A Day in the Life (Wes Montgomery album)
A Day in the Life is an album by guitarist Wes Montgomery, released in 1967. It reached number one on the Billboard Jazz album chart and number 2 on the R&B chart. It also reached number 13 on the Billboard 200. The single "Windy" became his biggest Hot 100 hit when it peaked at number forty-four.
After numerous albums with Riverside and Verve Records, Montgomery switched to A&M Records. His melodic renditions of current pop hits were played regularly on Top 40 radio.[1]
Reception
| Professional ratings |
| Review scores |
| Source |
Rating |
| Allmusic |
[1] |
In his Allmusic review, music critic Scott Yanow called the album
| “ |
In most cases the guitarist did little more than play the melody, using his distinctive octaves, and it was enough to make him saleable. Of his three A&M recordings, A Day in the Life (the first one) was by far the best and, although the jazz content is almost nil, the results are pleasing as background music.[1] |
” |
Track listing
| Writer(s) |
| 1. |
"A Day in the Life" |
John Lennon, Paul McCartney |
5:45 |
| 2. |
"Watch What Happens" |
Jacques Demy, Norman Gimbel, Michel Legrand |
2:43 |
| 3. |
"When a Man Loves a Woman" |
Calvin Lewis, Andrew Wright |
2:52 |
| 4. |
"California Nights" |
Marvin Hamlisch, Howard Liebling |
2:29 |
| 5. |
"Angel" |
Wes Montgomery |
2:46 |
| 6. |
"Eleanor Rigby" |
Lennon, McCartney |
3:04 |
| 7. |
"Willow Weep for Me" |
Ann Ronell |
4:31 |
| 8. |
"Windy" |
Ruthann Friedman |
2:20 |
| 9. |
"Trust in Me" |
Milton Ager, Arthur Schwartz, Jean Schwarz, Ned Wever |
4:25 |
| 10. |
"The Joker" |
Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley |
3:26 |
Personnel
- Wes Montgomery – guitar
- Herbie Hancock – piano
- Ron Carter – bass
- Grady Tate – drums
- Ray Barretto – percussion
- Jack Jennings – percussion
- Joe Wohletz – percussion
- Ray Alonge – French Horn
- Phil Bodner – woodwind
- Julius Brand – violin
- Peter Buonconsigilio – violin
- Mac Ceppos – violin
- Lewis Eley – violin
- Harry Glickman – violin
- Harry Katzman – violin
|
- Leo Krucczek – violin
- Sylvan Shulman – violin
- Gene Orloff – violin
- Tosha Samaroff – violin
- Jack Zayde – violin
- Harry Urbont – violin
- Harold Coletta – viola
- Emanuel Vardi – viola
- George Marge – flute
- Joe Soldo – flute
- Romeo Penque – flute
- Margaret Ross – harp
- Alan Shulman – cello
- Charles McCracken – cello
- Stanley Webb – flute, woodwind
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Production notes:
Chart positions
| Year |
Chart |
Position |
| 1967 |
Billboard Jazz Albums |
1 |
| Billboard R&B Albums |
2 |
| The Billboard 200 |
13 |
References
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| Albums |
Almost Forgotten (1955) · The Montgomery Brothers Plus Five Others (1957) · Montgomeryland (1958) · Groove Yard · (1961) The Montgomery Brothers (1961) · The Montgomery Brothers in Canada (1961) · Love Walked In (1961) · Wes, Buddy and Monk Montgomery (1961)
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| Wes solo |
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| Monk solo |
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| Buddy solo |
Swinging with the Mastersounds · A Date with the Mastersounds · The King And I · The Two-Sided Album · This Rather Than That · Ties · Of Love · Ties of Love · So Why Not? · Live at Maybeck Recital Hall · Here Again · Icebreaker (2001) · A Love Affair in Paris (2001) · A Day in the Life (2006)
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