The Edden Hammons Collection Volume Two - Remastered 1947 Fiddle

In this review of The Edden Hammons Collection, Volume Two, the bottom line is simple: collectors and serious fans of traditional Appalachian old-time fiddle will find real value in these remastered 1947 recordings. This double CD set assembles 35 additional tracks from the Louis Chappell session and completes the restoration begun with volume one, offering a focused listening experience that highlights Edden Hammons's unique regional style. For anyone wanting authentic, historically important fiddle material, this release is an essential archival document.

Key Features

• Complete session restoration: The two-CD release presents 35 remastered tunes from the 1947 Louis Chappell recordings, preserving the performance integrity of the original session.
• Historic documentation: These tracks bring to life a single, influential recording session that showcases a fiddler whose style remained isolated and distinct in Central West Virginia.
• Remastered audio: The restoration improves clarity so contemporary listeners can hear the nuances of Hammons's bowing and phrasing.
• Expanded collection: Volume Two completes the material left after volume one, making this set useful for collectors who want the full series.
• Double CD format: The physical CDs make the recordings accessible to listeners who prefer a tangible archive rather than digital-only releases.

Who It's For

The Edden Hammons Collection, Volume Two is aimed at enthusiasts of old-time American fiddle, music historians, and collectors of archival field recordings who want a faithful representation of an important 1947 session. It will especially appeal to listeners interested in Appalachian regional styles and the lineage of traditional fiddling.

Listeners seeking contemporary production, modern instrumentation, or annotated scholarly liners may want to supplement this set with academic reissues or compilations that include more context and commentary. Casual pop listeners might find the historic field-session aesthetic less polished than modern studio albums.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Preserves a rare, single-session document of Edden Hammons that influences later fiddlers.
• Remastering enhances the clarity of vintage performances without overwriting the original character.
• Completes the series begun with volume one, offering a fuller picture of the 1947 recordings.

Cons

• The recording retains a field-session sound that may feel raw compared with modern studio fidelity.

Specifications

Artist	Edden Hammons
Title	The Edden Hammons Collection, Volume Two
Format	Double CD set
Tracks	35 remastered tunes from 1947
Recording session	1947 session with Louis Chappell
Release date (this volume)	July 2000

Our Verdict

The Edden Hammons Collection, Volume Two is a valuable archival release for fans of traditional Appalachian fiddle. It completes the earlier volume and presents remastered 1947 recordings that preserve Hammons's distinctive, isolated style. For collectors and music historians who value authenticity and historical importance, this double CD is a worthwhile addition and represents good value as a focused document of a single influential session.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this set include previously unreleased tracks?
Volume Two gathers 35 remastered tunes from the 1947 Louis Chappell session that complement the earlier volume, completing the documented material from that session.

What format is the release?
The release is presented as a double CD set, suitable for collectors who prefer physical media.

Is the audio modernized?
The tracks are remastered to improve clarity while retaining the original field-session character of the 1947 recordings.