Artist page · 04/07/2026

Wes Montgomery

IndianapolisBorn in 1923Bebop20 vinyl albums
Wes Montgomery, born in Indianapolis in 1923, was a pioneering American jazz guitarist influential in bebop, hard bop, and soul jazz styles active mainly in the 1950s and 1960s.
20Albums on Vinyles.com
2101Discogs releases
829kLast.fm listeners

About

Wes Montgomery, Master of jazz guitar from Indianapolis with a career in the 1950s-60s.

Over 20 vinyl albums in bebop and hard bop; original 1960s pressings prized by collectors.

Wes Montgomery's guitar work built a bridge between bebop and soul jazz, renowned for his use of octave technique and rich melodic lines. Although he was largely self-taught, Montgomery developed a distinctive style that attracted collaborations with leading jazz figures and a dedicated following. His vinyl discography includes studio albums, live recordings, and compilations spanning labels like Riverside, Verve, and A&M.

Montgomery's demanding daily routine supporting a large family while working in a factory influenced the heartfelt intensity of his music. His catalog includes essential titles released originally in the early 1960s that remain sought after on vinyl, with contemporary reissues preserving his legacy for new audiences.

Discography

Wes Montgomery — Discography

Studio albums, EPs and notable live records, from newest to oldest. Drag the timeline to browse.

The NDR Hamburg Studio RecordingsJazzline Classics · 2021
2021
The NDR Hamburg Studio Recordings
CD, Album, Blu-ray
Studio
Back On Indiana Avenue (The Carroll DeCamp Recordings)Resonance Records · 2019
2019
Back On Indiana Avenue (The Carroll DeCamp Recordings)
CD, Album
Studio
Smokin' In Seattle Live At The PenthouseResonance Records · 2017
2017
Smokin' In Seattle Live At The Penthouse
CD, Album
Live
One Night In IndyResonance Records · 2015
2015
One Night In Indy
Vinyl, LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Numbered
Studio
Navy SwingPJL · 2004
2004
Navy Swing
CD, Album, Mono
Studio
Body And Soul (Recorded Live At Ronnie Scott's Club)Ronnie Scott's Jazz House · 1996
1996
Body And Soul (Recorded Live At Ronnie Scott's Club)
CD, Album
Live
Live In EuropeMusica Jazz · 1992
1992
Live In Europe
CD, Album
Live
Smokin' At The Half Note Vol. 2Verve Records · 1988
1988
Smokin' At The Half Note Vol. 2
CD, Album, Remastered
Studio
Straight, No ChaserBandstand · 1988
1988
Straight, No Chaser
CD, Album
Studio
Born To Be BlueRiverside Records · 1983
1983
Born To Be Blue
Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue
Studio
Besame MuchoRiverside Records · 1983
1983
Besame Mucho
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Studio
The Paris SessionBYG Records · 1975
1975
The Paris Session
Vinyl, LP, Album
Studio
Solitude Part 2BYG Records · 1973
1973
Solitude Part 2
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
Solitude Part 1BYG Records · 1973
1973
Solitude Part 1
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
Just Walkin'Verve Records · 1971
1971
Just Walkin'
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Studio
Further Adventures Of Jimmy And WesVerve Records · 1969
1969
Further Adventures Of Jimmy And Wes
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Studio
Willow Weep For MeVerve Records · 1969
1969
Willow Weep For Me
Vinyl, LP, Album, Promo
Studio
Road SongA&M Records · 1968
1968
Road Song
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Studio
Down Here On The GroundA&M Records · 1968
1968
Down Here On The Ground
Vinyl, LP, Album
Studio
California DreamingVerve Records · 1967
1967
California Dreaming
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
Jimmy & Wes (The Dynamic Duo)Verve Records · 1967
1967
Jimmy & Wes (The Dynamic Duo)
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Studio
A Day In The LifeA&M Records · 1967
1967
A Day In The Life
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Studio
Goin' Out Of My HeadVerve Records · 1966
1966
Goin' Out Of My Head
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Studio
TequilaVerve Records · 1966
1966
Tequila
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
Movin' WesVerve Records · 1965
1965
Movin' Wes
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Studio
Bumpin'Verve Records · 1965
1965
Bumpin'
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Studio
Smokin' At The Half NoteVerve Records · 1965
1965
Smokin' At The Half Note
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Studio
Go!Fontana · 1964
1964
Go!
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
Boss GuitarRiverside Records · 1963
1963
Boss Guitar
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
Fusion!Riverside Records · 1963
1963
Fusion!
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
Bags Meets Wes!Riverside Records · 1962
1962
Bags Meets Wes!
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
Full HouseRiverside Records · 1962
1962
Full House
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
Movin' AlongRiverside Records · 1961
1961
Movin' Along
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
So Much Guitar!Riverside Records · 1961
1961
So Much Guitar!
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
The Incredible Jazz Guitar Of Wes MontgomeryRiverside Records · 1960
1960
The Incredible Jazz Guitar Of Wes Montgomery
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
MontgomerylandPacific Jazz · 1960
1960
Montgomeryland
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
Studio album Live / EP

Playlist

Signature tracks

The tracks that sum up Wes Montgomery's career.

01
Days of Wine and Roses
Days of Wine and Roses
Boss Guitar · 1963
02
In Your Own Sweet Way
·
03
A Day In The Life
·
04
Polka Dots and Moonbeams
·
05
While We're Young
·
06
Four On Six
Four On Six
Smokin' At The Half Note · 1965
07
Airegin
·
08
West Coast Blues
·

The essentials

The 3 Wes Montgomery albums you absolutely need

Our pick, validated by the editorial team.

#1 · 1960
Vinyl LP Album Mono
The Incredible Jazz Guitar

Shows Wes Montgomery's signature guitar style; a milestone in post-bop jazz guitar with 8 tracks blending bebop and soul.

8 tracksMonoRiverside Records1960 original pressing
#2 · 1965
Vinyl LP Album Stereo
Smokin' At The Half Note

A celebrated live album capturing Wes at his peak, with extended tracks like 'No Blues' and 'Four On Six' that showcase his improvisational skill.

5 tracksStereoVerve RecordsOriginal 1965 US pressing
#3 · 1962
Vinyl LP Album Mono
Full House

Live-recorded album with a hard bop edge, featuring long-form tracks and interplay with prominent band members, encapsulating Montgomery’s dynamic range.

6 tracksMonoRiverside Records1962 original Dutch pressing

Go further

Artists similar to Wes Montgomery

Artists who share part of Wes Montgomery's musical DNA.

Collectors

For vinyl die-hards

The hidden side of the catalogue: rare pressings, sought-after matrices, Discogs values.

Market values (source: Discogs)

For each reference edition, these cards summarise the state of the global Discogs market. Market position places the average price of a copy between the observed min and max prices. Average price is the price seen for a mint-condition copy. Copies available counts listings currently for sale. Collectors who want it is the number of Discogs users who added it to their wantlist without owning it — a good signal of upcoming demand.

Smokin' At The Half Note
Master release · LP · 1965
Market position i
12,75 €
Min price 12 €Max price 23 €
Average price 12,75 €
Only 42 copies for sale on Discogs
705 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)
Bumpin'
Master release · LP · 1965
Market position i
3,45 €
Min price 3 €Max price 3 €
Average price 3,45 €
Only 24 copies for sale on Discogs
355 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)
Boss Guitar
Master release · LP · 1963
Market position i
17,40 €
Min price 4 €Max price 18 €
Average price 17,40 €
Only 8 copies for sale on Discogs
381 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)
Full House
Master release · LP · 1962
Market position i
39,95 €
Min price 35 €Max price 40 €
Average price 39,95 €
Only 6 copies for sale on Discogs
598 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)
So Much Guitar!
Master release · LP · 1961
Market position i
21,73 €
Min price 18 €Max price 36 €
Average price 21,73 €
Only 19 copies for sale on Discogs
310 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)
Montgomeryland
Master release · LP · 1960
Market position i
23,00 €
Min price 20 €Max price 42 €
Average price 23,00 €
Only 20 copies for sale on Discogs
258 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)

Notable pressings & editions

i

The “Why this rarity” column comes from our upstream sourcing work: for each album, we explain what makes this pressing sought after by collectors (limited run, specific matrix, withdrawn edition…).

AlbumWhy this rarityEdition Country · Year Matrix Market tension Value
Bumpin'LP, Album
Verve Records Germany · 1965 V-8625 🔥 Standard edition
355 want · 1 669 have · ratio 0,2
Bumpin'LP, Album, Test Pressing
Verve Records Japan · 1965 SMV 1047 Original pressing
355 want · 1 669 have · ratio 0,2
Smokin' At The Half NoteLP, Album, Mono
Verve Records UK · 1965 VLP9118 🔥 Standard edition
705 want · 746 have · ratio 0,9
23,19 €
Smokin' At The Half NoteLP, Album, Stereo
Verve Records US · 1965 V6-8633, V /V6-8633 Original pressing
705 want · 746 have · ratio 0,9
12,75 €
Boss GuitarLP, Album, Mono
Riverside Records US · 1963 RM 459 🔥 Standard edition
381 want · 293 have · ratio 1,3
18,12 €
Boss GuitarLP, Album, Stereo
Riverside Records US · 1963 RS 9459, 9459 Original pressing
381 want · 293 have · ratio 1,3
4,35 €
Full HouseLP, Album, Mono
Riverside Records Netherlands · 1962 RLP 434 🔥 Standard edition
598 want · 279 have · ratio 2,1
40,00 €
Full HouseLP, Album, Stereo
Original Netherlands pressing, want/have ratio 2.1:1, two copies available.Riverside Records Netherlands · 1962 RLP 9434 Original pressing
598 want · 279 have · ratio 2,1
39,95 €

Face B

Side B: the hidden stories of Wes Montgomery

Studio secrets, touring anecdotes and B-sides worth the whole album.

Wes Montgomery was largely self-taught and developed his unique style through imitation and experimentation.
— Biography
01Live Album

Full House live recording

Recorded in 1962, this album was released on Riverside Records featuring Montgomery's full band interplay and live energy captured in six extended tracks.

1962Netherlands
02Pressing

Original US stereo pressing of Smokin' At The Half Note

The 1965 US release by Verve (cat. no. V6-8633) is highly regarded and sought after, with a median vinyl price near 12.75 to 23.19 euros depending on condition and seller.

1965US
03Studio Album

Boss Guitar on Riverside Records

Released in 1963, the album showcases Montgomery's hard bop approach with tracks like 'Besame Mucho' and 'Canadian Sunset' on vinyl in both mono and stereo formats.

1963US
His performances combined technical skill with emotional depth, influencing jazz guitarists for decades.
— Jazz Commentary

Records by Wes Montgomery

See all

CDs by Wes Montgomery

Search all Wes Montgomery CDs

FAQ

FAQ: Wes Montgomery on physical formats

The most common questions about pressings, reissues and limited editions.

Who was Wes Montgomery and what style of guitar did he play?

Wes Montgomery was an American jazz guitarist known for his bebop and hard bop styles, using techniques like octave playing and chord melodies.

Which Wes Montgomery albums are essential for vinyl collectors?

Key albums include The Incredible Jazz Guitar (1960), Smokin' At The Half Note (1965), and Full House (1962). Original pressings are highly prized.

What should I look for when buying Wes Montgomery vinyl records in France?

Check the pressing country and label for originals versus reissues. French sellers often have European or US pressings with varied audio quality and pricing.

Are there original Wes Montgomery vinyl pressings released in the Netherlands?

Yes, for example the stereo and mono versions of Full House were originally pressed and released in the Netherlands in 1962.

What is the price range for original Wes Montgomery vinyl albums?

Prices vary by title and condition but can range from around 3.45 euros for some albums up to 40 euros or more for rare originals like Full House.

Did Wes Montgomery record any live albums on vinyl?

Yes, notable live albums include Smokin' At The Half Note (1965) and Full House (1962) that capture his improvisational prowess.

Which labels released Wes Montgomery's important vinyl albums in the 1960s?

Key labels include Riverside Records, Verve Records, and A&M Records, each associated with classic studio and live albums.

How do I identify a mono versus stereo pressing of Wes Montgomery records?

Mono and stereo pressings can differ in catalogue numbers and label markings; many original 1960s albums exist in both formats with distinct audio character.

Transparency

Sources & method

This page is compiled by the vinyles.com editorial team from public sources and our marketplace.

Our method

  1. Discographic data from MusicBrainz (dates, countries, activity period).
  2. Tracklists, artwork and genres retrieved via Discogs Masters.
  3. Values (low / median / high) and stock from the Discogs Marketplace.
  4. Audience and similar artists via Last.fm.
  5. Page updated automatically and reviewed by the editorial team.
Last updated: 04/07/2026