HERE’S an intriguing notion: a tribute album on which the person being dusted off for musical remembrance will be known to hardly anyone.

Charlie Poole was a legendary singer, banjo-picker and occasional hell-raiser, who lived from 1892 to 1931, when he died after a drunken binge lasting a remarkable 13 weeks.

Poole came from poverty and died poor at the height of the Depression, but along the way he enjoyed great popularity. Shortly before his death, when his fortunes had dipped again, he was hired to play the music for a Hollywood film, at which point he set out on that protracted celebration.

Loudon Wainwright, the veteran American singer-songwriter, had long venerated Poole, who was one of his models when he started out more than 40 years ago. The Charlie Poole Project, which is the subtitle of this double CD release, sees Loudon and producer/songwriter Dick Connette bring together more than 20 singers and musicians to recreate the songs Poole made famous in his day. The pair also wrote nine new songs inspired by Poole’s short life and rough times, including the fine opener and title track, written by Loudon and performed solo with a banjo. There can’t be many more enjoyable ways to spend two minutes and 53 seconds, and that first song sets the tone.

The music here, both original and new, is uplifting and inspirational, while also dipping into gloomy waters too; it is folk and bluegrass, swing jazz and poor white blues, sentimental and vaudeville; and, importantly, it is performed and recorded with absolute clarity.

Highlights include that title track, Bill Mason’s Bride, I’m Glad I Married, The Man In The Moon and Moving Day.

Loudon’s singing has never sounded more pure, and he is well supported by everyone on this an act of devotion – down to and including Proper Records for producing this handsome CD package, complete with a small book.