Judging from the recent discussion on the blog, at least a few people are enjoying the gospel posts. So I will continue in that direction.
"I Want to Know" is another of the most important short-lived gospel releases on the Acrobat label - the complete recordings of Brother Cecil Shaw. True, records would indicate that there were another 11 songs recorded. But they have never seen the light of day, and it seems that nobody is planning to open up the Peacock vaults any time soon.
Despite making relatively few recordings, Brother Cecil Shaw was an important figure in gospel history, one of the key figures in the great transition in gospel quartet singing from Jubilee to hard and "shout" gospel. Two of the pioneers in that transition have been featured in previous posts on this blog: R.H. Harris with the Soul Stirrers and Silas Steele, who is featured on the Spirit of Memphis collection. Some other key figures did not make any recordings at all. For Brother Cecil Shaw, we are lucky to have these 18 tracks
I will not go into any biographic details here since I can refer you to a fantastic comprehensive essay on Brother Cecil Shaw written by Opal Lee Nations that can be downloaded here: http://www.opalnations.com/files/Brother_Cecil_Shaw_Blues_Rhythm_198_April_2005.pdf
Opal Lee Nations notes that Brother Cecil Shaw was one of the few singers who could go toe to toe with Archie Brownlee and Julius Cheeks on the program. In fact, he reports an event in this essay where Archie Brownlee and the Blind Boys refused to perform after a tremendous opening set from Brother Cecil Shaw.
On these recordings, you can hear a resemblance in vocal approach and dynamics between Brother Cecil Shaw and Archie Brownlee. Although Archie Brownlee started recording at any earlier date than Brother Cecil Shaw, whose first recordings date from 1952, the latter was very much active in the 1940s. Brother Cecil Shaw may have therefore been a strong influence on Brownlee. Opal Lee Nations also notes that the most famous Blind Boys song that features Archie Brownlee, My Father, was actually based on the Brother Cecil Shaw song, Jesus Be My Keeper. The Blind Boys covered several other Brother Cecil Shaw compositions as well.
