These extraordinary recordings link us with a style first formed about 150 years ago, and a musical idiom not just dead but unjustly forgotten

I have always been enthusiastic about reissues. Many recordings of historical importance and much great music would be lost to all but the fortunate few without them.
The Strathspey King is in fact a reissue of a reissue. The original recordings from the collection of Mr. John Junner were reissued by Topic on L.P. in 1970s. Remastered from the Topic record master these recordings now sound clean and sharp, almost new, only the tone gives any idea of their age, the originals were almost certainly recorded using a '' Stroh '' fiddle which used a metal horn and sound box to produce the volume necessary for recording at the time. To emphasise how successful the reprocessing has been Temple have repeated track twenty one in an unprocessed condition, the difference is startling.
There is little new I can say about Skinner or his reputation as a player, composer or arranger. He is considered by most to be the epitome of the classic style Scottish fiddler. To be honest not all the musi