Hour 2 of this week’s Blues Before Sunrise takes us on a wide-ranging ride through the diverse currents that shaped mid-century blues. If Hour 1 leaned into jump blues and rhythm-heavy party records, Hour 2 widens the scope — weaving together Chicago guitar slingers, West Coast R&B stylists, gospel harmonies, and the golden voice of Ethel Waters. This hour is all about breadth: the sound of blues spilling into other genres while staying rooted in deep feeling and expressive power.
We kick off with Louis Jordan’s “Got My Mojo Workin’.” While most associate the tune with Muddy Waters, Jordan’s take carries the unmistakable jump-blues swing that made him a household name. His humor and rhythmic punch serve as a reminder of how much blues and early R&B fed off each other. From there, the focus shifts to one of the great guitarists of the era, Mickey Baker. Known for his pyrotechnic technique, Baker gets a spotlight across several cuts — “Guitar Rambo,” “Down to the Bottom,” “Shake Walkin’,” and “Old Devil Moon.” Each performance shows a different facet: from razor-sharp solos to sly rhythm work, Baker’s versatility made him a bridge between jazz sophistication and raw blues grit.
The groove continues with Johnny Otis’ “Willie & the Hand Jive.” Otis was a bandleader who blurred every line — blues, jazz, rock, R&B — and this track epitomizes his knack for creating crossover hits. The party atmosphere carries into the duets with Marci Lee, especially “I’ll Do the Same Thing for You” and “Telephone Baby.” These numbers highlight Otis’ keen ear for pairing voices and instruments, with arrangements that swing and swagger. Adding to the Otis family circle, we hear Linda Hopkins’ “I’ll Ask My Heart,” a ballad performance that shows the blues was just as powerful when slowed down and softened with emotional vulnerability.
From there, the set takes a turn toward the piano blues with Whistlin’ Alex Moore’s “Frankie & Johnny, Pts. I & II.” Moore was one of those idiosyncratic stylists whose music felt homemade and lived-in, with a storytelling quality that comes through in every note. His version of the classic tale reminds us that blues has always been about narrative as much as groove.
The spotlight then moves to the majestic Ethel Waters, one of the most important vocalists in American music. This hour features no fewer than three versions of her classic “Am I Blue.” We hear it first as an alternate take, then a different studio version, and finally the movie soundtrack rendition. Each interpretation demonstrates Waters’ unmatched command of phrasing and emotion. To hear her sing “Am I Blue” is to understand how blues and jazz balladry could merge into pure artistry. She could float a lyric with tenderness or sink it with despair — and in every case, she left listeners captivated.
Waters also shines in “Birmingham Bertha” and the spiritual “They Crucified My Lord.” These selections underscore her versatility, moving seamlessly between nightclub sophistication and gospel conviction. Together, they broaden the scope of what “the blues” can encompass.
To close the set, we stay in the gospel realm with the Birmingham Jubilee Singers’ “Where Shall I Be” and the Coleman Brothers’ “Lonesome Valley.” These tracks bring the hour full circle, rooting all the musical experimentation back into spiritual tradition. Gospel was never far from the blues, and its presence here reminds us of the deep cultural ties that shaped every note.
Hour 2 demonstrates how interconnected the blues world has always been. From Mickey Baker’s blazing guitar to Ethel Waters’ timeless vocals, from Johnny Otis’ party rhythms to the harmonies of the Coleman Brothers, this hour is proof that blues is not a single sound but a web of influences stretching across popular music. Together, they form a living portrait of an era when the blues could be as sacred as Sunday morning or as wild as Saturday night.
Hour 2 Playlist
- Got My Mojo Workin’ – Louis Jordan
- Guitar Rambo – Mickey Baker
- Down to the Bottom – Mickey Baker
- Shake Walkin’ – Mickey Baker
- Old Devil Moon – Mickey Baker
- Willie & the Hand Jive – Johnny Otis
- I’ll Ask My Heart – Linda Hopkins
- I’ll Do the Same Thing for You – Johnny Otis & Marci Lee
- Telephone Baby – Johnny Otis & Marci Lee
- Frankie & Johnny, Pts. I & II – Whistlin’ Alex Moore
- Riverside Blues – Nick Nichols
- Birmingham Bertha – Ethel Waters
- Am I Blue (Take 2) – Ethel Waters
- Am I Blue (Take 3) – Ethel Waters
- Am I Blue (Movie Soundtrack) – Ethel Waters
- They Crucified My Lord – Ethel Waters
- Where Shall I Be – Birmingham Jubilee Singers
- Lonesome Valley – Coleman Brothers