California Dreaming is an album by the jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery, released in 1967. It reached No. 1 on the Billboard magazine jazz album chart and No. 4 on the R&B album chart. It was reissued on CD in 2007 with an alternate take of "Sunny".
Reception
In his review for AllMusic, jazz critic Scott Yanow wrote: "The material is strictly pop fluff of the era and the great guitarist has little opportunity to do much other than state the melody in his trademark octaves. This record was perfect for AM radio of the period." The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings wrote that, despite starting with a recent pop hit, the album allowed some glimpses of Montgomery’s jazz playing.
Track listing "California Dreaming" (John Phillips, Michelle Phillips) – 3:08 "Sun Down" (Wes Montgomery) – 6:03 "Oh, You Crazy Moon" (Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke) – 3:44 "More, More, Amor" (Sol Lake) – 2:54 "Without You" (Rinaldo Marino, Walter Myers) – 3:05 "Winds of Barcelona" (Lake) – 3:07 "Sunny [alternate take]" (Bobby Hebb) – 3:07 "Sunny" (Hebb) – 4:04 "Green Peppers" (Lake) – 2:56 "Mr. Walker" (Montgomery) – 3:39 "South of the Border" (Jimmy Kennedy, Michael Carr) – 3:13
Personnel Wes Montgomery – guitar Mel Davis – trumpet Bernie Glow – trumpet Jimmy Nottingham – trumpet Wayne Andre – trombone Johnny Messner – trombone Bill Watrous – trombone James Buffington – French horn Don Butterfield – tuba Stan Webb – clarinet, English horn, saxophone Raymond Beckenstein – flute, piccolo, saxophone Herbie Hancock – piano Al Casamenti – guitar Bucky Pizzarelli – guitar Richard Davis – double bass Grady Tate – drums Jack Jennings – vibraphone, castanets, scratching Ray Barretto – percussion
Production: Creed Taylor – producer Don Sebesky – arranger, conductor Rudy Van Gelder – engineer Gert Van Hoeyen – remastering Dennis Drake – remastering Ken Whitmore – cover photo, photography
Chart positions YearChartPeak Position1967Billboard Best-Selling Jazz LP's 1Billboard Hot R&B LP's 4Billboard Top LP's 65Cashbox Top 100 Albums 44
References