Exclusively for My Friends is a series of originally six albums for the MPS label by Canadian jazz pianist Oscar Peterson. The album tracks were recorded live by Hans Georg Brunner-Schwer for MPS on the occasion of private concerts with a small audience in his home studio. The albums have been collected in different box sets over the years.
Recording took place in six separate sessions between 1963 and 1968 in different trio settings as well as with Peterson playing solo. The recordings include performances with his most well-known trio consisting of double bassist Ray Brown and drummer Ed Thigpen and also teams him with bassist Sam Jones and drummers Louis Hayes or Bobby Durham. While around 60 tracks were recorded, only 37 were initially released in five trio albums and one solo album, the first in Peterson's career. The titles on each album were often selected from different recording sessions. Peterson was personally involved in selecting and editing the tapes. Due to contractual reasons, the albums were not released before 1968.
CD1
1. At Long Last Love - Oscar Peterson, Porter, Cole
2. Easy Walker - Oscar Peterson, Taylor, Billy
3. Tin Tin Deo - Oscar Peterson, Fuller, Walter
4. A I've Got a Crush On You - Oscar Peterson, Gershwin, George
5. Foggy Day - Oscar Peterson, Gershwin, George
6. Like Someone in Love - Oscar Peterson, Burke, Johnny
CD2
1. On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever) - Oscar Peterson, Lane, Burton
2. I'm in the Mood for Love - Oscar Peterson, McHugh, Jimmy
3. Girl Talk - Oscar Peterson, Hefti, Neal
4. I Concentrate on You/Moon River [Medley] - Oscar Peterson, Mancini, Henry
5. Robbin's Nest - Oscar Peterson, Jacquet, Illinois
CD3
1. Waltzing Is Hip - Oscar Peterson, Brown, Ray
2. Satin Doll - Oscar Peterson, Ellington, Duke
3. Love Is Here to Stay - Oscar Peterson, Gershwin, George
4. Sandy's Blues - Oscar Peterson, Peterson, Oscar
5. Alice in Wonderland - Oscar Peterson, Fain, Sammy
6. Noreen's Nocturne - Oscar Peterson, Peterson, Oscar
CD4
1. Someone to Watch Over Me - Oscar Peterson, Gershwin, George
2. Perdido - Oscar Peterson, Drake, Ervin
3. Body and Soul - Oscar Peterson, Eyton, Frank
4. Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me) - Oscar Peterson, Bricusse, Leslie
5. Bye Bye Blackbird - Oscar Peterson, Dixon, Mort
6. I Should Care - Oscar Peterson, Cahn, Sammy
7. Lulu's Back in Town - Oscar Peterson, Dubin, Al
8. Little Girl Blue - Oscar Peterson, Hart, Lorenz
9. Take the "A" Train - Oscar Peterson, Strayhorn, Billy
CD5
1. In a Mellow Tone - Oscar Peterson, Ellington, Duke
2. Nica's Dream - Oscar Peterson, Silver, Horace
3. Green Dolphin Street - Oscar Peterson, Kaper, Bronislaw
4. Summertime - Oscar Peterson, Gershwin, George
5. Sometimes I'm Happy - Oscar Peterson, Caesar, Irving
6. Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me) - Oscar Peterson, Bricusse, Leslie
CD6
1. Travelin' On - Oscar Peterson, Traditional
2. Emily - Oscar Peterson, Mandel, Johnny
3. Quiet Night of Quiet Stars (Corcovado) - Oscar Peterson, Jobim, Antonio Carl
4. Sax No End - Oscar Peterson, Boland, Francis
5. When Lights Are Low - Oscar Peterson, Carter, Benny
