Road Song [Import]

Wes Montgomery | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 1, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Universal Japan
• ASIN: B0000CD7YV
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,616,422 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Road Song

2. Greensleeves

3. Fly Me to the Moon

4. Yesterday

5. I'll Be Back

6. Scarborough Fair/Canticle

7. Green Leaves of Summer

8. Serene

9. Where Have All the Flowers Gone?

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This was Wes' final legacy, September 22, 1999

By 

J. B Brent (Oak Ridge, Tennessee USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Road Song (Audio CD)

ROAD SONG, originally issued as A&M SP 3012, CTI series, was recorded a month before Wes Montgomery died of a heart attack on June 15, 1968 at age 45 and relesed posthumously. The title song and "Serene," named in honor of his wife, were written by Wes. Other outstanding tracks are "Scarborough Fair" and "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?." Superb guitar playing, as always. Listening to this makes one wonder what more he would have accomplished had he not died so young. It's hard to name all the artists he's influenced. As the liner notes state: "This is the last one. Be glad we have it."

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wes' last journey. A Fantastic Voyage., May 31, 2003

By 

James Simpson (APO, AE United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Road Song (Audio CD)

This was the first Wes Montgomery album I'd ever heard when I was a child. Regardless of what critics say, this is one of the best albums ever recorded. If this isn't jazz, then what is? Just because he didn't play the same old standards (pop song from the 30's and 40's) critics gave him hell. I'm an organ player with a love for guitar and I know that the way he play's the octave strums so clean he is the master of this style. The tunes are very touching and short. Some you may know ( Yesterday, Where Have All the Flowers Gone). The originals are clasic (Road Song, Serene). The album is complemented with strings and some tunes are in the baroque style. Don Sebesky did the conducting and arranging. Not to mention Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Grady Tate and a host of other great musicians support Wes in the most classy manner. The album is about 30 min. long. but it says a life time in such a short time. I've bought this album 3 times in the last 20 years and it still is my favorite guitar album. Wes always was ahead of the game. I'm just sad to know that he didn't live to see the release. He died a month after recording it. Buy It Now!!!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jazz Meets Classical, December 5, 2004

By 

Chris Covais - See all my reviews

This review is from: Road Song (Audio CD)

Wes Montgomery.
Considered by many to be one of the greatest jazz guitarists that ever lived. His sound was revolutionary, and often imitated. Many, to this day use his technique of playing the same notes in two different octaves in unison.

Wes doesnt have that much space to demonstrate this technique here. His playing waves through classical arrangements of strings and horns.

I like to think of this album as, Jazz Meets Classical. Most, if not all, the songs on this album start off with classical influenced intros, then float into jazzy renditions of rather, pop tunes, that were popular at the time, with some standards.

Many disregard this as a great album. I beg to difer. Yes the jazz influences here are sometimes over shadowed by classical influences. But then again, if I were a classical fan, I'd think of it the other way, so all in all, the two musical art forms go together well here on this album. They add a little charisma to the music, and its a change from the usual swing and improvisation.

I dont know if Wes was talked into this. Maybe it had something to do with his association with A&M Records. Either way, I like how the end product came out.

Wes Montgomery had died before this album had come out. He also delivered a Hollywood Palace appearence the same year, just weeks before his death. It was a shame because Wes could not deliver any more wonderful music like this wonderful package.

There are two sides of Wes Montgomery. The strictly jazz side of him, and the pop Wes Montgomery. Both sides had wonderful jazz guitar playing, and swang beautiful, no matter what songs he was preforming.

If you like Henry Mancini, or Percy Faith, you'll love this CD. On the flip side, if you're an avid jazz, you might love this CD. I would think so, but from the bad feedback from this album, I'm not so sure.

Critics say Montgomery did not improvise on these A&M releases. This is clearly wrong! Improvisation does not dominate this tunes, but that element is still there.

Anyway you look at it, this is jazz guitar with a twist! Road Song, Fly Me To The Moon, Greensleeves, Where Have All The Flowers Gone, and Scarborough Fair (canticle) stand out for me, but then again, the whole album is a gem!

It was too bad Montgomery died so young. The jazz world lost a guitar legend. His death will be morned for many years to come. Let's just be thankful we have brilliant albums like this one to enjoy for more many years.