Hour Two of this week’s Blues Before Sunrise settles into a rich and expressive blend of rhythm and blues, classic blues vocals, and gospel roots. It’s an hour where the music feels more personal, more reflective, and deeply connected to everyday life—love, loss, faith, and perseverance all woven together through strong voices and steady grooves.

Ray Charles opens the hour with a trio of performances—“The Night Time,” “You Be My Baby,” and “What Kind of Man Are You”—immediately establishing a powerful emotional tone. His ability to fuse blues feeling with gospel phrasing and early soul makes these tracks stand out. There’s a depth in his delivery that pulls the listener in, setting the stage for everything that follows.

Calvin Boze’s “Working With My Baby” lightens the mood slightly with a more rhythmic, upbeat feel, while Eddie Mack’s “Loud Mouth Lucy” and “Behind Closed Doors” bring storytelling and personality into the mix. These tracks highlight the diversity within rhythm and blues—serious one moment, playful the next.

Baby Dee’s “I Cried My Last Time” slows things down, leaning into heartbreak and vulnerability. That emotional thread continues with Effie Smith’s “Mambo Blues,” which blends blues structure with a hint of Latin rhythm, adding a unique twist to the hour.

Kitty Stevenson’s “I’m Satisfied” brings a confident vocal performance, shifting the tone toward resilience. Joe Thomas’ “Blue Tango” adds an instrumental layer, giving the hour room to breathe while maintaining its smooth, steady pace.

Blind John Davis takes the spotlight with “I Got the Blues So Bad” and “Magic Carpet,” his piano work driving both tracks with a strong sense of rhythm and feeling. His playing bridges traditional blues with a more modern, urban sound, keeping the hour grounded while still moving forward.

Ethel Waters appears next with “Hottentot Potentate” and “Thief in the Night,” delivering performances that connect the blues to earlier popular song traditions. Her voice carries both authority and warmth, reinforcing her role as a link between generations of music.

The final stretch of the hour turns toward gospel, bringing a spiritual dimension that has always been closely tied to the blues. The Spartanburg Famous Four’s “When the First Trumpet Sounds” sets a reverent tone, followed by Rev. J.M. Gates’ “Things You Can Do,” which delivers a sermon-like intensity.

The Coleman Brothers’ “We’ll Understand” and the Spirit of Memphis Quartet’s “He Never Let Go My Hand” close the hour with a sense of hope and reflection. These performances don’t just end the hour—they lift it, offering a spiritual resolution to the emotional journey that came before.

Hour Two stands as a bridge within the program. It connects the upbeat swing of Hour One with the deeper, rawer blues of Hour Three, all while highlighting the close relationship between blues, rhythm and blues, and gospel. It’s an hour that speaks to both struggle and strength, showing how the music has always carried both.

Playlist – Hour Two

The Night Time – Ray Charles

You Be My Baby – Ray Charles

What Kind of Man Are You – Ray Charles

Working With My Baby – Calvin Boze

Loud Mouth Lucy – Eddie Mack

Behind Closed Doors – Eddie Mack

I Cried My Last Time – Baby Dee

Mambo Blues – Effie Smith

I’m Satisfied – Kitty Stevenson

Blue Tango – Joe Thomas

I Got the Blues So Bad – Blind John Davis

Magic Carpet – Blind John Davis

Hottentot Potentate – Ethel Waters

Thief in the Night – Ethel Waters

When the First Trumpet Sounds – Spartanburg Famous Four

Things You Can Do – Rev. J.M. Gates

We’ll Understand – Coleman Brothers

He Never Let Go My Hand – Spirit of Memphis Quartet