Hour Five is where Blues Before Sunrise exhales. This is music designed for the final stretch of the night — reflective, unhurried, and emotionally direct. It’s an hour that understands the difference between volume and impact, opening with the Ravens’ “Fool That I Am,” a record steeped in vulnerability and late-night regret. Their harmony floats rather than pushes, setting the tone for what follows.

From there, Tab Smith’s “Soft Breeze” and Arthur Prysock’s “Don’t Go to Strangers” continue the mood of intimacy and restraint. These performances don’t chase drama; they let it arrive naturally. Georgia Carr’s “I Didn’t Know Any Better” adds a world-weary honesty, reminding us how much truth could be packed into a few carefully delivered lines.

The shift into instrumental territory with Jimmy Smith’s “Sweet Georgia Brown” feels like a palate cleanser without breaking the spell. Smith’s organ swings effortlessly, bridging jazz sophistication with blues grit — a perfect pivot into the Don Gardner trio of tracks that follow. “Need Your Lovin’ Everyday,” “Dark Alley,” and “Night Wind” dig into nocturnal themes of longing and isolation, each song reinforcing the idea that the night isn’t empty — it’s crowded with feelings.

L.C. McKinley’s “Lonely” is raw and unpolished in the best way, while Lowell Fulson’s sequence — “Blues Rhumba,” “You’re Gonna Miss Me,” and “Please Don’t Go” — showcases a master who could balance elegance with bite. Fulson’s phrasing and guitar work feel conversational, as if he’s talking directly to the listener across the room.

The hour’s emotional peak belongs to B.B. King. From “Things Are Not the Same” through “Sugar Mama” and “Good Man Gone Bad,” we hear an artist fully in command of his voice, guitar, and message. These aren’t just blues songs — they’re lived experiences rendered in sound.

The closing choice, Fleetwood Mac’s “Albatross,” is inspired. Its instrumental calm provides a soft landing, letting the hour drift away rather than end abruptly. It’s the sound of the night settling — and BBS doing exactly what it does best.

Hour 5 Playlist

FOOL THAT I AM – Ravens

SOFT BREEZE – Tab Smith

DON’T GO TO STRANGERS – Arthur Prysock

I DIDN’T KNOW ANY BETTER – Georgia Carr

INTRO + SWEET GEORGIA BROWN – Jimmy Smith

NEED YOUR LOVIN’ EVERYDAY – Don Gardner

DARK ALLEY – Don Gardner

NIGHT WIND – Don Gardner

LONELY – L.C. McKinley

BLUES RHUMBA – Lowell Fulson

YOU’RE GONNA MISS ME – Lowell Fulson

PLEASE DON’T GO – Lowell Fulson

THINGS ARE NOT THE SAME – B.B. King

SUGAR MAMA – B.B. King

B.B. KING SPOT – B.B. King

GOOD MAN GONE BAD – B.B. King

ALBATROSS – Fleetwood Mac