A Day in the Life (Wes Montgomery album)

A Day in the Life
Studio album by Wes Montgomery
Released 1967
Recorded June 6–7 and June 26, 1967 (1967-06-26)
Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
Genre Jazz pop
Length 34:41
Label A&M
Producer Creed Taylor
Wes Montgomery chronology
Tequila
(1966)		 A Day in the Life
(1967)		 Down Here on the Ground
(1968)

A Day in the Life is the eighteenth 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
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide[2]

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

No. TitleWriter(s) Length
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, Jean Schwartz, 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

Production notes:

Chart positions

Year Chart Position
1967 Billboard Jazz Albums 1
Billboard R&B Albums 2
The Billboard 200 13

References

  1. 1 2 3 Yanow, Scott. "A Day in the Life > Review". Allmusic. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
  2. ↑ Swenson, J. (Editor) (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 147. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.
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