Hour Three of this week’s Blues Before Sunrise reaches back to the earliest commercial recordings of the blues, exploring the rural and classic blues traditions that helped shape American music during the 1920s and 1930s. These recordings capture a time when the blues was still closely tied to regional traditions, traveling musicians, and small recording sessions that preserved voices that might otherwise have been lost to history.

The hour opens with the haunting sound of Mississippi bluesman Ishman Bracey. His performances of “Saturday Blues” and “Woman Woman” demonstrate the expressive vocal delivery and loose guitar rhythms that defined early Delta blues. Bracey’s recordings, made in the late 1920s, reflect a raw emotional style that influenced generations of blues musicians.

Next comes “Stranger Blues” from Rosa Mae Moore. Moore was one of many talented female blues singers whose recordings appeared during the classic blues era, a time when women played a central role in bringing blues music to commercial audiences.

Few figures loom larger in early blues history than Charley Patton. Often referred to as the “Father of Delta Blues,” Patton helped establish many of the stylistic elements that later blues musicians would build upon. His performances of “Mississippi Boll Weevil,” “Lord I’m Discouraged,” and “Prayer of Death Pt. I” reveal the powerful voice, rhythmic guitar style, and dramatic storytelling that made him such a pivotal figure in blues history.

The music then shifts toward the urban blues sound with “Chain Gang Bound” by Bumble Bee Slim. Slim was one of the most popular blues artists of the 1930s, recording dozens of songs that blended country blues feeling with the evolving sound of city blues.

Another key voice of the era appears with “Patrol Wagon Blues” from St. Louis Jimmy. Known for his smooth vocal style and expressive songwriting, St. Louis Jimmy helped carry the blues into the swing era while maintaining its traditional roots.

The hour also highlights the work of Thomas A. Dorsey, who recorded early in his career under the name Georgia Tom. Before becoming one of the founding figures of modern gospel music, Dorsey was an accomplished blues pianist and composer. His recordings “Pat That Bread” and “All Alone Blues” reveal the strong connection between blues and gospel traditions.

Female blues voices return with the elegant performance of Alberta Hunter on “Everybody Loves My Baby.” Hunter’s career spanned decades, from the classic blues era through the late twentieth century, and her recordings remain a cornerstone of early blues and jazz.

The lively spirit of the classic blues era continues with “Ada Jane Blues” from Trixie Smith. Smith was known for her expressive vocals and her ability to blend humor and drama into her performances.

The hour then turns toward the folk-blues tradition with “High Brown Cheater” by Josh White. White’s sophisticated guitar work and thoughtful lyrics helped introduce blues and folk traditions to new audiences during the mid-twentieth century.

Finally, the hour closes with banjo master Gus Cannon performing “Poor Boy Long Way From Home.” Cannon, leader of the Jug Stompers, played a crucial role in preserving the jug band and folk-blues traditions that influenced countless musicians during the folk revival of the 1960s.

Taken together, these recordings offer a powerful reminder of how the blues first entered the recording studio nearly a century ago. The voices heard in this hour laid the groundwork for every blues style that followed—from Chicago electric blues to modern rhythm and blues.

Playlist – Hour Three

Saturday Blues – Ishman Bracey

Woman Woman – Ishman Bracey

Stranger Blues – Rosa Mae Moore

Mississippi Boll Weevil – Charley Patton

Lord I’m Discouraged – Charley Patton

Prayer of Death Pt. I – Charley Patton

Chain Gang Bound – Bumble Bee Slim

Patrol Wagon Blues – St. Louis Jimmy

Pat That Bread – Georgia Tom Dorsey

All Alone Blues – Georgia Tom Dorsey

Everybody Loves My Baby – Alberta Hunter

Ada Jane Blues – Trixie Smith

High Brown Cheater – Josh White

Poor Boy Long Way From Home – Gus Cannon