Wes Montgomery Plays “Goin’ Out of My Head”

"Goin' Out of My Head" by far represents the song writing talents of the 1960's at their peak. The lyrics are double-edged, so that what can sound like a highly descriptive love song could also be a song about getting dumped very hard. For Wes Montgomery, "Goin' Out of My Head" became his greatest hit recording. With a sensuous rhythmic walking riff, the chart by the great Oliver Nelson turns this trifle into a performance of near hypnotic proportions as if the person involved just can't get the image of their lover out of their mind. Wild spiraling figures make the whole performance a wild, almost hallucinogenic experience. Montgomery weaves his very basic variations around this marvelously understated performance that yields many discoveries upon repeated listenings.