I just looked up this old thread because I am working up a version of Vestapol to play in our local folk club someday and I though I should know the background.

I learned that "vestapol tuning" is the same as "open D".

The tune that Cotten plays as "Vestapol" is widely used by others. Furry Lewis uses it in several songs including "Big Chief". It appears in "That's No Way to Get Along" (I forgot by whom--Wilkins?). This leads me to think that perhaps the tune is older than the name.

I would be interested in any new information about the old song and the tune.

Murray