This 2002 set from Holland's Disky label is possibly the best one-package collection of recordings by the Ink Spots, one of vocal group harmony's pioneer aggregations. The package contains 74 tracks, spanning the bulk of the real Ink Spots' career (the Decca years), from 1936 through 1950, including seven tracks with Ella Fitzgerald. While not as comprehensive as the JSP 5-CD Mills Brothers box, this is certainly worth acquiring.
On the "plus" side, the package is economical, my copy cost under $15 at a local music store. The only negatives here are a total absence of liner notes and the misidentification of one track.
An outstanding in-depth Ink Spots discography and other Ink Spots information can be found at Jack Hanna's The Ink Spots (Original Group) Web site.
Based on information at Jack Hanna's Web site, group members were:
1934 to Early 1936 - Orville "Hoppy" Jones, Ivory "Deek" Watson, Jerry Daniels and
Charlie Fuqua [Note - Daniels does not appear in any numbers in this set.]
Early 1936 to Nov 1938 - Orville "Hoppy" Jones, Ivory "Deek" Watson, Bill Kenny and
Charlie Fuqua
Nov 1938 to Jun 1940 - Orville "Hoppy" Jones, Ivory "Deek" Watson, Bill Kenny,
Charlie Fuqua and Bob Benson (pianist/arranger)
Jun 1940 to Early 1942 - Orville "Hoppy" Jones, Ivory "Deek" Watson, Bill Kenny,
Charlie Fuqua and Asa "Ace" Harris (pianist/arranger)
Early 1942 to Sep 1943 - Orville "Hoppy" Jones, Ivory "Deek" Watson, Bill Kenny,
Charlie Fuqua and Bill Doggett (pianist/arranger)
Oct 1943 to 10 Sep 1944 - Orville "Hoppy" Jones, Ivory "Deek" Watson, Bill Kenny,
Bernie Mackey and Bill Doggett (pianist/arranger)
11 Sep 1944 to 1 Oct 1944 - Orville "Hoppy" Jones, Bill Kenny, Bernie
Mackey and Bill Doggett (pianist/arranger)
1 Oct to 15 Oct 1944 - Orville "Hoppy" Jones, Bill Kenny, Billy "Butterball" Bowen,
Bernie Mackey, and Bill Doggett (pianist/arranger)
15 Oct to 18 Oct 1944 - Orville "Hoppy" Jones, Bill Kenny, Billy "Butterball" Bowen,
Bernie Mackey, and Ray Tunia (pianist/arranger)
18 Oct 1944 to 28 Mar 1945 - Cliff Givens, Bill Kenny, Billy "Butterball" Bowen,
Bernie Mackey, and Ray Tunia (pianist/arranger)
29 March to 25 Oct 1945 - Bill Kenny, Herb Kenny, Huey Long, Billy "Butterball" Bowen,
Bernie Mackey, and Ray Tunia (pianist/arranger)
26 Oct 1945 to Mid-1946 - Bill Kenny, Herb Kenny, Charlie Fuqua, Billy "Butterball" Bowen,
Bernie Mackey, and Ray Tunia (pianist/arranger)
Mid-1946 to May 1951 - Bill Kenny, Herb Kenny, Charlie Fuqua, Billy "Butterball" Bowen,
Bernie Mackey, and Harold Francis (pianist/arranger)
A couple of the Ink Spots' "Soundies" are featured on the Rare Vocal Groups video, which is also reviewed on this Web site.
Recommendation - buy it!
Track Listing (Dates shown are recording dates):
Disc 1:
1. Java Jive - 16 Jul 1940
2. If I Didn't Care - 12 Jan 1939
3. Whispering Grass - 11 Jun 1940
4. Bless You (For Being An Angel) - 11 Oct 1939
5. My Prayer - 18 Sep 1939
6. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You - 11 Oct 1939
7. Your Feet's Too Big - 12 May 1936
8. When The Swallows Come Back To Capistrano - 13 May 1940
9. I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire - 21 Aug 1941
10. We Three (My Echo, My Shadow, And Me) - 16 Jul 1940
11. Stompin' At The Savoy - 18 Jun 1936
12. Address Unknown - 19 Aug 1939
13. It's A Sin To Tell A Lie - 17 Nov 1941
14. Maybe - 11 Jun 1940
15. Brown Gal - 31 Aug 1938
16. Swing High, Swing Low - 9 Apr 1937
17. Coquette - 17 Aug 1939
18. Memories Of You - 3 Oct 1939
19. Do I Worry? - 8 Aug 1940
20. When The Sun Goes Down - 19 May 1938
21. With Plenty Of Money And You - 5 Feb 1937
22. I'll Never Smile Again - 8 Aug 1940
23. Just For A Thrill - 12 Jan 1939
24. Someone's Rocking My Dream Boat - 13 Oct 1941
25. Until The Real Thing Comes Along - 25 Jul 1941
Disc 2:
1. Don't Get Around Much Anymore - 28 Jul 1942
2. Ev'ry Night About This Time - 23 Jun 1942
3. Ring Telephone, Ring - 23 Dec 1940
4. Puttin' And Takin' - 16 Jul 1940
5. I'd Climb The Highest Mountain - 23 Dec 1940
6. Shout Brother, Shout - 13 Oct 1941
7. So Sorry - 23 Dec 1940
8. We'll Meet Again - 4 Feb 1941
9. A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening - 23 Dec 1943
10. Cow Cow Boogie (with Ella Fitzgerald) - 3 Nov 1943
11. That Cat Is High - 25 Mar 1938
12. Street Of Dreams - 28 Jul 1942
13. I'm Making Believe (with Ella Fitzgerald) - 30 Aug 1944
14. I'll Get By - 22 Dec 1943
15. You Bring Me Down - 17 Aug 1939
16. Pork Chops And Gravy - 31 Aug 1938
17. It's Funny To Everyone But Me - 17 May 1939
18. Why Didn't You Tell Me? - 30 Dec 1940
19. Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall (with Ella Fitzgerald) - 30 Aug 1944
20. Keep Away From My Doorstep - 18 Jun 1936
21. I Wish You The Best Of Everything - 19 May 1938 *
22. I Hope To Die If I Told A Lie - 29 Aug 1944
23. Thoughtless - 6 Oct 1939
24. I'm Beginning To See The Light (with Ella Fitagerald) - 26 Feb 1945
* - misidentified as "I Wish I Could Stay (sic) The Same" on track list
Disc 3:
1. To Each His Own - 8 Jul 1946
2. No Orchids For My Lady - 19 Jan 1949
3. The Best Things In Life Are Free - 23 Dec 1947
4. The Gypsy - 19 Feb 1946
5. I Cover The Waterfront - 18 Mar 1946
6. That's the Way It Is (with Ella Fitzgerald) - 26 Feb 1945
7. Let's Call the Whole thing Off - 9 Apr 1937
8. Say Something Sweet To Your Sweetheart - 14 Sep 1948
9. You're Breaking My Heart - 27 Jun 1949
10. You were Only Fooling (While I Was Falling In Love) - 14 sep 1948
11. Information Please - 27 Feb 1947
12. Prisoner Of Love - 18 Mar 1946
13. It Isn't A Dream anymore - 12 Aug 1941
14. 'Tain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do - 12 May 1936
15. Who Wouldn't Love You? - 19 May 1942
16. I Wish I Could Say The Same - 23 Dec 1940
17. Mine All Mine, My, My - 6 Oct 1941
18. That's Where I Came In - 7 Nov 1946
19. The Sweetest Dream - 3 Oct 1946
20. Ask Anyone Who Knows - 27 Feb 1947
21. Little Small Town Girl (with Ella Fitzgerald) - 20 Dec 1950
22. The Way It Used To Be - 15 Jun 1950
23. Sometime - 16 Jun 1950
24. I Still Feel The Same About You (with Ella Fitzgerald) - 20 Dec 1950
25. If - 2 Oct 1950
