Loudon Wainwright III

Album review

High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project

added: 16 Aug 2009 // release date: 17 Aug 2009 // label: Proper
reviewer: Owen Gillham

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On paper this is perhaps not the most captivating proposition: a double album of reworked and re-imagined recordings (plus a handful of originals... inspired by original recordings) of songs by Charlie Poole. Charlie who? Charlie Poole � the prolific American singer, songwriter and banjo plucker who recorded up until his death in 1931. On paper, perhaps not hugely enticing, but give the record about 5 seconds and those of you with any soul have to be captivated, by the songs, the arrangements, and by Wainwright�s sensitive yet enthusiastic delivery of material that is as relevant to him today as it was when he first heard it.

The songs, 30 of them in total, veer dramatically between Wainwright alone at the banjo, through honky-tonk, to hymn-like acappella arrangements of Poole�s (here limited) gospel output, vaudeville songs and traditional folk songs. Granted, across this much music there are bound to be a few misfires, but through an amazing feat of mulish brilliance, this record tells you pretty much all you would need to know about Poole�s hard livin�, hard gamblin� and slightly warped take on life in about the most engaging way possible.

Rufus� and Martha�s dad (both help out incidentally) has struck a home run if not for quality (of which there is an abundance) then for sheer quantity. Add to this the 72 page booklet that comes as part of the package (not available for review at time of writing) and I feel sure that, if you�re passionate about your old time music and like a bit of a story to boot, you�ll be overjoyed with all this collection has to offer.

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