The final hour of this week’s Blues Before Sunrise eases listeners from the mystery of midnight toward the first light of morning with a sophisticated blend of jazz, vocal standards, classic blues, and modern electric performances. While the previous four hours explored the midnight theme through swing, rhythm & blues, country blues, and Chicago electric blues, Hour Five serves as the perfect late-night soundtrack, offering music that is reflective, elegant, and deeply soulful.

The hour begins with the Ravens and “Midnight Blues.” As one of the pioneering vocal harmony groups of the postwar era, the Ravens helped establish the smooth style that would eventually evolve into doo-wop and influence rhythm & blues vocal groups for decades. Their rich harmonies immediately set the mood for the program’s closing stretch.

Wes Montgomery follows with the jazz standard “‘Round Midnight,” transforming one of the most celebrated compositions in modern jazz into a showcase for his unmistakable guitar style. His warm tone and lyrical phrasing make this performance one of the hour’s highlights. Maxine Sullivan contributes the simply titled “Midnight,” bringing her graceful vocals and timeless elegance to the broadcast before Brook Benton continues with the romantic “After Midnight.”

The instrumental side of jazz returns with Lou Donaldson’s “Midnight Creeper,” a soulful organ-driven groove that demonstrates how jazz continued to evolve during the 1960s while maintaining deep roots in blues and rhythm & blues traditions.

The mood shifts comfortably back toward the blues as Roosevelt Sykes appears with two memorable performances, “Fine & Brown” and “Rainin’ in My Heart.” Known as “The Honeydripper,” Sykes remained one of the finest blues pianists of his generation, effortlessly blending humor, sophistication, and heartfelt emotion throughout his long recording career.

Peppermint Harris contributes the smooth “Please Tell Me Baby,” while Smokey Smothers follows with the Chicago blues favorite “Hello Little Schoolgirl.” Little Arthur keeps the energy moving with “Mattie Mae,” offering another fine example of postwar electric blues rooted firmly in traditional styles.

The modern era arrives with Lurrie Bell’s outstanding instrumental “Lurrie Bell’s Hipshank.” As the son of harmonica legend Carey Bell, Lurrie has carried Chicago blues into new generations while remaining deeply connected to the city’s classic sound. Eddie C. Campbell follows with “It’s So Easy,” demonstrating why he became one of Chicago’s most respected blues guitarists over several decades.

One of the hour’s most memorable collaborations comes as Charles Brown joins Bonnie Raitt for “Somebody to Love.” Brown’s smooth piano blues and Raitt’s heartfelt vocals create a fitting reminder that traditional blues continues to inspire contemporary artists while remaining true to its roots.

As always, Blues Before Sunrise concludes with two familiar signatures. Leroy Carr’s “Blues Before Sunrise” provides the perfect thematic close to another remarkable journey through vintage American music, its gentle melody signaling that dawn is finally approaching after five hours spent exploring the musical possibilities of midnight. Fleetwood Mac’s instrumental masterpiece “Albatross” then brings the broadcast to its traditional close, ending the program with the calm, peaceful atmosphere that listeners have come to expect.

Hour Five beautifully demonstrates that even after exploring a single theme across an entire broadcast, Blues Before Sunrise never loses its sense of variety or discovery. Jazz, vocal harmony, piano blues, Chicago electric blues, and modern performances all find common ground beneath the midnight sky before welcoming the coming sunrise. It is a graceful conclusion to one of the program’s most imaginative themed broadcasts.

Playlist – Hour Five

Midnight Blues – Ravens
‘Round Midnight – Wes Montgomery
Midnight – Maxine Sullivan
After Midnight – Brook Benton
Midnight Creeper – Lou Donaldson
Fine & Brown – Roosevelt Sykes
Rainin’ in My Heart – Roosevelt Sykes
Please Tell Me Baby – Peppermint Harris
Hello Little Schoolgirl – Smokey Smothers
Mattie Mae – Little Arthur
Lurrie Bell’s Hipshank – Lurrie Bell
It’s So Easy – Eddie C. Campbell
Somebody to Love – Charles Brown & Bonnie Raitt
Blues Before Sunrise – Leroy Carr
Albatross – Fleetwood Mac