[1] "Early in the Mornin'" became a hit, reaching number three in Billboard magazine's race records chart.

It is credited to Jordan, Tympany Five bassist Dallas Bartley, and Leo Hickman and has been variously described as a rumba,[5] a samba,[1] a calypso-influenced song,[6] and a "Caribbean-flavoured number".

After a twelve-bar piano solo intro, Jordan's vocal begins: It's early in the mornin' and I can't get right Cause I had a date with my baby last night Now it's early in the morning ... And I ain't got nothin' but the blues Backing Jordan on vocal and alto sax are Wild Bill Davis on piano, Bartley on bass, and Christopher Columbus on drums.

[6] His performance of the song was filmed in front of a U.S. southwestern-style ranch house with the band dressed in 1940s Hollywood cowboy garb.

In his autobiography, James Brown recalled seeing Jordan's films when he was young and was inspired by the showmanship of performances such as "Early in the Mornin'" and especially "Caldonia".