US
March 1945- Label and catalog number
- Decca 23399
- Format
- Shellac, 10", 78 RPM
- Runout / matrix
72746AA 0A side stamped variant 1
72747A1 0B side stamped variant 1
72746AA side stamped variant 2
72747A1B side stamped variant 2
Ella FitzgeraldI'm Beginning To See The Light / That's The Way It Is
Vinyl pressings
I'm Beginning To See The Light / That's The Way It Is
by Ella Fitzgerald · 1945
10 pressings8 countriesVocalJazzPop
I'm Beginning To See The Light was first pressed on vinyl in 1945. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
How to spot a first pressing of I'm Beginning To See The Light
3 pressings came out in 1945, the album's first year, in 3 countries. Compare the label and catalog number on your copy, then the codes etched or stamped in the runout groove (the dead wax around the label): they are the surest sign of an early pressing.
UK
1945- Label and catalog number
- Brunswick 03584
- Format
- Shellac, 10", 78 RPM
- Runout / matrix
72746AA TT USide A
72747A1 TT KSide B
Canada
March 1945- Label and catalog number
- Decca 23399
- Format
- Shellac, 10", 78 RPM
- Runout / matrix
23399A 72746A 2Runout A stamped
23399B 72747A1 2Runout B stamped
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
All 10 vinyl pressings
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
1940s5 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | UK | Brunswick 03584First yearShellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| 1945 | Canada | Decca 23399First yearShellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| 1945 | US | Decca 23399First yearShellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| 1946 | Australia | Decca Y5957Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| 1947 | Italy | Decca BM 1192Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
Year unknown5 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Decca BM 03584Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| ? | Belgium | Decca BM 03584Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| ? | Netherlands | Decca M 32681Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| ? | Switzerland | Decca 03584Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| ? | UK | Brunswick 03584Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress |
Tracklist
- AI'm Beginning To See The Light
- BThat's The Way It Is
Questions
How many vinyl pressings of I'm Beginning To See The Light are there?
10 vinyl pressings of I'm Beginning To See The Light are listed here, from 8 countries, released between 1945 and 1947.
When was I'm Beginning To See The Light first released on vinyl?
The earliest pressings are from 1945, in US, UK, Canada. One of them is Decca 23399, released March 1945.
How do I tell if my copy of I'm Beginning To See The Light is a first pressing?
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 23399, 03584) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 72746AA 0 and 72747A1 0. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
How much is I'm Beginning To See The Light on vinyl worth?
It depends on which pressing you have and on the condition of the record and its sleeve. Early pressings from the album's home country in near mint condition are usually worth the most; common later reissues are worth far less. Scan your copy with VinylLens to see its value for every grade.
