Soulshaker – Rick Vito (as told by Mr. Bones)

From the harmonica on track one to the soulful slide guitar last track, Rick Vito lays down a big bawdy sound that would even put a grove in The Grinch's step. Perhaps its all those years playing with the likes of Fleetwood Mac, John Mayall and Roy Orbison.... that's given him the chops to create his own first rate blues release. He is backed by a top notch (yet understated) rhythm section which leaves plenty of room for his captivating vocals and hypnotic slide work that at times sounds more like a sitar or a Theremin than a guitar. Want proof that the blues is still an evolving art form, give him a listen.

RIFYL: California Honeydrops, Bozz Scaggs, Elvin Bishop

*1) She's Just Too Fine - uptempo bawdy blues rocker (2:53)
***2) I've Got A Secret - surreal, eery and intoxicating (3:50)
3) I Do Believe - uptempo, fun & funky with driving bass (3:50)
**4) World on Fire - Driving road house boogie about the planet going
to hell in a hand basket. (4:35)
5) Doggin' Around - mid-tempo instrumental with spacey Hawaiian
guitar style (3:21)
**6) Dancin' Little Sister - fun, uptempo rocker ala The Killer (Jerry
Lee Lewis) (3:41)
**7) The Ball an2d Chain - spooky feeling mid-tempo with driving bass
and tom-tom drum (4:16)
*8) I'm Going to Heaven - bouncy uptempo blues about redemption
with stellar picking (3:29)
9) Soul Shadows - mid-tempo instrumental with a dreamy feel (3:20)
*10) Walking Shoes - mid-tempo call to the Lord for help in finding the
right path with catchy bridge (4:41)
*11) Promise Land - classic downtempo with a syncopated rhythm and
great finger work (3:28)
12) A Change Is Gonna Come - instrumental cover of a Sam Cooke
classic

* Mr. Bones especially likes these