Polygram Records
1970
Tracks
About This Album
Oscar Peterson appeared on hundreds of recordings during his long career, though he made far too few solo albums. Tracks, recorded for MPS in 1970, is easily one of his finest efforts, with imaginative treatments of songs from several different decades. The stunning opener is "Give Me the Simple Life" (a piece written in the 1930s and revived as a theme for a Campbell's Soup television commercial during the 1960s), beginning with bouncing block chords in an uptempo setting, before easing back into a simmering exploration and eventually shifting to a half-time conclusion. Peterson's thoughtful arrangement of "Basin Street Blues" is lush and subdued, while his fiery technique is on full display in his romp through "Honeysuckle Rose." Peterson critics should hear his lyrical setting of Thad Jones' lovely "A Child Is Born," a magical performance that should open their ears. He takes a few liberties with John Lewis' "Django," adding a few flourishes while staying true to the heart of its theme. The pianist's sole original is the demanding "A Little Jazz Exercise," a work that only a fellow jazz virtuoso would dare tackle. MPS spared no expense in getting a superb piano for Peterson and the best possible sound in the studio. It is a shame that no bonus tracks turned up, though it wouldn't be surprising to learn that the pianist nailed each song in one take and departed the studio in record time on that day in 1970. ~ Ken Dryden, All Music Guide
Track List (try tracks 2,4,5,7,8,9 and 10)

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.