Brad Vickers & His Vestapolitans - Twice As Nice (2019) [CD Rip]

Brad Vickers & His Vestapolitans are pleased to bring you a new CD (our sixth!) It is a true privilege to be able to record a fresh batch of songs. This session was “Twice As Nice” because—along with our great core band of Brad Vickers on guitar and vocals, bassist/vocalist Margey Peters, drummer Bill Rankin, and saxman Jim Davis—we were able to call on some dear and terrifically talented friends to collaborate. Joining us on on various cuts are these fantastic special guests: Charlie Burnham on violin, Dave Gross on guitar, Mikey Junior on vocals and harmonica, Daves Keyes on piano and organ, Dean Shot on guitar, and our co-producer, V. D. King jumping in on an astounding variety of instruments, from banjolele to bari.
As always, we celebrate the music that we love, and the styles that have influenced us: blues, folk, jump and great American roots ’n’ roll.
Along with originals by both Brad and Margey, we chose to cover a few long-time favorites, and start the album off with one of those, “Worried Life Blues” by Big Maceo (by way of Chuck Berry). Right off the bat we were able to feature some of our special guests. “Mississippi Swamp” gets the humor going as Brad encounters a (possibly) talking bullfrog. Margey’s “Love Can Win” is a soulful, optimistic anthem for our times. On Jimmy Reed’s “Close Together” we have a chance to do a rendition of a song by the arguably ultimate bluesman. The rocking “Coast To Coast” is our take on the classic road trip theme. On “Twice As Nice” Margey pays homage to the early risqué female blues singers. “Red Dust” is Brad’s lament for the American Indian. Our “Everything I Need” gives yet another bow to Jimmy Reed with a Chicago-style shuffle. Next we cover Will Shade’s jug band classic, “Stealin’ Stealin’”. Including blues founding-father Tampa Red is a must. Here we do his great “Look A There Look A There”. Finally, Margey’s “Brooklyn Evenings” is an idyll to a bygone urban era.
We hope you have half as much fun listening as we had making “Twice As Nice”!