THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

702-The Ink Spots and Ella Fitzgerald-Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall.

1944-It has never charted in the UK. There was no UK chart until 1952.

Best Bit-At 1.11. There is an old Arabic proverb, ‘Sunshine is pleasant, but sunshine everyday only makes a desert.’

The Ink Spots (see also best songs 266) were formed in New York City, New York, United States in 1934, by the quartet of Jerry Daniels, (1915-1995) (tenor) Deek Watson, (1909-1969) (tenor) Charlie Fuqua, (1910-1971) (baritone) and Hoppy Jones, (1905-1994) (bass) Bill Kenny (1914-1978) (lead tenor) joined in 1936, and they were active until 1954, with various lineup changes. Between 1939-1952 they achieved 48 hit singles on the American chart, with six of those tracks making the Number 1 spot. Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996) (see also best songs 944-286-231 and 100) who guested on this song, also featured for The Ink Spots on ‘Cow Cow Boogie (Cuma-Ti-Yi-Yi-Ay’) from 1944, (Billboard Number 10) ‘I’m Making Believe,’ from 1944 (Billboard Number 1) and ‘I’m Beginning to See the Light,’ from 1945 (Billboard Number 5.)

The Ink Spots performed in the genres of ‘Pop,’ Easy Listening,’ and ‘Swing,’ and had their greatest commercial success in the 1930’s, and 1940’s. They were a groundbreaking act in that their musical style predated ‘Rhythm and Blues,’ and the ‘Rock and Roll’ musical genres, and also the sub-genre ‘Doo-Wop.’ Prior to becoming ‘The Ink Spots’ they had started out life as ‘King, Jack, and Jester,’ before becoming ‘The 4 Ink Spots,’ and finally ‘The Ink Spots.’ The above five named members are recognised as the classic line up, but a further 11 members also came and went through until they split in 1954. Following the split, it is said that from then to the present, more than 100 groups have used the name ‘The Ink Spots.’ In 1967 the US federal judge Emmet C. Choate ruled that since so many groups had been using the name ‘Ink Spots,’ it had become ‘public domain,’ and was free for anyone to use.

‘Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall’ was co-written by Doris Fisher, (1915-2003) (melody) and Allan Roberts, (1905-1966) (lyrics) The Ink Spots recorded their version of the song with Ella Fitzgerald on August 30th, 1944 for the ‘Decca Records’ label. Ella Fitzgerald would record the song again in 1963 for the Album ‘Ella and Basie!’ ‘Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall’ gave The Ink Spots there fourth of six Billboard Number 1 singles, and their fourth of five Billboard R&B Number 1 hits. For Ella Fitzgerald the song gave her, her fourth and final Billboard Number 1 song.

‘Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall’ which was co-written by Doris Fisher, and Allen Roberts, originated from a quotation by the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) from his poem ‘Rainy Day.’ Doris Fisher was born on May 2nd, 1915, in New York City, New York, United States, she died on January 15th, 2003, at the age of 87. Doris Fisher was the daughter of the noted German songwriter Fred Fisher, (1875-1942) and her brothers Dan Fisher, (1920-2001) and Marvin Fisher (1916-1993) were also songwriters. Among Doris Fisher’s best known compositions are the 1940 song ‘Whispering Grass,’ which she co-wrote with her father, and was recorded by The Ink Spots in 1940, but would find it’s greatest success when recorded by the British actors Windsor Davies, (1930-2019) and Don Estelle, (1933-2003) and spending three weeks at Number 1 in the UK in 1975. Other notable songs co-written by Doris Fisher include ‘You Always Hurt the One You Love,’ (see also best songs 535) with Allan Roberts, and ‘That Ole Devil Called Love,’ also with Roberts, which having originally being recorded by Billie Holiday (1915-1959) in 1945, found great success when covered by Alison Moyet in 1985, with her version reaching Number 2 in the UK, and Number 1 in New Zealand. Doris Fisher retired from the music business in 1947, in order to raise her two children. On her death her friend the American singer and pianist Michael Feinstein praised her tenacity and talent, in what at the time was a man’s world. On her working relationship with Allen Roberts, Fisher once said,’Allan is the tear-jerker of the team, and I specialise in light stuff.

‘Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall’ tells us that inevitably life will always have it’s ups and downs.The rain symbolises the challenges and difficulties, metaphorically representing the setbacks and struggles that we all face along our journey. Just like the rain, these obstacles can sometimes be overwhelming and cause us to falter. However, the song reminds us that rain is a necessary part of life, and it is through these challenges that we grow and become stronger individuals.

Into each and every life some rain has got to fall, but too much of that stuff is fallin’ into mine. And into each heart some tears gotta fall, and I know that someday that sun is bound to shine.’