Hour 1 of this week’s Blues Before Sunrise sets the tone with a high-energy blast of jump blues, rhythm & blues, and early rock ’n’ roll. Before we settle into the deeper reflections of the Jody Williams interview later in the show, we open the doors wide with a party hour — music designed to make you move, shout, and swing. This hour celebrates the era when the blues was colliding with popular culture, laying the foundation for rock while still rooted in the grit of its origins.
The set begins with a run of tracks from Louis Jordan, the undisputed king of jump blues. Known for his witty lyrics and infectious saxophone riffs, Jordan bridged the gap between swing and rhythm & blues. We start with “Rock Doc” and roll through “Rock & Roll Call,” “Let’s Do It Up,” “Baby You’re Just Too Much,” and “Yeah Yeah Baby.” Each cut showcases Jordan’s unique blend of humor, rhythm, and showmanship. These songs capture the optimism and electricity of postwar America while laying a direct path toward the rock explosion of the 1950s.
From Jordan, the spotlight shifts to the booming voice of Big Joe Turner. Few could deliver a lyric with as much authority and joy as Turner, whose shouting style became a blueprint for rock ’n’ roll. We hear him in full force with “Teenage Letter,” “Lipstick Powder & Paint,” “Rock Awhile,” “Shake Rattle & Roll,” and “Don’t Want Me to Rock No More.” “Shake Rattle & Roll,” of course, became a cornerstone hit — later covered by Bill Haley, but never delivered with the same raw punch as Turner’s original. His presence here reminds us how jump blues and early R&B carried the DNA of rock before rock had a name.
The mood shifts slightly with a trio of recordings by Ella Johnson, sister of bandleader Buddy Johnson. Her voice brought elegance to R&B, offering a more sultry and sophisticated tone. Tracks like “Lover Bird,” “I Don’t Care Who Knows,” and “You’ll Get Them Blues” balance the hour with a smoother edge, showing that the energy of this period wasn’t all shouts and stomps. Johnson’s phrasing and warmth brought blues closer to the jazz torch tradition, proving that versatility was key to the music’s appeal.
Next, we turn to the high-energy showmen of the Treniers. Their blend of swing, rhythm, and comic flair made them one of the most entertaining acts of the 1950s. With cuts like “Rockin’ Is Our Business,” “We Want a Rock & Roll President,” “Hey Jacobia,” and “It Rocks, It Rolls, It Swings,” the Treniers bring joy and irreverence to the hour. Their songs didn’t just predict rock ’n’ roll — they embodied it, years before the mainstream recognized what was happening. Their plea for a “Rock & Roll President” feels just as playful today as it did in the Eisenhower years.
The hour closes with two powerhouse voices of rhythm & blues: Wynonie Harris and Roy Brown. Harris’ “All She Wants to Do Is Rock” and “Boogie at Midnight” showcase his brash, confident delivery. Harris was often called the “Blues Shouter Supreme,” and with good reason — his voice cut through like a trumpet. Roy Brown’s “Greasy Spoon” rounds things out, adding a groove-driven closer that keeps the energy high.
Together, these records paint a portrait of the years when blues, R&B, and early rock ’n’ roll were inseparable. From Louis Jordan’s wit to Big Joe Turner’s fire, from Ella Johnson’s poise to the Treniers’ antics, Hour 1 is a reminder that the blues wasn’t just about heartache and hardship. It was also about celebration, movement, and joy. This is the sound of America on the dance floor — rocking the blues into a brand-new era.
Hour 1 Playlist
- Rock Doc – Louis Jordan
- Rock & Roll Call – Louis Jordan
- Let’s Do It Up – Louis Jordan
- Baby You’re Just Too Much – Louis Jordan
- Yeah Yeah Baby – Louis Jordan
- Teenage Letter – Big Joe Turner
- Lipstick Powder & Paint – Big Joe Turner
- Rock Awhile – Big Joe Turner
- Shake Rattle & Roll – Big Joe Turner
- Don’t Want Me to Rock No More – Big Joe Turner
- Lover Bird – Ella Johnson
- I Don’t Care Who Knows – Ella Johnson
- You’ll Get Them Blues – Ella Johnson
- Rockin’ Is Our Business – Treniers
- We Want a Rock & Roll President – Treniers
- Hey Jacobia – Treniers
- It Rocks, It Rolls, It Swings – Treniers
- All She Wants to Do Is Rock – Wynonie Harris
- Boogie at Midnight – Wynonie Harris
- Greasy Spoon – Roy Brown
- Mickey Baker (untitled closing cut)