Wes Montgomery
I had thought [using octaves] would be very simple because it's similar to single lines; you just add another note. It sounds like it would be very easy, but it's just the opposite because of your fingering positions. I had a lot of thoughts going on at first, but very little coming out. It should not be any trouble I kept telling myself. Every time I indulged, it because harder than I imagined....You have to move your fingers, get them in the right position otherwise if you're off a little, it sounds horrible. You wouldn't want to hear it, man. You ought to hear me when I have a bad night.... I don't like to give into it; once you do, you have more bad nights than good.
I didn't join A&M because Creed was coming over. In fact, I was surprised to hear Creed was joining the company.
Signed to a long-term contract with A&M Records in May 1967. The contract was for two albums per year. Montgomery told Billboard he liked "the company's young, open-minded attitude."
He was Billboard's #50 Top Album Artist of 1967 and the #2 Top Jazz Artist.
In 1968, Wes Montgomery was named Billboard's #50 Top Easy Listening Artist and their #1 Top Jazz Artist.
A DAY IN THE LIFE SESSIONOGRAPHY
| June 6, 1967 Van Gelder Studio | A Day In the Life California Nights |
|---|---|
| June 7, 1967 Van Gelder Studio | Angel Eleanor Rigby Hello Young Lovers The Joker Up and At It Watch What Happens When a Man Loves a Woman Windy |
| June 26, 1967 Van Gelder Studio | Trust In Me Willow Weep For Me |
DOWN HERE ON THE GROUND SESSIONOGRAPHY
| December 20, 1967 Van Gelder Studio | Goin' On to Detroit I Say a Little Prayer For You |
|---|---|
| December 21, 1967 Van Gelder Studio | Down Here On the Ground Know It All The Fox Up and At It |
| January 22 and 26, 1968 Van Gelder Studio | Georgia On My Mind The Other Man's Grass Is Always Greener When I Look In Your Eyes Wind Song |
ROAD SONG SESSIONOGRAPHY
| May 8, 1968 Van Gelder Studio | Fly Me to the Moon Green Leaves Of Summer Greensleeve I'll Be Back My Favorite Things Road Song Scarborough Fair Where Have All the Flowers Gone Yesterday |
|---|---|
| May 9, 1968 Van Gelder Studio | Serene |
- Jazz Beat. Eliot Tiegel. Billboard, August 19, 1967, 12.
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