Ella Fitzgerald and the Ink Spots: Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall

The inspiration of combining the Ink Spots and Ella came from producer Milt Gabler, who had seen these artists headline a tour of the theater circuit. Although they never performed together live, Gabler thought they should, later saying, We had Bill Kenny do the ballad and Ella swing the jazz version on the same tune. The Ink Spots were a formula presentationhaving it straight and a swinging tempo. They werent really duet records, they were two choruses different ways, contrast. Released in November 1944, this record went straight onto the charts and stayed there for 17 weeks, going on to become a million seller. Ella really tears this one apart, said Down Beat magazine at the time. Shes never done anything like it, and her vocal is actually thrilling. It rescued Ellas career, which since 1941had been sliding with just one chart success (Cow Cow Boogie).