“3 O’Clock Blues” or “Three O’Clock Blues” is a slow twelve-bar blues recorded by Lowell Fulson in 1946. When it was released in 1948, it became Fulson’s first hit. When B.B. King recorded the song in 1952, it became his first hit as well as “one of the top-selling R&B records of 1952”.
“3 O’Clock Blues” effectively launched King’s career and remained a part of his concert repertoire throughout his life. The song was included on his first album, Singin’ the Blues and since has appeared on several King albums, including a remake in 2000 with Eric Clapton for the Riding with the King album.