The first modern black vocal group,
the Ink Spots featured jazzy, sophisticated harmony arrangements behind the strong leads of singers
Deek Watson and
Bill Kenny. Although this collection, which features 1930s and '40s sides, probably isn't the ideal place to start for an overview (
the Ink Spots had a highly successful six decade run on the pop charts, after all), it does have
the Spots' wonderful and completely modern take on
Leroy Carr's "When the Sun Goes Down," recast here as a pop blues with harmonies that would make
the Beach Boys blush, along with the mid-'40s hit "Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall," and upbeat jive romps like "Nothin'," "That Cat Is High" and "Oh, Red!"