Hour Four of this week’s Blues Before Sunrise is built around a compelling idea—pairing two giants of modern electric blues and letting their music speak back and forth. With Lowell Fulson and B.B. King alternating throughout much of the hour, the result feels like a conversation, a contrast in styles that highlights just how wide the blues could stretch in the postwar era.

The hour opens with Lowell Fulson’s “I Believe I’ll Give It Up,” immediately setting a smooth, groove-driven tone. Fulson’s style leans into subtlety—his phrasing is relaxed, his guitar understated but effective, and his vocals carry a quiet confidence. That approach is quickly met by B.B. King’s “Love You Baby,” where the emotional intensity rises. King’s voice and guitar phrasing are more direct, more piercing, creating a natural tension between the two artists.

That contrast continues throughout the set. Fulson’s “Reconsider Baby” flows with a steady, almost hypnotic rhythm, while King’s “Sugar Mama” responds with a sharper edge and a more pronounced vocal presence. Each artist brings a distinct personality to the blues—Fulson smooth and measured, King expressive and immediate.

Tracks like “Tollin’ Bell” and “Rock ‘Em Dead” from Fulson keep the groove grounded, while B.B. King answers with “Whole Lotta Love” and “Sneakin’ Around,” injecting a sense of urgency and emotional weight. The alternating structure keeps the hour dynamic, never allowing it to settle into one mood for too long.

“Blue Shadows” and “Hung Down Head” further showcase Fulson’s ability to create atmosphere without excess, while King’s “Be Careful With a Fool” and “You Know I Go For You” highlight his mastery of phrasing—every note and lyric delivered with purpose and feeling.

As the back-and-forth winds down, Fulson’s “Do Me Right” and King’s “You Upset Me” provide a fitting closing to this musical exchange, reinforcing the balance between restraint and intensity that defines the hour.

The set then expands beyond the central pairing. Tommy Tucker brings a shift in energy with “Hi Heeled Sneakers,” “Walking the Dog,” and “Long Tall Shorty.” These tracks lean toward rhythm and blues and early rock influences, adding a lighter, more rhythmic feel after the emotional depth of the Fulson-King dialogue.

Little Brother Montgomery closes the hour with “Mr. Freddie Blues,” “Farrish Street Jive,” and “A Married Man’s a Fool.” His piano-driven style reconnects the hour to earlier blues traditions while still fitting comfortably within the electric era. It’s a reminder that even as the blues evolved, its roots remained close at hand.

Hour Four stands out as one of the most focused segments of the show. By centering on two contrasting voices and letting their music interact, it creates a sense of structure without feeling rigid. It’s not just a collection of songs—it’s a conversation between styles, approaches, and personalities.

Playlist – Hour Four

I Believe I’ll Give It Up – Lowell Fulson

Love You Baby – B.B. King

Reconsider Baby – Lowell Fulson

Sugar Mama – B.B. King

Tollin’ Bell – Lowell Fulson

Whole Lotta Love – B.B. King

Rock ‘Em Dead – Lowell Fulson

Sneakin’ Around – B.B. King

Blue Shadows – Lowell Fulson

Be Careful With a Fool – B.B. King

Hung Down Head – Lowell Fulson

You Know I Go For You – B.B. King

Do Me Right – Lowell Fulson

You Upset Me – B.B. King

Hi Heeled Sneakers – Tommy Tucker

Walking the Dog – Tommy Tucker

Long Tall Shorty – Tommy Tucker

Mr. Freddie Blues – Little Brother Montgomery

Farrish Street Jive – Little Brother Montgomery

A Married Man’s a Fool – Little Brother Montgomery