I'm Beginning to See the Light

"I'm Beginning to See the Light" is a popular song and jazz standard, written by Duke Ellington, Don George, Johnny Hodges, and Harry James, and published in 1944. Ella Fitzgerald and The Ink Spots featuring Bill Kenny recorded a version in 1945, that was on the pop song hits list for six weeks in 1945, reaching #5. A competing 1945 recording by Harry James and his Orchestra,^[1] with lead vocal by Kitty Kallen reached #1 for two weeks in January of that year. James' version of the song reached #7 on Billboard's Second Annual High School Survey in 1945.^[2] Duke Ellington also released in 1945 a version, which reached the top ten.^[3] Ellington's inspiration for this song was his recent initiation into Freemasonry. He was a member of Social Lodge No. 1 of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia, Prince Hall Affiliation.

Notable recordings

• April Ames - "Strike A Match" (1959)
• Rosemary Clooney – Out of This World (2000)
• Bobby Darin
• Frank Sinatra
• Johnnie Ray (1958)
• Connie Francis (1958)
• Oscar Alemán, guitarist (1946)
• Billy Eckstine recorded the song many times: with Billy May, with Quincy Jones, with Bobby Tucker and with Gil Askey.
• In 1986 Australian recording artist Kate Ceberano recorded a version for her album Kate Ceberano and her Septet.
• Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra. Vocal: Joya Sherrill Recorded in New York City on December 1, 1944. It was released by RCA Victor Records as catalogue number 20-1618^[4]
• Ella and Basie!, a 1963 Verve release with arrangements by Quincy Jones.
• Clare Fischer – Songs for Rainy Day Lovers (1967)
• Peggy Lee – Spotlight on Peggy Lee (1995)
• Gerry Mulligan - Gerry Mulligan with Chet Baker (1955)
• Sutton Foster recorded a version for her album Wish
• The Hi-Lo's – A Musical Thrill (2006)
• The Ink Spots featuring Bill Kenny & Ella Fitzgerald
• Chelsea Krombach performed the song for her debut album Look for the Silver Lining
• The SuperJazz Big Band of Birmingham, Alabama, recorded the song on the CD UAB SuperJazz, Featuring Ellis Marsalis
• Michael Bublé
• Kelly Rowland
• Joe Jackson recorded a cover of the song for his Duke Ellington tribute album, "The Duke".
• Royce Campbell – Get Happy (2007)
• Mel Torme-- "At the Crescendo"

References

1. ↑ Gilliland, John (1994). Pop Chronicles the 40s: The Lively Story of Pop Music in the 40s (audiobook). ISBN 978-1-55935-147-8. OCLC 31611854.  Tape 1, side B.
2. ↑ Smith, Kathleen E.R. God Bless America: Tin Pan Alley Goes to War. The University Press of Kentucky. p. 167. ISBN 0-8131-2256-2. 
3. ↑ "I'm Beginning to See the Light" at Jazz Standards
4. ↑ RCA Victor Records in the 20-1500 to 20-1999 series

The Ink Spots
Bill Kenny Charlie Fuqua Deek Watson Hoppy Jones Jerry Daniels Bernie Mackey Cliff Givens Billy Bowen Huey Long Herb Kenny
Singles	"If I Didn't Care" "My Prayer" "Memories of You" "I'm Gettin' Sentimental Over You" "When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano" "Whispering Grass (Don't Tell the Trees)" "Maybe" "We Three (My Echo, My Shadow, and Me)" "Java Jive" "Until the Real Thing Comes Along" "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" "I Can't Stand Losing You" "Cow Cow Boogie (Cuma-Ti-Yi-Yi-Ay)" "A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening" "I'll Get By (As Long as I Have You)" "Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall" "I'm Beginning to See the Light" "The Gypsy" "Prisoner of Love" "To Each His Own" "The Best Things in Life Are Free" "You're Breaking My Heart" "Echoes" "If" "It Is No Secret" (Bill Kenny solo)
Related topics	The Great American Broadcast Pardon My Sarong The Brown Dots The Four Tunes The Bill Kenny Show
Book:The Ink Spots