High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project

High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project
Studio album by
ReleasedAugust 17, 2009 (2009-08-17)
RecordedMay 2008 – June 2009
2nd Story Sound, New York City
GenreCountry
Label2nd Story Sound
ProducerDick Connette
Loudon Wainwright III chronology
Recovery
(2008)
High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project
(2009)
10 Songs for the New Depression
(2010)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic
Rolling Stone

High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project is the 20th studio album by American singer-songwriter Loudon Wainwright III. The album, a double-CD released on the 2nd Story Sound label on August 18, 2009, pays tribute to singer and banjo picker Charlie Poole (1892–1931). It features 30 tracks, including new versions of songs made popular by Poole from 1925 through 1930, as well as original songs on Poole's turbulent life by Wainwright and producer Dick Connette.

More than 25 artists contributed to the album, including Wainwright's children, Rufus Wainwright, Martha Wainwright and Lucy Wainwright Roche, all singer-songwriters in their own right; his sister, singer-songwriter Sloan Wainwright; Maggie, Suzzy and Terre Roche of The Roches; Gabriel Kahane on piano; Chris Thile, mandolinist and vocalist; and Geoff Muldaur, a founding member of the 1960s group Jim Kweskin Jug Band.

The album won the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album.