Vince Guaraldi: A Charlie Brown Christmas CD Track Listing

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Vince Guaraldi A Charlie Brown Christmas (2006)
A Charlie Brown Christmas (Remixed + Expanded)\n\nOriginally Released 1965\nAtlantic CD Edition Released 1986\nCD Edition Released 1992\nSACD Edition Released September 2003\nRemixed+Expanded CD Edition Released October 10, 2006\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: (Remixed+Expanded) Peanuts creator Charles Schultz called on pianist extraordinaire Vince Guaraldi and his trio to compose and perform music that would reflect the humor, charm, and innocence of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the entire Peanuts gang for their 1965 Christmas TV special. It was a perfect match: Guaraldi strings together elegant, enticing arrangements that reflect the spirit and mood of Schultz's work and introduce contemporary jazz to youngsters with a grace, charm and creativity. "What Child Is This" touches on cool jazz's richly textured percussive nuances, while "The Christmas Song" reflects Christmas' relaxing, mellow moments. The renowned "Linus and Lucy" gives the Peanuts characters a fresh, energetic feel with its tantalizing meter changes, brilliant percussion, and dashing, humorous piano lines. "Christmastime Is Here," perhaps the album's most endearing and eloquent moment, is six minutes of soft, lullaby-like melodic and percussive flavors. This collection of soul-soothing melodies would not be complete without the romantic gem "Skating,," which blends musical references to falling snowflakes with the dashing feel of swing. Finally, the uplifting, emotionally stirring swing tune "Christmas Is Coming" really brings the listener into the joyous light of the Christmas spirit. Fred Marshall's alluring walking basslines and drummer Jerry Granelli's hauntingly beautiful brush work give most of the album a warm foundation, while Monty Budwig and Colin Bailey shine through with eminent dexterity on bass and drums on "Greensleeves." As for Guaraldi, his penetrating improvisational phrases paint pictures of the first winter snowfall, myriads of glistening trees and powdery white landscapes. With its blend of contemporary jazz and lyrical mannerisms, A Charlie Brown Christmas is a joyous and festive meditation for the holiday season. [2006's reissue adds four alternate takes of songs from the album.] -- Shawn Haney \n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: Though not nearly as essential as A Boy Named Charlie Brown, A Charlie Brown Christmas does give you the flavor of the mordant jazz touch that Guaraldi made an indispensible part of the Peanuts TV specials (since his death, no one has been able to capture that feeling in subsequent episodes). Sometimes a plaintive children's chorus gets in the way, but the Guaraldi trio still gets in some bright, lively work in "Skating," a wonderfully detached treatment of "O Tannenbaum" and a reprise of "Linus And Lucy." As jazz Christmas albums go, this is one of the more endearing ones, and CD buyers get another out-of-place bonus track, "Greensleeves." -- Richard S. Ginell\n\nAmazon.com Editorial Review\nThe first time you listen to this disc you will undoubtedly be transported directly back to your childhood. Charles Schulz's Peanuts characters will go toe-tapping and funky-dancing through your mind's eye. Play it a few more times, though (ignoring the dialogue snippets, if you can), and you will begin to truly revel in Guaraldi's wonderful, humorous, deep piano playing. You'll hear why he's such an influence on new age ivory tickler George Winston, but you'll also realize that Winston's holiday music never quite sparkles with the underlying passion, and humor, that twinkles in these grooves. Buy it for the nostalgia--keep it because it will remain one of the most enchanting albums in your holiday collection. --Michael Ruby \n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nProbably the best Christmas Album ever, but this new edition is a missed opportunity..., October 31, 2006\nReviewer: Parrot Monkey (Florida)\nWhile the packaging appears first rate and the improved sound quality seems promising, I'm disappointed to see they missed this opportunity to include three tracks that were in the special but never on the album. \n\nThey are "Surfin' Snoopy" (plays as Snoopy decorates his house), "Charlie Brown Theme" (plays while Charlie Brown is going over his director signals), and "Jingle Bells", which is of course, Lucy's request to Schroder. The first two were included on the compilation "Charlie Brown's Holiday Hits", but it's a shame we couldn't have them all under one roof instead of the alternate takes. Yes, they are short pieces of background music and don't hold up well on their own (certainly not as well as Guaraldi's masterpieces that were always featured on the album we all know and love), but when your including bonus tracks, why not include them? \n\nIt remains a five star recording though... \n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nA Must for Any Christmas Collection, December 26, 2005\nReviewer: James Koenig "Konedog4" (Fergus Falls, MN United States)\nIn 1965 Vince Guaraldi wrote a jazz musical score for "A Charlie Brown Christmas". Corporate executives at CBS were dubious and almost pulled the plug on the project, as they just could not fit the concept of jazz and traditional Christmas music together. Fortunately, the show aired and the rest is history, and "A Charlie Brown Christmas" became one of the most beloved specials of all-time, and one of the reasons for its success was its wonderful jazz Christmas music. \n\nThis album is a wonderful work of musical art! As far as Chritmas albums go, it has become one of my all-time favorites. Recently I put together a custom Christmas favorites album and many cuts from this album ended up on it. All those great Christmas jazz scores from the Charlie Brown Christmas special are just snippets of the complete songs that are on this album. I figured when I bought this album that the whole album would be about 20 minutes long, but how wrong I was, as this album will entertian your ears for well over 40 minutes. The wonderfully energetic "Linus and Lucy", the soulful "Christmas Time is Here", and other equally delightful songs make this an A+ album that you will cherish and love. \n\nRelive your childhood memories and purchase this album. I guarantee you will love it and it will become a staple of future Christmas music in your household. -- Jim "Konedog" Koenig\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nstill magical, November 28, 2005\nReviewer: Rob Watkins (Augusta, Georgia United States)\nhere is the soundtrack to a tv show that was never supposed to happen, and yet, 40 years out, the miracle of a charlie brown christmas keeps unfolding, kind of like the holiday itself. back in 1964, no tv exec thought a cartoon with actual kids doing voices for kid characters would work. PEANUTS was still just a comic strip, after all. the producer, bill melendez disagreed, and pushed on with no budget and no support, creating what stands as an animated show with some of the worst animation ever that completely captured the magic of a child's christmas, a discovery of what christmas is all about, and something that has become an heirloom for generations of christmas celebrations. \n\nmr. melendez and charles schulz seemed to figure they had nothing to lose, so they came up with a uinque soundtrack for the special--christmas via jazz trio. vince guaraldi recorded 40 minutes worth of tunes for the thirty minute show, meaning there are some great extras here--"the christmas song" and "greensleeves" for instance. the trio plays california cool with just a hint of bossa nova, adding flavor to songs that are well-worn standards, making them fresh and new. the originals like "skating" and, of course, the quintessential "linus and lucy" swing hard and deep. i have always loved the blues break in the middle of "l and l". the music fits perfectly with a pint sized beethoven on the bench, backed by a beagle who is everything but. \n\nthis is a wondrous album for a wondrous show, a miracle that never should have happened, but then isn't that true of all miracles?\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nChristmastime is here, Happiness and Cheer..., March 6, 2005\nReviewer: Jack L. Aiello (Bronx, New York United States)\nTwo things that make "A Charlie Brown Christmas" Television Special so special is its classic and universal message of spirituality over materialism, and of course, the music. The animation may as well be primitive cave drawings compared to today's technical wizardry, but when you have something as heartfelt as this, I'll take it. Even if one has never seen the TV special, this CD stands on its own. The songs are suffused with a jazzy piano, and some even feature children singing. Forty years later the risk of incorporating these two elements have made this into a holiday classic for generations still to come. I dare anyone to keep still and not crack a smile when they hear "Skating". And yet what's alluring about almost all the tracks is how they can be somewhat melancholy, but never bleak, always teetering on the edge of childhood wonder and joy. "Christmastime is Here" particularly comes to mind. It's a little sad in the delivery, but never distant. Its warmth and intimacy lie in the promise of invitation to brave the cold, scary world together. It should be a year-round sentiment. This is holiday music at its best and it rightly deserves a spot with the other Holiday classics.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nEssential at the holidays., October 12, 2003\nReviewer: Sabrina "soyarra" (Los Angeles, CA)\nThis music is informed not only by the comic strip and cartoon special that inspired it, but by California's Bay Area, where both Guaraldi and Charles Schultz lived. I doubt very much that it could have been created in any other environment. It has as much to do with San Francisco's North Beach jazz clubs as it does with Sebastapol's country roads. It is my favorite inter-California driving music from October to December, and is essential to any holiday party. It makes me happier than practically any other music in the world. In short, it's one of the few true little miracles we have in this life.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nNews about the master tape for the 1 star reviewer, October 29, 2001\nReviewer: Bradley Olson (Bemidji, MN United States)\nThis is a classic Christmas album but here's the news about the master tape of the album: Charlie Brown Christmas master tape sounds very close to the CD and (modern cutting) LP. The nasty damage you hear on the CD at the start of two songs is right on the master, caused by crappy Scotch 211 tape and crappier storage. No backup copy exists (those cheapskates). Despite these master tape flaws, this is a must listen to and the special is a must watch.\n\n\nThe Slightest Touch of Sadness, August 25, 2000\nReviewer: R. W. Rasband (Heber City, UT)\nWhat makes Guaraldi's music so memorable is the slight tinge of melancholy to it. Like Charlie Brown in the comic strip, many have a difficult time at Christmas because of personal difficulties (like lost loved ones, or even too-high expectations for the season.) There is a hint of sorrow implicit in the holiday (for believers) if you consider the events in the life of the "man of sorrows, acquainted with grief." This music seems to be joyous and sad at the same time, as the best jazz can be. YEAR: 2006
This jazz cd contains 16 tracks and runs 55min 46sec.
Freedb: dd0d1010

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