THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

266-Ink Spots-If I Didn’t Care.

1939-Has never charted in the UK. There was no UK chart until 1952.

Best Bit- At 2.15. Introducing the ‘Top & Bottom.’ In 1938 band member Bill Kenny introduced the group to a new format that he called ‘Top & Bottom. The format called for the tenor, which was either Kenny or fellow band member Orville Jones to sing the lead for one chorus, this was followed by a chorus performed by the bass singer Hoopy Jones, reciting the lyrics rather than singing them. After a chorus of what became known as ‘Talking Bass,’ the lead tenor sang the rest of the song until the end.

The Ink Spots (see also best songs 702) were formed in New York City, New York, United States in 1934 by the quartet of Jerry Daniels, (1915-1995) Deek Watson, (1909-1969) Charlie Fuqua, (1910-1971) and Hoppy Jones, (1905-1994) in 1936 Jerry Daniels was replaced by Bill Kenny, (1914-1978) and they remained active until 1954.

Bill Kenny was born William Francis Kenny Jr. on June 12th, 1914 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. In 1969 he was severely burnt when the petrol tank of his sports car exploded in an underground car park, he suffered third degree burns to his face and hands, and also inhaled fumes, he died from a respiratory illness on March 23rd, 1978, at the age of 63. Bill Kenny is remembered as the ‘Godfather’ of R&B tenor vocalists, and is considered to be one of the most influential singers of all time. Elvis Presley (see also best songs 954-664-442 and 194) who recorded Kenny’s composition ‘There Is No God But God,’ said that he could ‘Honestly never hope to equal the musical achievements of Bill Kenny.’ The Ink Spots, and particularly Kenny were the forerunners, and the inspiration for the next generation of vocal groups, such as ‘The Ravens,’ the ‘Orioles,’ and the ‘Clovers, leading to the R&B era in the 1950’s.

‘If I Didn’t Care’ was written by Jack Laurence (1912-2009) (see also best songs 274) and first recorded by the Ink Spots in 1939. Although the song only peaked at Number 2 on the Billboard chart in America it is the eighth best selling song for physical copies of all time, with sales in excess of 19 million copies. It is also one of only 14 songs to have sold more than 15 million physical copies, and is the oldest song in that listing. ‘If I Didn’t Care’ has been recorded by many artists down the years with the hit versions on Billboard being by the ‘Hilltoppers,’ (1954 Number 17) Connie Francis, (1959 Number 22) the ‘Platters,’ (1961 Number 30) and ‘The Moments,’ (1970 Number 44) while in the UK the song was a Number 9 hit for David Cassidy in 1974.

‘Honey child, if I didn’t care more than words had ever said, and if I didn’t care, would I, would I feel this way? Honey, if this isn’t love, then tell me, why do I thrill so much?’