Track Listing

1. Big John McNeil
2. Roxanna Waltz and Scotland
3. Calling Jesse
4. Party for the Old Folks
5. Daybreak in the Mountains
6. You Low Down Dirty Dog
7. Rags
8. MacPherson's Fiddle and MacPherson's Strut
9. Melt Down at Indian Point
10. Sidewalks of New York
11. Staying All Night and Going to the Barndance
12. Snowbird in the Ashbank
13. Waltz of the Wind
14. Contranova
15. Ashokan Farewell
16. Vladimir's Steamboat
17. Whitesburg
18. Poto and Cabengo
19. Old Fashioned Love
20. Look South
21. Icelandic Hymn

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #126914 in Music
• Released on: 1992-09-29
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

GREAT to see this in print!
I owned both Fiddle Fever albums when they were on vinyl, and absolutely LOVED them. No longer own a record player, and my tape has worn out - so I am absolutely THRILLED to see this in print.

Just hope it has Evan Stover playing viola - great player!

A must buy for fans of fiddle music!

Great Fiddle Work !!
If you enjoy a folksie fiddle, this CD is a must-have. There is a broad sample of Fiddle Fever's catalog of music, something for just about everyone. The highlight, of course, is Ashokan Farewell, best known as the theme music to Ken Burns' famed Civil War series on PBS (get it here on Amazon on DVD!). I was amazed to learn that it was NOT a Civil War period piece, but was written by Jay Ungar of Fiddle Fever in the early 1980's!!! It is such a haunting, yet sweet and lovely tune. It may just be my favorite piece of music ever. Even more surprising, there are lyrics! Haven't heard them yet, but I read about it online. The CD version has no lyrics, however - it's the exact same rendition heard on the Civil War series.

Best of Fiddle Fever
While Fiddle Fever's music is technically awesome, for my personal preference, it is not the Bluegrass that I like, aside from a couple cuts like Ashokan Farewell. What appeals to me in Bluegrass music is what the people bring from the mountain 'hollars' that adds an 'extra something' to the notes of their music that can't be taught and learned. For comparison, consider that Olympic ice skaters not too long ago had to have style and grace show through their balletic routine; now an ice skater's routine must consist of triple axels followed immediately by a double Lutzes (sp?), a few more inhuman jumps by the end of the routine, and movement on the ice at a quick clip. In this type of Bluegrass music, with the exception of a couple cuts, I sense that soul has been sacrificed for 'faster, sassier, more athletic-tech'. For me, Bluegrass is what comes through the humble competence and unpretentiousness of the mountain folk's playing.