The Making of High Wide & Handsome Part 1 - The Demos
Once Loudon and I decided to start working up Charlie Poole material, the first step was to listen to the man himself - we both dug into just about everything Poole ever recorded. When we identified a song as being of interest, I’d prepare a lead sheet.
I almost never just stuck with the words Charlie sang, but would check out other recorded versions - people like Ernest Stoneman, Uncle Dave Macon, Doc Watson and Clarence Ashley. I also looked for variants in songbooks and on websites, and hunted down original sheet music at the public library here in New York City. Sometimes I’d even make up a line or two. I’m not sure I can satisfactorily justify or excuse my unwillingness to settle on the lyrics as originally recorded, beyond saying that it was, I hope, pardonable as a songwirter’s impulse, and that it was backed up by a suspicion that Charlie probably didn’t sing any song exactly the same on Thursday as he did on Tuesday. Less often, but not never, I’d also play around some with the chords and melodies (and so, eventually, would Loudon, and with words, too).
After I got a song into some kind of shape I liked, I’d send the lead sheet to Loudon in Los Angeles. Usually within a day or two, he’d send me back his mp3 version, singing and playing into his computer, accompanying himself on banjo or guitar or even, occasionally, ukulele. We worked so fast that sometimes we’d do two songs in a single day, the files zipping across the continent. After Loudon did his demo version, we’d put our heads together and try and figure if the song was worth pursuing further and, if so, how.
This part of the process was very exciting to me, as Loudon’s rough interpretations followed so quick and fast and strong, that I couldn’t help but feel we were getting (and going) somewhere. And while I’ve admired Loudon as a singer for years, there was something about him doing another man’s repertoire that not only put his considerable strengths in relief but also showed off qualities not often (ever?) apparent in his own material. Sure, the arch surreal humor of “Awful Hungry Hash House,” the raucous swing of “Ramblin’ Blues,” and the un(self-)sparing rue of “Goodbye Booze” were all familiar and fabulous, but the sentimental pathos of “Old And Only In The Way” and the understated righteous sincerity of “Beautiful” (sung as a duet with his daughter Lucy while they were on tour in Australia) were new to me. No less impressive was his reaction and follow-through on “Where The Whippoorwill Is Whispering Goodnight” when he was interrupted in the final heart-rending chorus by a passing motorcyle. As you’ll hear, Loudon was there!
And I sure wanted to know where that could take us.
- Dick Connette
High Wide & Handsome
Feature Documentary Trailer
The Making of High Wide & Handsome Part 1 - The Demos
The Making of High Wide & Handsome Part 2 - The Buskers
The Making of High Wide & Handsome Part 3 - Didn't He Ramble
The Making of High Wide & Handsome Part 4 - Rowena
The Making of High Wide & Handsome Part 5 - Rob and Chris
