dragon1952 wrote: 
Nice comment, true ......

 Nope, give me Mason Williams any time!

This is some amazing (technical) guitar playing, but when one listens to the Mason Williams's version you can hear and feel the heart of the music.

gavinam wrote: 
Yes. Bravo, gavinam.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed for some Egberto Gismonti, as well. That's a freneticism I can get behind.

To see him perform live is a real treat. He is amazing.

Yeah, while amazing what he does this sounds like the version you would play at a Monster Truck competition intermission or something.

ick wrote:  Agreed, I applaud new takes on the classics, but this one falls a little short

Interesting interpretation on a (now) classic piece of Americana   The fact that my heads bobbing to it means....me like. 

Highlow
American Net'Zen

A little too frenetic.  This version wants to cause an anxiety attack.

gavinam wrote: 
I've seen him 3 times as well. Never failed to be absolutely amazing. Incredible talent. Not sure what all the haters are listening to, but to each his own. I'll admit, this is not the best track of his out there, but still he can play circles around most people.

All you hate-ahs out there, railing against the soul-less freneticism of TE's version of this song, need to keep the context in mind:  this is a gee-whiz, top-of-the-curve, barn-burner live version of this song meant to wow an audience.  You needn't look far into TE's discography to know that he is a very multi-dimensional player.  It just so happens that one of his dimensions is to be able to stand alone in front of an audience holding a piece of wood and a scorch their ears off.

A nice attrmpt at a very difficult piece .. the maestro sure and still is 'Mason Williams' just two diferent interpretations 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNl4l15x8Pc

I'm a guitar nut/player and have seen Tommy Emmanuel 3 times. He's a wonderful guy and a brilliant player/showman, but i just cannot connect with what he is doing.To me its over the top and lacks soul. I'll take Michael Hedges any time - much more interesting composition.

This touches me on so few levels.

Great talent as a guitarist to be sure but this rendition of a classic just does not sound "right".

luv4music wrote: 
Yeah- whats up with all the hostility? He's pretty much a damn virtuoso and you seldom get to hear this fine tune played at all, let alone rendered in such dramatic fashion.

Some of the comments posted here are mind bobbling.  I am amazed at how much music people do not like.  Makes me wonder.

Anyway, that "fast" thing that Tommy Emmanuel does is called incredible talent, in case that point was lost during your listen.

jhorton wrote: 

I have to agree. I love the original so much that this just sounds like showing off to me.
Emmanuel is a great guitarist. I play guitar myself so I appreciate what goes into it but the song is the master.
IMHO, he doesn't respect the song.

rcurrier wrote: 
Wow... that's sweet... there's little I love more on a forum than an obscure reference I can actually relate to!  

I used to listen to that album (and Cords) ad nauseum on a nasty old turntable in the back room of my local library in the 70's.  I still enjoy firing up the MP3 version of Synergy from time-to-time when I'm in a particularly analog mood.  Or when I'm feeling overly nostalgic.  Or drunk.  Or old. (sigh)

Great Australian Artist.