Hour Five of this week’s Blues Before Sunrise brings the program to a smooth and reflective close, shifting away from the powerful Muddy Waters live set into a calmer after-hours atmosphere. This final hour blends jazz ballads, mellow blues, and understated Chicago recordings that feel perfectly suited to the last stretch before sunrise.
The hour opens with the gentle harmony vocals of the Mills Brothers on “Wish I Had a Brand New Heart.” It’s a soft beginning that immediately changes the tone from the raw energy of the previous hour to something more intimate and relaxed. From there, “Latin Snow Fall” by Henry Mancini adds a cinematic quality—quiet, spacious, and almost dreamlike.
Al Hibbler follows with “If I Knew You Were There,” delivering the kind of emotional depth that defined his recordings. His rich, expressive voice bridges the gap between jazz and blues, and that same feeling continues with Lena Horne’s “Just My Luck.” Horne’s performance feels calm but deeply emotional, adding another layer to the late-night mood of the hour.
The tempo stays slow and thoughtful with Gene Ammons’ instrumental version of “Stormy Monday Blues.” Ammons had a way of making every note feel deliberate, and this performance captures the quiet intensity of the blues without ever raising the volume. That mood carries over perfectly into John Wright’s “LaSalle Street After Hours,” a track that sounds like a nearly empty city long after midnight.
The blues returns more directly with Sonny Boy Williamson II performing “Bring It On Home.” His harmonica work and vocal phrasing are unmistakable, and the song reconnects the program to its deeper roots after the jazz-leaning opening of the hour.
From there, the focus shifts firmly to Chicago blues. L.C. McKinley’s “Lonely” is stripped down and emotional, while the Big Three Trio’s “Cool Kind Woman” brings a raw, early electric blues sound that feels honest and unpolished in the best possible way.
Junior Wells adds a bit more energy with “Come On In This House,” blending gospel feeling with Chicago blues grit. Guitarist Jody Williams follows with “Easy Lovin’,” a reminder of how influential his playing style became in shaping the Chicago electric blues sound.
Johnny Littlejohn gets two strong moments in this hour with “Nowhere to Lay My Head” and “Slidin’ Home.” His playing captures the West Side Chicago style perfectly—deep rhythm, expressive guitar work, and a sense of lived-in emotion that feels completely authentic.
The hour then reaches back to earlier blues traditions with “Root Doctor” by Doctor Clayton and “Farewell Little Girl” by Dr. Clayton’s Buddy. These recordings bring the program full circle, reminding listeners that even the electric Chicago blues of the 1950s and 60s grew directly from the earlier acoustic traditions.
As always, the show closes with “Albatross” by Fleetwood Mac. The calm instrumental ending feels almost like a quiet sign-off, allowing the entire five-hour journey to settle in. After the power of the live Muddy Waters set and the deep historical recordings earlier in the program, Hour Five provides a gentle landing—thoughtful, relaxed, and perfectly suited to the final moments before sunrise.
Playlist – Hour Five
Wish I Had a Brand New Heart – Mills Brothers
Latin Snow Fall – Henry Mancini
If I Knew You Were There – Al Hibbler
Just My Luck – Lena Horne
Stormy Monday Blues – Gene Ammons
LaSalle Street After Hours – John Wright
Bring It On Home – Sonny Boy Williamson II
Lonely – L.C. McKinley
Cool Kind Woman – Big Three Trio
Come On In This House – Junior Wells
Easy Lovin’ – Jody Williams
Nowhere to Lay My Head – Johnny Littlejohn
Slidin’ Home – Johnny Littlejohn
Root Doctor – Dr. Clayton
Farewell Little Girl – Dr. Clayton’s Buddy
Albatross – Fleetwood Mac