The opening hour of this week’s Blues Before Sunrise sets an upbeat tone with an energetic blend of swing, jump blues, jazz, and vocal harmony. Before exploring the Mississippi Delta in Hour Three and Bobby Robinson’s influential Fire label in Hour Four, Steve Cushing begins the program by celebrating the sophisticated sounds that filled ballrooms, theaters, and nightclubs during the 1930s and 1940s. It is an hour that highlights musicians whose recordings bridged the worlds of jazz and rhythm & blues while showcasing the remarkable versatility that has always been a hallmark of the program.
The hour opens with Scatman Crothers’ lively “Shuffleboard Blues.” Long before becoming a familiar face in film and television, Crothers built his reputation as a gifted entertainer whose easygoing vocals and infectious sense of humor made him a natural fit for the swing era.
Slim & Slam follow with a trio of memorable performances: “African Jive,” “A Tip on the Numbers,” and the delightfully humorous “Ferdinand the Bull.” Their unique blend of close harmony, witty lyrics, and effortless musicianship made the duo one of the most entertaining vocal acts of the 1940s, combining jazz sophistication with broad popular appeal.
Jack McVea keeps the momentum moving with “Wino,” “Scrub, Sweep, & Mop,” and “Ooo Mop.” A talented saxophonist, bandleader, and arranger, McVea helped shape the jump blues sound that would influence the earliest years of rock and roll. His recordings remain full of energy and infectious rhythm.
Marion Abernathy contributes three lesser-known gems—“Ink Splink,” “Goin’ for the Oakie Doke,” and “Roses of Picardy”—offering listeners a chance to hear recordings that have become favorites among collectors of vintage rhythm and blues. Frank “Floorshow” Culley follows with “Rhumboogie Jive,” “Lindy Rock,” and “Go Floorshow,” showcasing the exciting saxophone-driven dance music that packed clubs throughout the postwar years.
The program then shifts toward harmony and instrumental jazz with the Spirits of Rhythm delivering the spirited “Shoutin’ in the Amen Corner.” Their inventive approach to vocal harmony and string accompaniment helped distinguish them from other groups of the era. Boogie-woogie pioneers Albert Ammons and Pete Johnson reunite on the classic “Boogie Woogie Dream,” demonstrating the powerful piano style that helped ignite America’s boogie craze.
A rare historical recording by Lieutenant James Reese Europe, “In No Man’s Land,” serves as a reminder of one of the earliest innovators in African American military and popular music. Europe played a pivotal role in introducing syncopated American music to audiences on both sides of the Atlantic during World War I.
The hour closes with Earl Bostic’s elegant rendition of “Lover Come Back,” providing a smooth jazz finale that perfectly prepares listeners for another five hours of musical exploration.
From humorous vocal duos and dance-band favorites to boogie-woogie masters and jazz innovators, Hour One illustrates the remarkable variety that surrounded the evolution of blues and rhythm & blues. These recordings may not all come directly from the Mississippi Delta, but together they provide the musical landscape from which countless later styles emerged. It’s a lively, entertaining opening that reminds listeners why Blues Before Sunrise continues to uncover both celebrated classics and overlooked treasures from the first half of the twentieth century.
Playlist – Hour One
Shuffleboard Blues – Scatman Crothers
African Jive – Slim & Slam
A Tip on the Numbers – Slim & Slam
Ferdinand the Bull – Slim & Slam
Wino – Jack McVea
Scrub, Sweep, & Mop – Jack McVea
Ooo Mop – Jack McVea
Ink Splink – Marion Abernathy
Goin’ for the Oakie Doke – Marion Abernathy
Roses of Picardy – Marion Abernathy
Rhumboogie Jive – Frank “Floorshow” Culley
Lindy Rock – Frank “Floorshow” Culley
Go Floorshow – Frank “Floorshow” Culley
Shoutin’ in the Amen Corner – Spirits of Rhythm
Boogie Woogie Dream – Albert Ammons & Pete Johnson
In No Man’s Land – Lt. James Reese Europe
Lover Come Back – Earl Bostic