Neck and Neck

Neck to Neck is a collaborative album by American guitarist Chet Atkins and British singer-songwriter and guitarist Mark Knopfler, released on October 9, 1990, by Columbia Records. "Poor Boy Blues" was released as a single.

At the 33rd Annual Grammy Awards in 1991, the track "Poor Boy Blues" won Best Country Vocal Collaboration, while the track "So Soft Your Goodbye" won Best Country Instrumental Performance.

Atkins originally recorded "Yakety Axe", a parody of Boots' Randolph's "Yakety Sax", on his 1965 album More of That Guitar Country. This new recording features lyrics and a new arrangement that were composed by Merle Travis. Atkins also previously recorded "I'll See You in My Dreams" on an album with Travis.

The track "There'll Be Some Changes Made" was later included as track 10 of the 15-track 1996 Rolls-Royce Sound System Demonstration Disc and accompanying cassette.

Critical reception
In his review for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave the album four out of five stars, calling it "the most focused and arguably the most rewarding record Atkins has released." Erlewine singled out Knopfler's influence on the legendary guitarist:

"Working with Dire Straits guitarist Mark Knopfler had a rejuvenating 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."

Personnel

 * Music
 * Chet Atkins – guitar, vocals
 * Mark Knopfler – guitar, vocals
 * Larrie Londin – drums
 * Guy Fletcher – drums, bass, keyboards
 * Edgar Meyer – bass
 * Steve Wariner – bass
 * Mark O'Connor – fiddle, mandolin
 * Paul Franklin – steel guitar, pedabro, Dobro
 * Floyd Cramer – piano (track 2)
 * Vince Gill – backing vocals


 * Production
 * Mark Knopfler – producer
 * Mike Poston – engineer
 * Guy Fletcher – engineer
 * Vanelle – assistance engineer
 * Ron Eve – assistance engineer
 * Bill Schnee – mixing engineer
 * Doug Sax – mastering at The Mastering Lab in Los Angeles
 * Alan Yoshida – mastering at The Mastering Lab in Los Angeles
 * Deborah Feingold – photography