The Ink Spots
The Ink Spots played a large role in pioneering the Black vocal group-harmony genre, helping to pave the way for the doo-wop explosion of the '50s. The quavering high tenor of Bill Kenny presaged hundreds of street-corner leads to come, and the sweet harmonies of Carlie Fuqua, Deek Watson, and bass Hoppy Jones (who died in 1944) backed him flawlessly.
Kenny's impeccable diction and Jones's deep drawl were both prominent on the Ink Spots' first smash on Decca in 1939, the sentimental "If I Didn't Care." From then through 1951, the group was seldom absent from the pop charts, topping the lists with "We Three (My Echo, My Shadow, and Me)" (1940), "I'm Making Believe" and "Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall" (both in 1944), and "The Gypsy" and "To Each His Own" (both in 1946).
Watson eventually split to form his own group, the Brown Dots, and appeared in numerous low-budget film musicals, while Kenny attempted a solo career, notching a solo hit in 1951 with the uplifting "It Is No Secret." Countless groups masquerading as the Ink Spots have thrived across the nation since the '50s
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If I Didn't Care My Prayer Java Jive I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire Don't Get Around Much Anymore I'll Get By (As Long As I Have You) I'm Making Believe Into Each Life Some Rain Will Fall The Gypsy I'm Beginning To See the Light Prisoner of Love To Each His Own |
Along with the Mills Bros, the Ink Spots were the most popular black vocal group of the 1930's and 40's, though their careers spanned such duration, that groups are still performing under the Ink Spots name! Their trademark style, with a buttery tenor vibrato over spoken interludes by the bass vocalist, and elegant yet understated accompaniment, generated a spate of hits, including their first big chart appearance with "If I Didn't Care" in 1939. Having found their niche, a series of similarly-produced songs, including "The Gypsy," "Java Jive," "I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire" and "Prisoner of Love," capitalized on the record-buying public's attention. Though there were many subsequent personnel changes, the group sustained both artistic quality and popular success, and no music collection is complete without the Ink Spots.
| 6248 CD $11.98 |
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Knock-Kneed Sal Street Of Dreams I'm Beginning To See The Light If I Didn't Care When The Sun Goes Down That's The Way It Is Is It A Sin (My Loving You) We Three I Hope To Die If I Told A Lie I Could Make You Care This Is Worth Fighting For Someone's Rocking My Dreamboat Nothin' Memories Of You Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall Shout, Brother, Shout White Christmas A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening I'm Making Believe I Cover The Waterfront That Cat Is High I'm Through I'll Get By Oh, Red Maybe It's All For The Best |
Twenty five track compilation brings together greatest hits from the legendary vocal group's early career in the 1930s, and it features their original lineup, incuding the songs "Knock-Kneed Sal," "I'm Beginning To See The Light" & "When The Sun Goes Down"
| 7482 CD $15.98 |
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We Three (My Echo, My Shadow And Me) If I Didn't Care Maybe When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire Address Unkown Do I Worry? So Sorry Prisoner of Love I'd Climb the Highest Mountain Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall The Gipsy My Prayer Puttin' and Takin' Whispering Grass Thoughtless Ev'ry Night About This Time To Each His Own Don't Get Around Much Anymore I'm Beginning to See the Light Someone's Rocking My Dreamboat Until the Real Thing Comes Along When the Sun Goes Down Bless You |
Formed in 1934, the original three Ink Spots were soon heard regularly on the air and had a few recording sessions, but were on the verge of giving up when in 1939 they finally had a hit record with the song "If I Didn't Care." The magic ingredients, the soaring falsetto voice of Bill Kenny and the sonorous tones of "Hoppy" Jones in a laid-back, talking chorus, together with the distinctive guitar intro, introduced a languid and sentimental style and became the hallmark for many hit records. 24 of those hits (we just love the sheer quantity of music and value of these remastered, re-issued "best-of" collections by classic vocal groups) are featured on "The Best Of." "We Three (My Echo, My Shadow and Me)," Maybe," "When The Swallows Come Back to Capistrano," "I Don't Want To Set The World," "Do I Worry," "Prisoner of Love," "The Gypsy," "Puttin' and Takin'," "Whispering Grass," "Ev'ry Night About This Time," "Someone's Rocking My Dreamboat," "When The Sun Goes Down"… these are all very similar in their style, their light guitar and piano accompaniment, sweet, affected vocals, bluesy sentimentality and total coolness!
Listen to So Sorry in Real Audio
| 4617 CD $14.98 |
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Memories of You Street of Dreams I Cover the Waterfront Java Jive Stop Pretending It's Funny to Everyone But Me Information Please Why Didn't You Tell Me? I Wish I Could Say the Same Don't Ever Break A Promise Slap That Bass Nothin' It Isn't A Dream Anymore Keep Away From My Doorstep The Best Things In Life Are Free Please Take A Letter, Miss Brown It's A Sin to Tell A Lie I'll Get By I'm Making Believe w. Ella Fitzgerald You Were Only Fooling Say Something Sweet to Your Sweetheart I Hope to Die If I Told A Lie Mine, All Mine, My, My I Wish You the Best of Everything |
This CD is basically "The Best of The Ink Spots," part 2. The four Ink Spots recorded for the American Decca label from 1936 to 1951, and during that time made it to the Top 30 Hit Parade Charts with no fewer than 46 titles. Of these, 20 reached the Top 10, 6 of them making it to the number 1 slot, a phenomenal record! Here are 24 more of those hits and lesser-known but interesting titles, three of which, "I Wish I Could Say the Same," "Why Didn't You Tell Me" and "Don't Break A Promise," are re-issued here for the first time. The Spots' distinctive guitar intro, soaring falsetto of Bill Kenny, and "Hoppy" Jones' talking chorus are present on some of these songs, absent on others. "I Cover the Waterfront," "Java Jive," "Stop Pretending," "Slap That Bass," "It Isn't A Dream Anymore," "Please Take A Letter, Miss Brown," "I'll Get By," "You Were Only Fooling"… these are romantic, sentimental, the-definition-of-cool, rarely-heard tunes by one of the most influential vocal groups of the 30s, 40s and 50s, and lots of them!
Listen to Slap That Bass in Real Audio
| 4618 CD $14.98 |
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To Each His Own Just For A Thrill Coquette Address Unknown Memories Of You We'll Meet Again We Three, My Echo, My Shadow and Me Do I Worry? Until The Real Thing Comes Along Someone's Rocking My Dreamboat It's A Sin To Tell A Lie I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire Ev'ry Night About This Time Street Of Dreams Don't Get Around Much Anymore Cow Cow Boogie (with Ella Fitzgerald) A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall (with Ella Fitzgerald) I'll Get By I'm Making Believe (with Ella Fitzgerald) The Gipsy I'm Beginning To See The Light Prisoner of Love I Cover The Waterfront You're Breaking My Heart |
More classic recordings from these masters of vocal harmony.
Listen to I'm Beginning To See The Light (With Ella Fitzgerald) in Real Audio
| 4629 CD $14.98 |
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I Love You Truly Stars Fell On Alabama My Wild Irish Rose Just for A Thrill Shine On Harvest Moon It's Been A Long, Long Time When You Were Sweet Sixteen I've Got the World on a String Address Unknown In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree Blueberry Hill You Always Hurt the One You Love In A Shanty In Old Shanty Town Java Jive |
Through changing pop styles the popularity of the Ink Spots remained strong. Across the globe, audiences flocked to hear their unique blend and fresh approach to the music. Spotlighted on this CD are some their greats, including "I Love You Truly," "My Wild Irish Rose" and "Shine On Harvest Moon." Not to be forgotten, closing the program is one of their most beloved hits from 1940, "Java Jive." No matter the changes in style, these songs will always be classics
| 6253 CD $9.98 |
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