the audience or the band and I have never failed to shed a tear remembering my father, every time I hear the tune. As well as my day job, I have been the lead singer in bands for over 40 years. I tried to cover that song on a couple of occasions, and I just could never complete the tune.

If you can find a copy of the DVD, it is exactly like viewing it on cable in 1987. I seldom review junk and if you like the cast of singers and players, you won’t be disappointed! As of right now, there are several DVDs of this program, all from Europe.