Sundays with Duke #45: We See the Light

While still in 1944 with Duke Ellington, we land on one of the most enduring pop songs from his songbook — I’m Beginning to See the Light.

💡 1944: Joya Steps Into the Spotlight

Let’s spin Duke’s Victor record featuring Joya Sherrill:

I think that’s a terrific record, and it’s the basis of my retro crush on Joya!

Duke recorded the song as part of his first session after the recording ban — the same one that included Joya singing I Didn’t Know About You, which we heard back here a couple of Sundays ago.

🎶 The Tune Stays in Duke’s Piano

The song was very popular, and Duke continued to play it for the rest of his career. He made a number of recordings with guest vocalists, as we’ll see, but I think he recorded only one instrumental version with the band — from his 1960 Columbia album Piano in the Background.

Let’s spin it:

A fun, bright take!

🎻 1966: Pops in the Park

Duke also released this live instrumental version with Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops from the 1966 RCA Victor album The Duke at Tanglewood:

That’s really nice! As Duke himself remarked: "Ah, it was a wonderful night for the piano player."

🎤 Ella Begins the Vocal Parade

Ella Fitzgerald had released a popular version of the song with The Ink Spots back in 1945 and returned to it in 1957 with Duke and the band for the Verve Duke Ellington Songbook album:

Ella has a lot of fun with the song. And did that snappy trumpet intro from Clark Terry!

🎺 Satchmo & Duke Reunite

Then in 1961, Louis Armstrong recorded a version with Duke that wound up on their The Great Reunion album on Roulette:

Sounds good!

🇸🇪 Alice sees Swedish Light

Moving to 1966, Alice Babs and Duke included I’m Beginning to See the Light on their Serenade to Sweden collab:

It’s not an obvious pairing, but Alice fit in well with Duke and the band. Legend has it that Johnny Hodges actually raised an eyebrow when he heard Alice sing — high praise indeed!

🎙️ Teresa Takes Off

Duke returned to the song in 1973 when he recorded this version with Teresa Brewer for their It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing album:

The ever-delightful Teresa gives it a wild ride on this track from Duke’s last studio sessions before his death later that year.

🔁 Full Circle with Joya

Let’s wrap up with an Ellington‑adjacent version from 1965 as Joya Sherrill brings us full‑circle:

That’s from Joya’s Sings Duke album on Twentieth Century Fox and includes Billy Strayhorn and Ray Nance in the band.

If we were only beginning to see the light before, we sure see it now!

Warehouse Whispers

I’m Beginning to See the Light features lyrics by Don George set to a melody credited to Duke, Johnny Hodges, and Harry James. I had gone into some detail about the song back here, but five and a half years later, I still can’t figure out how Harry was involved!