I'm Beginning to See the Light
"I'm Beginning to See the Light" is a popular song and jazz standard, with music by Duke Ellington, Johnny Hodges, and Harry James and lyrics by Don George, published in 1944.
1945 recordings
- Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra recorded the song in New York City on December 1, 1944, with vocal by Joya Sherrill. It was released as RCA Victor 20-1618 in early 1945 on a 78rpm record backing "Don't You Know I Care". The recording went to No. 4 on the Harlem Hit Parade chart in Billboard and reached No. 6 on the pop chart.
- A competing recording by Harry James and his Orchestra for Columbia Records, with lead vocals by Kitty Kallen, reached No. 1 for two weeks in January 1945. James' version also reached No. 7 on Billboard's Second Annual High School Survey in 1945.
- Ella Fitzgerald and The Ink Spots, featuring singer Bill Kenny, recorded a version for Decca Records that was on the pop song hits list for six weeks in 1945 and reached No. 5.
Other notable recordings
- Oscar Alemán
- Gerry Mulligan on Gerry Mulligan Quartet Volume 2
- Count Basie and Joe Williams on The Greatest!! Count Basie Plays, Joe Williams Sings Standards
- The Hi-Lo's on Under Glass
- Mel Tormé on Mel Tormé at the Crescendo
- Connie Francis on Who's Sorry Now?
- Peggy Lee on Things Are Swingin'
- Johnnie Ray on 'Til Morning
- Joanie Sommers on Positively the Most!
- Mary Stallings and Cal Tjader on Cal Tjader Plays, Mary Stallings Sings
- Bobby Darin on Oh! Look at Me Now ; featured in the 1996 film Swingers
- Frank Sinatra on Sinatra and Swingin' Brass
- Clare Fischer on Songs for Rainy Day Lovers
- Rosemary Clooney and Woody Herman on My Buddy
- Natalie Cole on Take a Look
- Dee Dee Bridgewater on Prelude to a Kiss: The Duke Ellington Album
- Royce Campbell on Get Happy
- Sutton Foster on Wish
- Joe Jackson on ''The Duke''