When most people of taste hear the phrase “formulaic music,” the first thing that comes to mind is the artistically malnourished corruption that plagues the modern music industry. But one could argue that formulas have been around for as long as music has.
The meteoric rise of the Ink Spots, one of the most successful musical acts of the 1940s, testifies to this reality. Every one of their hit songs began with a variation of the same meandering acoustic guitar intro, followed by Bill Kenny singing the main vocals while others provided backing vocals. Hoppy Jones would then add a spoken-sung rendition in his deep bass voice, concluding with Kenny reprising the lead vocals.
Hits like "I Don’t Want to Set the World on Fire," "To Each His Own," and "Whispering Grass" exemplified this formula's effectiveness, consistently charting in the top ten, with some reaching number one on the pop charts, not just the R&B charts. You have to hear it for yourself, but the similarities between them are uncanny.
And while they did occasionally experiment with other variations, straying from their established style resulted in less monumental success. So the Ink Spots shamelessly embraced their formula, understanding its appeal and running with it.
Far from diminishing their legacy, this strategy was emblematic of an era where artists excelled by mastering a singular style. Like other contemporaries such as Duane Eddy, Bo Diddley, and John Lee Hooker, who honed their craft within a specific sound, the Ink Spots delivered hit after hit, captivating audiences worldwide.
The moral of the story? Innovation does not always require complete reinvention. Sometimes, it means continuously refining a particular style or motif until you know it like the back of your hand. In a world where constant change is often equated with progress, the Ink Spots remind us that there is also value in consistency.
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