#548 (Week of 12/29/07 - 1/4/08)

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SPOTLIGHT ON THE INK SPOTS - PART TWO

"I'm Beginning To See The Light"/"That's The Way It Is"
by Ella Fitzgerald And The Ink Spots
on Decca 23399 A/B
released in 1945

Above: Photo of Ella Fitzgerald. She had seven sides released with The Ink Spots (1944-45, 1950).

Above: Photo of The Ink Spots (Top L-R) Cliff Givens (bass), Bill Kenny (lead tenor), Bernie Mackey (baritone), and (Bottom) Billy Bowen (tenor). Givens, who had been with The Southern Sons, was with The Ink Spots from October 1944 to March 1945. Mackey was with them from October 1943 to March 1945 and Bowen from October 1944 to early 1952. This is the line-up that sang with Ella Fitzgerald on Decca 23399 (the only Ink Spots' record on which Givens was present).

Above: Decca 23399 was recorded on February 26, 1945 and released in March 1945. The flip side "flips" credit to "Ink Spots And Ella Fitzgerald." Probably more accurate for both sides is "Bill Kenny And Ella Fitzgerald (with the other Ink Spots barely heard in the background)."

Listen to this week's selections by Ella Fitzgerald And The Ink Spots: [Audio restoration by Dave Saviet.]

A. Stream RealAudio (DO NOT USE...LISTEN USING DOWNLOAD REALAUDIO)...       I'm Beginning To See The Light - Decca 23399 A     - 1945     That's The Way It Is - Decca 23399 B - 1945       BOTH SONGS played in sequence   B. Download RealAudio...       I'm Beginning To See The Light - Decca 23399 A     - 1945     That's The Way It Is - Decca 23399 B - 1945     C. Stream/Download** Media Player...       I'm Beginning To See The Light - Decca 23399 A     - 1945     That's The Way It Is - Decca 23399 B - 1945        [**To download Media file, right-click on link      under C and then click "Save (Link) Target As..."]

FOR MORE INK SPOTS, PLEASE CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINKS:
(Will open in a separate window)

THE INK SPOTS WEB SITE

THE INK SPOTS (ORIGINAL GROUP)

FOR SPOTLIGHT ON THE INK SPOTS PART ONE... CLICK HERE.

THANK YOU to all who have helped with "Record Of The Week" during 2007, including the following:

Todd Baptista Andrew Bohan Ray Funk Galen Gart

Marv Goldberg Ferdie Gonzalez Gus Gordon Pete Grendysa

Richard Koloda J.C. Marion Anna Maria McKinney George Moonoogian

Bill Proctor Paul Ressler Dave Saviet

Your assistance is truly appreciated!

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