A Day in the Life (Wes Montgomery album)

A Day in the Life is an album by jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery that was 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.

A Day in the Life
Studio album by Wes Montgomery
Released	1967
Recorded	June 6 & 26, 1967
Studio	Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
Genre	Jazz
Length	34:21
Label	A&M/CTI
Producer	Creed Taylor
Wes Montgomery chronology
Tequila (1966) A Day in the Life (1967) Down Here on the Ground (1968)

After recording for Riverside and Verve, Montgomery signed with A&M. His renditions of pop hits were played regularly on Top 40 radio.[1]

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide	[2]

In his Allmusic review of the album, music critic Scott Yanow wrote:

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.	Title	Writer(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:

• Creed Taylor – producer
• Don Sebesky – arranger, conductor
• Rudy Van Gelder – engineer

Chart positions

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

References

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