Chet Atkins, “Chet Atkins Picks on the Beatles,” RCA. (**)

It must have been a thrill for the Beatles to hear their music interpreted by someone of Atkins’ stature--as George Harrison’s liner notes for the 1966 release suggest. For Beatles fans, however, the only way the album would be interesting today is if Atkins had gone into the studio with the group. While his playing is imaginative enough, the supporting arrangements (including the harmonica work of the normally reliable Charlie McCoy) pale.

* Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent).