The largest "Spots" collection I’ve encountered yet, 101 recordings by the "Decca" Ink Spots on four compact discs. And this one provides recording dates and a good group history in the accompanying booklet. A 2002 product of the British Jasmine label, but pressed in the Czech Republic, like much of Jasmine’s product.
If you buy only one Ink Spots collection, this is the one to buy. It’s under $30 from one of the on-line music dealers, and well worth it. All seven of their tracks with Ella Fitzgerald are included, as are two previously-unreleased Decca takes and one song from a motion picture soundtrack that never made it to a record.
The "Spots" may not have been the first group to record vocal harmony, but, in my opinion, taking nothing away from those who went before and those who came after, they were far and away the best. Though they came from a "jive" tradition, as can be heard in most of their pre-1939/40 selections, the smooth style they developed was the style emulated by the many groups that came along in their wake, from the Four Vagabonds to the Orioles, to the Five Satins, etc.
Pick up on this set, spin ‘em, and listen to where "mellow" group harmony got its start.
DISC ONE
1. Bless You [11 Oct 1939]
2. Someone's Rocking My Dreamboat [13 Oct 1941 ]
3. Christopher Columbus [18 Jun 1936]
4. My Greatest Mistake [20 Aug 1940]
5. I'm Beginning To See The Light [26 Feb 1945] W. Ella Fitzgerald
6. Thoughtless [6 Oct 1939]
7. We Three (My Echo, My Shadow And Me) [16 Jul 1940]
8. Shout, Brother, Shout [13 Oct 1941]
9. Whispering Grass (Don't Tell The Trees) [11 Jun 1940]
10. Keep Cool, Fool [25 Jul 1941]
11. Swing High, Swing Low [9 Apr 1937]
12. The Best Things In Life Are Free [23 Dec 1947]
13. I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire [27 Aug 1941]
14. I'd Climb The Highest Mountain [30 Dec 1940]
15. Don't Let Old Age Creep Upon You [5 Feb 1937]
16. Slap That Bass [9 Apr 1937]
17. Little Small Town Girl [20 Dec 1950] W. Ella Fitzgerald
18. You're Breaking My Heart All Over Again [26 Jun 1940]
19. Please Take A Letter, Miss Brown [23 Jan 1941]
20. Who Wouldn't Love You? [19 May 1942]
21. Sincerely Yours [18 Aug 1947]
22. It's Funny To Everyone But Me [17 May 1939]
23. Keep Away From My Doorstep [18 Jun 1936]
24. A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening [22 Dec 1943]
25. Information Please [27 Feb 1947]
DISC TWO
1. I'll Never Smile Again (Until I Smile At You) [8 Aug 1940]
2. 'Tain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do [12 May 1936]
3. This Is Worth Fighting For [28 Jul 1942]
4. I'm Gonna Turn Off The Teardrops [2 Oct 1945]
5. I'm Making Believe [30aug 1944] W. Ella Fitzgerald
6. What Can I Do? [6 Oct 1939]
7. It's A Sin To Tell A Lie [17 Nov 1941]
8. Street Of Dreams [28 Jul 1942]
9. Stompin' At The Savoy [18 Jun 1936]
10. To Remind Me Of You [29 Dec 1947]
11. I'll Make Up For Everything [21nov 1947]
12. Old Joe's Hittin' The Jug [18 Jun 1936]
13. Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall [30 Aug 1944] W. Ella Fitzgerald
14. Puttin' And Takin' [3 Oct 1939] Previously Unreleased Version
15. Do I Worry? [8 Aug 1940]
16. Java Jive [16 Jul 1940]
17. Maybe [11 Jun 1940]
18. I'll Get By [12 Dec 1943]
19. Your Feet's Too Big [12 May 1936]
20. Ring, Telephone, Ring [23 Dec I940]
21. Brown Gal [31 Aug 1938]
22. Let's Call The Whole Thing Off [9 Apr 1937]
23. That's When Your Heartaches Begin [23 Dec 1940]
24. When The Swallows Come Back To Capistrano [13 May 1940]
25. Hey Doc! [25 Jul 1941]
DISC THREE
1. Always [27 Feb 1947]
2. Foo-Gee [6 Oct 1941]
3. What Good Would It Do? [30 Dec 1940]
4. With Plenty Of Money And You [5 Feb 1937]
5. I Still Feel The Same About You [20 Dec 1950] W. Ella Fitzgerald
6. Until The Real Thing Comes Along [25 Jul 1941]
7. Don't Get Around Much Any More [28 Jul 1942]
8. Coquette [17 Aug 1939]
9. Whoa, Babe! [9 Apr 1937]
10. Oh! Red [25 Mar 1938]
11. The Sweetest Dream [3 Oct 1945]
12. The Gipsy [19 Feb 1946]
13. You're Breaking My Heart [27 Jun 1949]
14. You Were Only Fooling (While I Was Falling In Love) [14 Sep 1948]
15. Stop Pretending [26 Jun 1940]
16. Ev'ry Night About This Time [23 Jun 1942]
17. When The Sun Goes Down [19 May 1938]
18. Cow-Cow Boogie [3 Nov 1943] W. Ella Fitzgerald
19. Address Unknown [17 Aug 1939]
20. If I Didn't Care [13 Jan 1939]
21. Alabama Barbecue [5 Feb 1937]
22. So Sorry [16 Jul 1940] Previously Unreleased Version
23. Prisoner Of Love [18 Mar 1946]
24. I Cover The Waterfront [18 Mar 1946]
25. I Get The Blues When It Rains [8 Jul 1946]
DISC FOUR
1. Give Her My Love [8 Sep 1939]
2. I Wish You The Best Of Everything [19 May 1938]
3. Mine, All Mine, My, My [6 Oct 1941]
4. That's The Way It Is [26 Feb 1945] W. Ella Fitzgerald
5. Nothin' [12 Aug 1941]
6. Knock-Kneed Sal (On The Mourner's Bench) [12 Jan 1939]
7. My Prayer [18 Sep 1939]
8. Memories Of You [3 Oct 1939]
9. Driftwood [4 Feb 1941]
10. To Each His Own [8 Jul 1946]
11. That Cat Is High [25 Mar 1938]
12. Don't Ever Break A Promise [20 Aug 1940]
13. Yes, Suh! [5 Feb 1937]
14. Can You Look Me In The Eyes? [27 Feb 1947]
15. Home Is Where The Heart Is [18 Aug 1947]
16. No Orchids For My Lady [19 Jan 1949]
17. Pork Chops And Gravy [31 Aug 1938]
18. You Bring Me Down [17 Aug 1939]
19. Bewildered [19 Jan 1949]
20. I'm Still Without A Sweetheart ('Cause I'm Still In Love With You) [23 Dec 1940]
21. I'm Through [6 Oct 1939]
22. It's All Over But The Crying [21 Nov 1947]
23. As You Desire Me [19 Jan 1949]
24. Just For Me [3 Oct 1945]
25. That’s Where I Came In [7 Nov 1946]
26. I've Got A Bone To Pick With You [Film Soundtrack "The Great American Broadcast", c. Feb 1941]
