Chet Atkins’ 1957 masterpiece Hi-Fi in Focus is a stunning collection showcasing his virtuosity and diverse repertoire aimed to satisfy both his core country fans and a pop audience – including the rendition of ”Walk, Don’t Run” that inspired a Washington quartet’s iconic hit cover.

The distinctive cover of Hi-Fi in Focus set it apart from the usual Atkins LP. The modern abstract photo, meant to depict high fidelity, was the winning entry of 30,000 submissions in a contest sponsored by RCA and the camera manufacturer Canon to find a photo that captured the essence of the medium. The music inside reflected both Chet’s eclecticism and the growing popularity of high fidelity long-playing albums.

A measure of his success: in the late 50’s and early 60’s, his LPs occupied space in upscale record collections alongside orchestral LPs by Percy Faith, Mantovani, Hugo Winterhalter and Nelson Riddle