A Charlie Brown Christmas (with bonus tracks)

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ALBUM INFORMATION
EDITOR'S PICK

Total Tracks: 17   Total Length: 57:57

eMusic Review

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Kristina Feliciano

eMusic Contributor

04.22.11
A Christmas classic gets spruced up and expanded.
Label: Fantasy

"I don't think I'm a great piano player," Vince Guaraldi once said, "but I would like to have people like me, to play pretty tunes and reach the audience. I hope some of those tunes will become standards. I want to write standards, not just hits." As even those with limited exposure to Guaraldi's work can tell you, he didn't just write standards; he set them. His cool jazz-infused compositions for Charles Schulz's Peanuts TV specials — music that was by turns spirited and poignant — certainly qualify as classics, not just within the genres of children's programming or of jazz but in the popular imagination.

Guaraldi's much-loved A Charlie Brown Christmas, a soundtrack originally released way back in 1965, is the most classic of this self-effacing piano player's classics. It's also a big seller. No wonder, then, that Fantasy Records reissued it, first in 1988 and then again, with Concord Records, in 2006. Naysayers have grumbled on various websites, including this one, about the remastered A Charlie Brown Christmas Album (with bonus tracks). They say it's too pristine sounding and that the alternate takes are not on par with the perfection of the original. In the case of the former,… read more »

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childhood Christmas revisited

Roygbiv

if this doesn't bring back christmas memories the grinch must have got to you first.

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What Christmas Is All About

emanym

"Beethoven Christmas Music!" yells Schroeder in the cartoon. And "Fur Elise" means Christmas to me because Vince Guaraldi made it so. But he did so much more. How could piano jazz be embraced by children everywhere as a soundtrack to Christmas? Well, it could because it is good music that perfectly fits the mood of the calmest Christmas television special ever. More than 40 years later, this is embedded in the souls of several generations of kids young and old.

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Can it be Christmas without Peanuts?

JSK72401

This music never gets old!

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Downloaded in August

Rebbeccaordave

Saw it and had to have it! I hate Christmas music and I hate celebrity Christmas albums. But this transcends the label of "Holiday Music." It's a memory in a bottle. This album makes you feel like you're wearing footie p.j.s, fighting over the best couch cushion with your brother, and trying to imitate the dances during the Christmas rehearsal scene. If you can relate, this is for you. It's 90 degrees here, and I'm playing "O Tannenbaum." I love emusic!

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Stop whining --

eyeH8ewe

it's the originals! (If you want a cleaner master of a couple of these -- including "Linus and Lucy" -- try the album here titled "A Charlie Brown Christmas - Alternate Takes.")

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The Wrong Version

j_rutsch

I'm no audiophile, my stereo system sucks, and I just downloaded this version of the CD assuming the whole mastering debate would be basically irrelevant to me. But no, this re-mastering really does sound terrible and grating. Honestly, it was immediately obvious. Emusic also carries the earlier mastering of this CD, download that version instead.

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cool

jendownsouth

this is the most fantabulous site that i have been on all night

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Wow, I am veklimp! LOL

paulgoodness

Listening to this, I am back in 3rd grade when life was simple. Back when"....on Christmas what would be my toy..."

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Oh Good Grief! You Can't Please Everyone!

Music2MyEars

This is the remastered verion of the Fantasy Label Release from 20 years ago. It might better have been titled "Remastered and Remixed." George Horn returned to Master this 2006 edition, but the original multi-track master tapes have been remixed by Stephen Hart. The result is the sound of a modern day recording - no tape noise or hiss, vocals leveled with instruments, plus added reverb. This album will irk purists and jazz audiophiles alike, as the original's limitations are part of its nostalgic charm and the alterations do provide a different take on Guaraldi, some describe as decreased definition and range. However, the casual listener will appreciate the update.

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timeless holiday classic

Emusica

Just wanted to mention, the Linus & Lucy on this version does in fact appear to be an unlabeled 'alternate take' vs. the previous CD version, which you can still find on eMusic (it may have well been the version in the film, but it is not the one that has been on previous soundtrack releases, it's a different version and noticably faster). This version of the album is also remixed, and many people prefer the original. In my opinion, best to get the original tracks from the older version, and just get the bonus tracks here.

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They Say All Media Guide

Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz 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 Schulz’s work and introduce contemporary jazz to youngsters with 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, myriad 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. [This edition of A Charlie Brown Christmas included bonus tracks.] – Shawn M. Haney

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