Hour 2 of this week’s Blues Before Sunrise focuses on the vibrant postwar blues and early rhythm & blues recordings that helped define the modern sound of the late 1940s and 1950s. This hour highlights artists who bridged the gap between the acoustic prewar blues tradition and the electrified urban blues of Chicago and beyond, while also giving listeners a taste of the R&B grooves that set the stage for rock and soul music.
The hour opens with T.J. Fowler’s “Oo-La-La” and “Got Nobody to Tell My Troubles To,”** which illustrate Fowler’s skillful piano work and his deft blending of swing and blues sensibilities. Fowler’s recordings show how postwar blues musicians adapted prewar techniques to a more urban, danceable style, appealing to both blues purists and new audiences in nightclubs and juke joints.
Tommy Brown’s “House Near the Railroad Tracks” and Billy Wright’s “Mercy Mercy” highlight a recurring theme in postwar blues and R&B: the urban experience. Brown’s track captures the tension and longing of daily life, while Wright’s energetic delivery emphasizes rhythm and groove, foreshadowing the jump blues and early rock ’n’ roll sound that would dominate the following decade.
Vocal powerhouses like LaVern Baker are featured with “Easy Baby,” showcasing her commanding voice and charismatic phrasing. Baker’s contributions exemplify the influence of women in postwar blues and R&B, blending emotional depth with rhythmic sophistication. Similarly, Pigmeat Markham’s “Insane Asylum” injects humor and theatricality into the blues, demonstrating the genre’s flexibility and appeal to a wide audience.
Fats Domino’s recordings, “Rockin’ Chair” and “Valley of Tears,”** exemplify the New Orleans R&B style, where rolling piano lines, steady backbeats, and Domino’s warm baritone created a sound that influenced generations of musicians. These tracks highlight the regional diversity of postwar blues and the importance of New Orleans as a hub of innovation.
The hour also emphasizes vocal blues through Bobby Marchan’s “You Can’t Stop Her” and James Wayne’s “Tend to Your Business.” Their tracks demonstrate the conversational, storytelling aspect of postwar blues vocals, bridging traditional blues lyricism with modern urban sensibilities.
Ernie K-Doe’s “Mother-in-Law” and Roosevelt Sykes’ classics, “You So Dumb” and “Night Time Is the Right Time,”** reveal the playful and ironic side of postwar blues. These recordings showcase Sykes’ deft piano technique and sly humor, a hallmark of his style that directly influenced later R&B artists.
Hour 2 also honors the timeless contributions of Ethel Waters with four tracks, including “West End Blues” and “Get Up Off Your Knees.” Waters’ recordings reflect her range from gospel-infused blues to urbane sophistication, demonstrating her versatility as an artist who could move fluidly between genres.
The spiritual and gospel elements of postwar blues are represented by Delta Big Four’s “God Won’t Forsake His Own”, Rev J.M. Gates’ “Hell Is God’s Jailhouse”, and Mahalia Jackson’s “Shall I Meet You Over Yonder.” These tracks remind listeners of the close relationship between the blues and gospel music, with both traditions drawing on deep emotional expression, community storytelling, and moral reflection.
Hour 2 of Blues Before Sunrise serves as an essential lesson in how postwar blues evolved, blending prewar influences with urban and R&B sensibilities, and laying the foundation for the next wave of Chicago and electric blues artists. It captures the transition from acoustic to amplified blues while celebrating the incredible talent and innovation of postwar performers.
Hour 2 Playlist
- Oo-La-La – T.J. Fowler
- Got Nobody to Tell My Troubles To – T.J. Fowler
- House Near the Railroad Tracks – Tommy Brown
- Mercy Mercy – Billy Wright
- Easy Baby – LaVern Baker
- Insane Asylum – Pigmeat Markham
- Rockin’ Chair – Fats Domino
- Valley of Tears – Fats Domino
- You Can’t Stop Her – Bobby Marchan
- Tend to Your Business – James Wayne
- Mother-in-Law – Ernie K-Doe
- You So Dumb – Roosevelt Sykes
- Night Time Is the Right Time – Roosevelt Sykes
- West End Blues – Ethel Waters
- Organ Grinder Blues – Ethel Waters
- Get Up Off Your Knees – Ethel Waters
- My Baby Sure Knows How to Love – Ethel Waters
- God Won’t Forsake His Own – Delta Big Four
- Hell Is God’s Jailhouse – Rev J.M. Gates
- Shall I Meet You Over Yonder – Mahalia Jackson