In 1925, Okeh Records producer Ralph Peer set out to record the instrumental and vocal masters of American folk music traditions in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Apparently, Peer had no particular fondness for Appalachian or other music in those regions, he mostly wanted a way to distinguish the Okeh catalogue from its more well-known rivals, Victor and Columbia.
This compact disc album documents Peer’s efforts in Asheville (NC) in 1925, whereby he recorded a number of considerable local artists atop the George Vanderbilt Hotel. Those original Asheville recordings have become legendary, and until now few individuals (save some fortunate record collectors) have had the opportunity to hear these remarkable performances.
It is rare that I am left struggling for words, but encountering this product has been one of those times. My understanding is that this labor of love took approximately two years to complete. And it shows. From the outset, one can see an exceptional level of meticulousness throughout…