Hour Three of this week’s Blues Before Sunrise reaches deep into the foundations of American roots music, presenting a fascinating collection of recordings from the 1920s and 1930s. Blending country blues, classic female blues, gospel quartets, and spiritual recordings, this hour offers a window into the rich musical landscape that existed long before the rise of electric blues and rhythm and blues.

Ramblin’ Thomas opens the set with “Poor Boy Long Way From Home” and “Sawmill Moan,” two performances filled with the loneliness and hardship that often defined rural blues. His expressive vocals and understated guitar work capture the realities of life in the South during the Depression era while maintaining a warmth and humanity that still resonates today.

Jesse Thomas follows with “Down in Texas,” while Texas Bill Day contributes the memorable “Burn the Trestle Down.” Both recordings reflect the regional character of Southern blues, where local stories, railroad imagery, and everyday struggles frequently found their way into song.

Jack Ranger’s “Lonesome Grave Blues” continues the theme of loss and reflection before Clara Smith takes the spotlight with “Picture on the Wall” and the wonderfully titled “Fattening Frogs for Snakes.” Smith’s powerful voice demonstrates why the classic female blues singers were among the biggest stars of the 1920s recording industry.

Ma Rainey’s “See See Rider” stands as one of the cornerstones of blues history, while Alberta Hunter’s “Everybody Loves My Baby” brings sophistication, wit, and charm to the program. Lucille Hegamin’s “Rampart Street Blues” adds another dimension, highlighting the important contributions of women who helped shape early blues and jazz.

The rural blues tradition returns with Buddy Moss and “Red River Blues,” a performance rich with emotional depth and masterful guitar playing. From there, the hour moves into sacred territory with the Dinwiddie Colored Quartet’s “Gabriel’s Trumpet,” followed by the unique and deeply spiritual artistry of Washington Phillips on “Lift Him Up – That’s All.”

Rev. D.C. Rice’s “Angels Rolled the Stone Away” continues the gospel theme, demonstrating how closely blues and sacred music often existed side by side within Southern communities. The final portion of the hour returns to blues with Charlie Segar’s lively “Stop & Fix It Mama,” Barrelhouse Buck McFarland’s “On Your Way,” and the mysterious recording “Throw Me Down” by an unidentified artist, a reminder that many early musicians remain largely forgotten despite leaving behind remarkable performances.

Hour Three serves as a musical time capsule, preserving voices and sounds from an era when blues and gospel were still developing into the forms that would later influence virtually every style of American popular music. These recordings may be nearly a century old, but their emotional honesty and artistic power remain as compelling as ever.

Playlist – Hour Three

Poor Boy Long Way From Home – Ramblin’ Thomas
Sawmill Moan – Ramblin’ Thomas
Down in Texas – Jesse Thomas
Burn the Trestle Down – Texas Bill Day
Lonesome Grave Blues – Jack Ranger
Picture on the Wall – Clara Smith
Fattening Frogs for Snakes – Clara Smith
See See Rider – Ma Rainey
Everybody Loves My Baby – Alberta Hunter
Rampart Street Blues – Lucille Hegamin
Red River Blues – Buddy Moss
Gabriel’s Trumpet – Dinwiddie Colored Quartet
Lift Him Up – That’s All – Washington Phillips
Angels Rolled the Stone Away – Rev. D.C. Rice
Stop & Fix It Mama – Charlie Segar
On Your Way – Barrelhouse Buck McFarland
Throw Me Down – Unknown Artist