Monday Side-Session: Johnny Sees the Light

For today’s side‑session, we dig into the versions of I’m Beginning to See the Light recorded by one of the tune’s architects, Johnny Hodges.

💡 1961: A Verve Vault

We kick off in 1961 with this unreleased‑at‑the-time Verve track:

Hodges walks in with a murderers’ row of Ellington bandmates — Ben Webster, Ray Nance, Lawrence Brown — and the whole thing feels too good, too alive, too perfectly lit to have been shelved for decades. Absolute mystery.

🍾 1965: Champagne Bubbles

We jump to 1965, where Johnny pairs up with none other than Lawrence Welk for a Dot Records detour:

Nobody on earth would confuse the Welk band with the Ellington orchestra, but this collab clicks. The backing is pure mid‑60s studio sheen, and Johnny’s alto slices right through it like he’s dusting the place with elegance.

🎹 1965: Con‑Soul Goes Full Sixties

Same year, different universe: Johnny teams with organ powerhouse Wild Bill Davis for RCA Victor’s Con‑Soul & Sax:

This one doesn’t just sound sixties — it glows sixties. Organ heat, alto glide, the whole room humming like a neon sign.

🎹 1966: Stridin' with the Fatha

Then in 1966, Johnny returns to the studio for Verve and links up with legendary pianist Earl “Fatha” Hines for Stride Right:

They’re not just striding — they’re strutting! Hines lays down that big, confident stride and Hodges threads the melody like he’s stitching gold into the carpet.

Johnny didn’t just see the light — he kept finding new bulbs to keep it glowing!