1945 Bonus Song!

We have one more song from 1945 to consider: "I'm Beginning to See the Light."

It kind of struck me that could be the answer to a song title riddle like on the old radio show "Beat the Band." Something like, "What did Scrooge say to the Ghost of Christmas Present when asked if his feelings toward Christmas had changed?"

In any event, I think it's a great song and had some great versions that were popular in 1945.

I've always wondered how the melody came together, as it's credited to Harry James, Duke Ellington and Johnny Hodges. 

Johnny Hodges (at left) takes a solo.

I "get" Johnny Hodges and Duke Ellington, as Johnny was a star musician in Duke's band and Duke often would take a tune or melody that one of his musicians would thought up, then elaborate on it until he had a complete song.

But how did rival bandleader Harry James get involved? I've never found an answer!

Whatever the case, the James and Ellington bands both cut great versions of the song.

Harry's was the biggest hit:

Harry James made so many great records. He was sensational on trumpet, had top musicians in his band and great taste in vocalists.

Kitty Kallen (as heard on this record) was one of the best. Not surprising that she had a very successful solo career!

And the little guitar interludes by Allan Reuss give it that extra something special!

Duke's record is great too:

That was just a tremendous band that could play anything. Great section work in addition to great soloists.

I really like Joya Sherrill's vocal. Hard to believe she was only 17 at the time!

Another popular version featured a team-up of Decca recording artists Ella Fitzgerald and the Ink Spots:

Besides Ella, you really only hear Ink Spots lead singer Bill Kenny on this record, with the rest of the group barely audible while humming in the background. At least I think you can almost hear them!

Bill's style contrasts nicely with Ella's and I think they sound good on the few lines they sing together toward the end of the record.

Also popular was this version on the smaller Majestic label by Cootie Williams, the great growl trumpeter who had formerly starred with the Ellington band:

Solid version! I don't know much about vocalist Tony Warren, but he's pretty good!

Cootie teamed up with Ella Fitzgerald on tour around this time, but they didn't record together due to being signed to different labels. They must have been great together!

Not making much a splash due to being on a tiny label is this version by singer Dick Brown:

I like it, but it does seem slight compared with the powerhouses above. 

I don't know much about Dick Brown, other than he was later the male singer on the radio show "Stop the Music." That was the most infamous of audience participation shows that pundits thought spelled the end of quality radio entertainment!

I did find this interesting snippet about Dick Brown from "Billboard" magazine, though:

That's something!

Oh, and Dick Brown was at one point married to radio actress Charlotte Manson, who played Patsy on the "Nick Carter" show. See, it always comes back around!

The song pops up in what I think is an unlikely place - a Roy Rogers western!

But Dale Evans plays a nightclub singer in "The Man from Oklahoma" so she got to sing it:

That's not bad at all! Dale had sung with a couple of bands early on so she knew her way around a pop song!

Before we leave, we have a couple of contemporary British versions of "I'm Beginning to See the Light."

First is the "Forces' Sweetheart," the legendary Vera Lynn:

She was hugely popular in England and passed away just last year at the age of 103!

Also popular in England for a long time, if not as long as Vera Lynn, was Geraldo, who recorded this version with his orchestra:

That's pretty snappy!

I like the vocal by Carole Carr a lot!

But what's the deal with the British versions having slightly different lyrics? There must be some reason!

We need Dick Brown to tell Charlotte Manson that we have another mystery for Nick Carter!