Hour 3 of the August 24, 2025 broadcast of Blues Before Sunrise dives deep into the pre-war blues era, presenting rare and classic sides that remind listeners of the raw roots of the music. This set moves from field hollers and early Delta reflections to biting social commentary, gospel fire, and the vaudeville-tinged blues of the 1920s and 30s. It’s an hour that demonstrates just how varied the blues tradition was even in its earliest recordings.
The journey begins with Willie Brown’s “Future Blues.” Brown, a contemporary and close associate of Charley Patton and Son House, recorded very little, which makes this 1930 Paramount recording a treasure. The track is a showcase of hypnotic Delta rhythm and mournful delivery, pointing toward the power that would later define Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters.
From there, Kid Bailey’s “Mississippi Bottom Blues” adds a rare layer of mystery. Almost nothing is known about Bailey; some scholars suggest the name may have been a pseudonym for another Delta player. What’s undeniable is the haunting quality of his sole surviving record, which floats between folk balladry and deep blues imagery.
The set continues with Robert Wilkins’ “Rolling Stone Parts I & II,” a song that would eventually give its name to both Muddy Waters’ famous “Rollin’ Stone” and a certain rock magazine decades later. Wilkins’ slide guitar and steady pacing showcase his combination of blues and gospel sensibilities.
Allen Shaw’s “Moanin’ the Blues” and Ramblin’ Thomas’ “Poor Boy Blues” keep the Delta theme alive, with Shaw’s plaintive singing and Thomas’ signature slide guitar style adding depth to the narrative of hardship and wandering. Thomas’ younger brother Jesse Thomas joins the set with “My Heart’s a Rolling Stone,” blending Texas blues flavor into the Delta framework.
The Georgia blues scene comes into focus with Buddy Moss’ “Your Hard Head Will Bring You Sorrow.” Moss, one of the most talented East Coast players of the 1930s, combines sharp guitar work with witty, streetwise lyrics. Similarly, Blind Boy Fuller’s “Boots and Shoes” showcases the Piedmont style, with its fast fingerpicking and ragtime influence.
The program then takes a detour into gospel with Rev. D.C. Rice’s “Angels Rolled the Stone Away.” Rice’s booming voice and spirited delivery remind listeners of the powerful link between blues phrasing and the sanctified church tradition.
The hour then shifts into bawdier territory with Freddie Brown’s “Whip It to a Jelly” — a tune loaded with double entendre — followed by Victoria Spivey’s “Murder in the First Degree.” Spivey, who often blurred the lines between theater, cabaret, and blues, delivers a chilling narrative of crime and consequence.
Women’s voices continue to dominate as Eva Taylor’s “Last Go Round Blues,” Hazel Meyers’ “Graveyard Dream,” and Josie Miles’ “Please Don’t Tickle Me Dear” appear in sequence. Each of these recordings captures the vaudeville blues tradition, where witty, dramatic, and sometimes risqué lyrics were paired with hot jazz accompaniment.
Charles & Effie Tyus’ “Good Old By-Gone Days” offers a nostalgic duet moment, while Big Bill Broonzy’s “I.C. Blues” and “Don’t You Want to Ride” close the set with the commanding guitar and vocal presence of one of the greatest figures to bridge pre-war acoustic blues with the post-war Chicago sound.
This hour is a living archive — a reminder of the countless voices that shaped blues history in its earliest decades. Some of these names, like Broonzy and Wilkins, have secure places in the canon, while others, like Kid Bailey and Freddie Brown, remain enigmatic shadows. Together, their music tells the story of hardship, faith, humor, and resilience — the DNA of the blues.
Hour 3 Playlist – Pre-War Blues & Gospel Echoes
- Future Blues – Willie Brown
- Mississippi Bottom Blues – Kid Bailey
- Rolling Stone Parts I & II – Robert Wilkins
- Moanin’ the Blues – Allen Shaw
- Poor Boy Blues – Ramblin’ Thomas
- My Heart’s a Rolling Stone – Jesse Thomas
- Your Hard Head Will Bring You Sorrow – Buddy Moss
- Boots and Shoes – Blind Boy Fuller
- Angels Rolled the Stone Away – Rev. D.C. Rice
- Whip It to a Jelly – Freddie Brown
- Murder in the First Degree – Victoria Spivey
- Last Go Round Blues – Eva Taylor
- Graveyard Dream – Hazel Meyers
- Please Don’t Tickle Me Dear – Josie Miles
- Good Old By-Gone Days – Charles & Effie Tyus
- I.C. Blues – Big Bill Broonzy
- Don’t You Want to Ride – Big Bill Broonzy