Background
In the mid-2000s, recording studio master tapes for seven 1970s-era Peanuts television specials scored by Vince Guaraldi were discovered by his son, Dave Guaraldi. Dave chose a handful of the better individual songs to compile what would be the first of two volumes containing unreleased music cues.[1]
Dave Guaraldi then worked to restore the master tapes with audio archivist Michael Graves at his Atlanta, Georgia-based Osiris Studio.[1]
The songs chosen for this volume were featured in the following Peanuts television specials:
Reception and notability
Sound Insights author Doug Payne noted that the release of Vince Guaraldi and the Lost Cues from the Charlie Brown Television Specials was notable due to the fact that almost none of Guaraldi's Peanuts soundtrack work was made available for public consumption. Despite scoring 16 Peanuts television specials and one feature film, only two official soundtracks were released during Guaraldi's lifetime: Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown (an unaired television documentary) and A Charlie Brown Christmas. Vince Guaraldi and the Lost Cues from the Charlie Brown Television Specials did much to fill a significant gap in this respect.[2]
Chris Holmes of the nostalgia-themed website grayflannelsuit.net commented that "although some songs are quite brief, they paint a good picture of Guaraldi’s music near the end of his life; whimsical, funky, and always impeccably performed."[3]
T. Ballard Lesemann of the Charleston City Paper called "Little Birdie" the "best Thanksgiving theme," commenting the "anti-worry/positive sentiment and snuffy singing style somehow matches the vibe of the season. Guaraldi sings lead, just barely in front of a great-sounding brass section and some funky electric piano."[4]
Track listing
All songs composed by Vince Guaraldi.[5]
| Title | Television special |
|---|
| 1. | "Little Birdie" (vocal) | A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving | 3:18 |
|---|
| 2. | "Play It Again, Charlie Brown" (aka "Charlie Brown’s Blues"/"Charlie's Blues") | There's No Time for Love, Charlie Brown | 3:22 |
|---|
| 3. | "Centercourt" | You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown | 3:59 |
|---|
| 4. | "Motocross" | You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown | 3:54 |
|---|
| 5. | "Peppermint Patty" | never featured in a Peanuts special | 1:35 |
|---|
| 6. | "Incumbent Waltz" | You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown | 1:52 |
|---|
| 7. | "African Sleigh Ride" | There's No Time for Love, Charlie Brown | 1:36 |
|---|
| 8. | "There's No Time for Love, Charlie Brown" | There's No Time for Love, Charlie Brown | 2:39 |
|---|
| 9. | "Thanksgiving Theme" | A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving | 2:03 |
|---|
| 10. | "Joe Cool" (vocal) | You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown/There's No Time for Love, Charlie Brown/It's a Mystery, Charlie Brown | 2:42 |
|---|
| 11. | "Pitkin County Blues" | There's No Time for Love, Charlie Brown | 6:58 |
|---|
| 12. | "Joe Cool" (instrumental) | You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown | 5:05 |
|---|
| Total length: | 39:05 |
|---|
- Liner notes erroneously state that "Peppermint Patty" (Track 5) was featured in A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving; this version did not appear in any Peanuts television special.[1]
- The vocal version of "Joe Cool" (Track 10) is a composite of three separate recordings from different specials.[1]
Personnel
All songs recorded at Wally Heider Studios, San Francisco, California.
You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown – Vince Guaraldi Quintet[6]
Recorded on August 22, 1972
There's No Time for Love, Charlie Brown – Vince Guaraldi Quintet[7]
Recorded on January 15, February 22 and 26, 1973
- Vince Guaraldi – acoustic piano, electric keyboards, guitars, vocals
- Seward McCain – electric bass
- Tom Harrell – trumpet
- Pat O'Hara – flute
- Glenn Cronkhite – drums
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving – Vince Guaraldi Quintet[7]
Recorded on August 20, 22 and September 4, 1973[8]
- Vince Guaraldi – acoustic piano, electric keyboards, vocals, guitars
- Seward McCain – electric bass
- Tom Harrell – trumpet
- Chuck Bennett – trombone
- Mike Clark – drums
It's a Mystery, Charlie Brown – Vince Guaraldi Quartet[9]
Recorded on January 5, 11, 23 and 30, 1974
- Vince Guaraldi – acoustic piano, electric keyboards, guitars
- Seward McCain – electric bass
- Tom Harrell – trumpet
- Eliot Zigmund – drums (January 11)
- Mike Clark – drums (all other dates)
You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown – Vince Guaraldi Trio[10]
Recorded on September 12 and 24, 1975
- Vince Guaraldi – acoustic piano, electric keyboards, Minimoog/ARP String Ensemble synthesizers
- Seward McCain – electric bass
- Mark Rosengarden – drums
[1]