A Charlie Brown Christmas (soundtrack)
A Charlie Brown Christmas is the eighth studio album by the American jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi (later credited to the Vince Guaraldi Trio). Coinciding with the television debut of the Christmas special of the same name, the album was released in the first week of December 1965 by Fantasy Records.[1][a]
A Charlie Brown Christmas | ||||
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Soundtrack album by | ||||
Released | December 1965[a] | |||
Recorded | ||||
Studio | Fantasy, San Francisco | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 34:53 | |||
Label | Fantasy | |||
Vince Guaraldi chronology | ||||
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Singles from A Charlie Brown Christmas | ||||
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Alternate cover | ||||
Guaraldi was contacted by television producer Lee Mendelson to compose music for a documentary on the comic strip Peanuts and its creator, Charles M. Schulz. Although the special went unaired, these selections were released in 1964 as Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown. Coca-Cola commissioned a Christmas special based on Peanuts in 1965 and Guaraldi returned to score the special.
Guaraldi composed most of the music, though he included versions of traditional carols such as "O Tannenbaum".[6] He recorded some of the score at Whitney Studio in Glendale, California, then re-recorded some of it at Fantasy Records Studios in San Francisco with a children's choir from St. Paul's Episcopal Church in nearby San Rafael. The sessions ran late into the night, with the children rewarded with ice cream afterward.
Bassist Fred Marshall and drummer Jerry Granelli were credited as performing on the album.[6] It was voted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and added to the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress.
In 1988, Fantasy Records re-released a CD of the 11 original tracks plus one bonus cut, "Greensleeves." A 16-track remastered edition, featuring "Greensleeves" and alternate takes of four other songs, was released in 2006, followed by a second remaster in 2012.
In 2022, Craft Recordings embarked on a major reissue campaign in a variety of expanded, deluxe editions. These sets feature a new stereo mix completed by Paul Blakemore, the original 1965 stereo mix, and up to 50 previously unreleased outtakes from five separate recording sessions. The three editions are a single LP vinyl edition, comprising the original 1965 stereo release offered in gold foil sleeved with embossing details (released September 22, 2022); two-disc LP vinyl and CD expanded editions, containing the 2022 stereo mix and 13 outtakes from the original recording sessions (released December 2, 2022); and a five-disc super deluxe edition, which adds three CDs of complete Autumn 1965 recording sessions and a Blu-ray audio disc containing high-resolution audio and Dolby Atmos mixes (released December 2, 2022).[8]
On May 10, 2022, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the album quintuple platinum for sales of 5 million copies.[9] In November 2014, it was the 10th best-selling Christmas/holiday album in the United States during the SoundScan era.[10]
Background
editBy the early 1960s, Charles M. Schulz's comic strip Peanuts had become a sensation worldwide.[11] Television producer Lee Mendelson acknowledged the strip's cultural impression and produced a documentary on the subject, titled A Boy Named Charlie Brown.[12] Mendelson, a fan of jazz, heard Vince Guaraldi's song "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" on the radio not long after completion of his documentary, and contacted the musician to produce music for the special.[13] Guaraldi composed the music for the project, creating an entire piece, "Linus and Lucy", to serve as the theme.[14] Despite the popularity of the strip and acclaim from advertisers, networks were not interested in the special.[14]
By April 1965, Time featured the Peanuts gang on its magazine cover,[11] and plans for an animated half-hour Peanuts Christmas TV special were commissioned by The Coca-Cola Company.[14] When Coca-Cola commissioned the A Charlie Brown Christmas TV special in spring 1965, Guaraldi returned to write the music, having just recorded the live album At Grace Cathedral at San Francisco's famed cathedral with St. Paul's Church of San Rafael 68-voice choir.[15][11]
Recording and production
editThe overall recording process for A Charlie Brown Christmas involved numerous sessions during late summer and early autumn of 1965. These sessions were characterized by blown takes, cross-chatter, and experimentation as Guaraldi and his musicians worked to perfect each track. Drummers and bassists were rotated frequently, contributing to the challenge of identifying which musicians were responsible for particular tracks. Despite Guaraldi’s habit of not keeping detailed records of his session players, it has been established that bassists Monty Budwig and Fred Marshall, along with drummers Colin Bailey and Jerry Granelli, were involved in various recording stages.[16][17] Nearly three decades later, in an effort to correct the matter, Fantasy surmised that the recordings with Budwig and Bailey were employed in the television special while Marshall and Granelli recorded the album. Despite this, other musicians have claimed to have recorded the special's music: bassists Eugene Firth and Al Obidinski and drummers Paul Distel and Benny Barth. Firth and Distil are noted as performers on a studio-session report Guaraldi filed for the American Federation of Musicians.[17]
The initial instrumentals were recorded by Guaraldi at Whitney Studio in Glendale, California, on March 6, 1965.[18] Accompanied by Budwig and Bailey, Guaraldi utilized previously composed pieces such as "Linus and Lucy" from the previous Peanuts release, Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown (1964). In addition to this, Guaraldi composed two original tracks specifically for the Christmas special: "Skating" and "Christmas Time Is Here." The musical elements were integral to shaping the mood of the special, with the instrumentation capturing the whimsical and contemplative spirit of the Peanuts characters.[16]
The recording of "Skating" showcased the scrupulous nature of Guaraldi’s jazz compositions. The trio experienced difficulties in the initial session, particularly with the syncopation and characteristic keyboard "cascade effect." Several takes were needed to refine the structure and feel of the piece, with Guaraldi eventually guiding the group to the final version after numerous attempts. The take, noted for its subtle energy, was included in the soundtrack with a fade-out to conclude the track.[16]
The recording process for "Christmas Time Is Here," originally titled "Snow Waltz," was characterized by meticulous attention to detail as Guaraldi and his trio worked through multiple takes to achieve a balance between the song’s inherent melancholy and a warm, inviting tone. The final instrumental version, which lasted six minutes, was selected for the soundtrack album. Later, a choral rendition featuring lyrics hastily penned by producer Lee Mendelson in approximately 15 minutes was recorded by the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church choir.[19] This choir, under the direction of Barry Mineah, had previously collaborated with Guaraldi during his 1965 jazz mass performance at Grace Cathedral. The choir’s role in the special, which included performances of "Christmas Time Is Here" and "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing," was integral to the authenticity of the Peanuts universe.[16] The recording sessions, held at Fantasy Studios in late autumn 1965, spanned three sessions over two weeks and often extended late into the night, leading to the involvement of different children at each session due to some parents' refusal to allow their children to return. Mineah’s pursuit of perfection contrasted with Mendelson and Guaraldi’s desire for a more natural sound, resulting in the use of a slightly off-key version of "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" in the final cut. In addition to their musical contributions, the children recorded dialogue for the special’s closing scene, joyfully exclaiming, "Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!"[20] The children were compensated with five dollars each for their participation. One choir member, Candace Hackett Shively, later became an elementary school teacher and fondly recalled the recording sessions, including post-session ice cream outings, which she shared with her students every holiday season.[21][22]
Guaraldi’s ability to reinterpret traditional holiday music was evident in his treatment of "O Tannenbaum." A fresh arrangement of the classic German carol was composed during the second recording session. This version, approximately five minutes long, maintained the carol’s structure while allowing Guaraldi’s piano to explore its harmonic potential within a jazz framework. Several shorter takes were also recorded, including an up-tempo version that was ultimately set aside as it did not fit the mood of the television special. One of these brief interpretations was used during a pivotal scene, adding emotional depth as Charlie Brown exits the school theater carrying his small Christmas tree. Guaraldi’s interpretation of "O Tannenbaum" has since been hailed as a definitive rendition, blending tradition with jazz in a manner that evokes both the season and the Peanuts characters.[16]
The recording of "Christmas Is Coming" posed unique challenges, with the trio making several attempts to capture the lively energy of the piece. During the first session, Guaraldi and his group encountered rhythm disruptions and issues with the keyboard bridge, resulting in multiple abandoned takes. However, by the end of the session, they produced a version that, while not perfect, showed promise. In a subsequent session, they refined the arrangement, eventually producing the final take used on the soundtrack. The bright, bossa nova-inflected track showcases Guaraldi’s ability to balance jazz improvisation with the structured demands of an animated special.[16]
Additional music was later added to the special, post-broadcast, including songs like "Charlie Brown Theme" and "Happiness Theme" from Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown, as well as "Air Music" from Charlie Brown's All Stars!. These tracks were not included in the original soundtrack release. Furthermore, while tracks such as "What Child Is This" and "The Christmas Song" were recorded for the album, they were not featured in the special itself.[23]
Reception and legacy
editReview scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [6] |
Pitchfork | 8.3/10[24] |
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings | [25] |
Commercial performance
editOn May 10, 2022, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the album quintuple platinum for sales of 5 million copies,[9] making it the second-best-selling jazz album in history, behind Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue (1959).[26]
A Charlie Brown Christmas first appeared on a Billboard magazine music sales chart on the week of December 19, 1987, when it debuted and peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard Christmas Albums sales chart.[27] The album charted on the Billboard Christmas Albums chart every Christmas/holiday season from 1988 through 2003, peaking as high as No. 8 in both 2001 and 2002.[27] The album also charted on the Billboard Top Pop Catalog Albums chart during the Christmas/holiday season every year from 1991 through 2003, peaking as high as No. 6 in 2001.[27]
It became the first jazz soundtrack album to reach the Top 10 outside of a specialty album chart (i.e. Christmas Albums, Top Pop Catalog Albums, Kids Albums) when, in January 2021, it reached No. 10 in the Billboard 200 chart.[28] Derrick Bang, Guaraldi historian and author of Vince Guaraldi at the Piano, noted the significance of such a "huge" accomplishment, with Guaraldi sharing top spots with Taylor Swift, Paul McCartney and Eminem.[29]
In November 2014, it was the 10th best-selling Christmas/holiday album in the United States during the SoundScan era.[10]
A Charlie Brown Christmas was also the 10th best-selling holiday album of 2011, a year that marked the sixth time since 2001 that the album had ranked among the year's top 10 Christmas albums.[30] It was also the ninth best-selling album of 2013.[31]
On November 18, 2021, it was ranked as the No. 1 Greatest Holiday 200 album of All Time by Billboard.[32]
Critical reception
editGuaraldi showed how a piano, bass and drums can capture a feeling and character in living color, particularly if those feelings are complex, conflicted or even simply too beautiful for words. It's the kind of realization that, even unconsciously, opens the door for later discoveries in Bill Evans, Thelonious Monk, Robert Glasper and everything beyond, to say nothing of all the other sounds and ensembles waiting to be heard with jazz at its pulse.
—Chris Barton of the Los Angeles Times, 2012[33]
Allmusic reviewer Shawn M. Haney called it "joyous and festive meditation for the holiday season"[6] writing, "Guaraldi strings together elegant, enticing arrangements that reflect the spirit and mood of Schulz's work."[6] Dominique Leone at Pitchfork called the songs "small, observant miracles...If there's a muted quality to a lot of this music, it's smiling nonetheless."[24]
The soundtrack to A Charlie Brown Christmas has been considered "one of the most beloved holiday albums recorded."[33] Chris Barton of the Los Angeles Times asserts that the soundtrack introduced jazz to an entirely new generation, having been heard by more individuals than the work of the genre's most influential players, including Miles Davis and John Coltrane.[33] The score influenced dozens of young aspiring musicians, among them David Benoit[34] and George Winston.[1] Haney wrote that the record "introduce[d] contemporary jazz to youngsters with grace, charm, and creativity."[6] In 2019, it was ranked the fourth greatest Christmas album of all time by Rolling Stone.[35]
A Charlie Brown Christmas was voted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007.[30] In 2012 the album was added to the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".[36][37]
Track listing
editOriginal 1965 release
editAll tracks are written by Vince Guaraldi, except where noted
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "O Tannenbaum" | Ernst Anschütz | 5:08 |
2. | "What Child Is This" | William Chatterton Dix | 2:25 |
3. | "My Little Drum" | 3:12 | |
4. | "Linus and Lucy" | 3:06 | |
5. | "Christmas Time Is Here" (instrumental) | 6:05 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
6. | "Christmas Time Is Here" (vocal) |
| 2:47 |
7. | "Skating" | 2:27 | |
8. | "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" | 1:55 | |
9. | "Christmas Is Coming" | 3:25 | |
10. | "Für Elise" | Ludwig van Beethoven | 1:06 |
11. | "The Christmas Song" | 3:17 |
2022 Deluxe edition
editAll tracks are written by Vince Guaraldi, except where noted[16]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "O Tannenbaum" (2022 Stereo remix) | Ernst Anschütz | 5:08 |
2. | "What Child Is This" (2022 Stereo remix) | William Chatterton Dix | 2:25 |
3. | "My Little Drum" (2022 Stereo remix) | 3:12 | |
4. | "Linus and Lucy" (2022 Stereo remix) | 3:06 | |
5. | "Christmas Time Is Here (instrumental)" (2022 Stereo remix) | 6:05 | |
6. | "Christmas Time Is Here (vocal)" (2022 Stereo remix) |
| 2:47 |
7. | "Skating" (2022 Stereo remix) | 2:27 | |
8. | "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" (2022 Stereo remix) |
| 1:55 |
9. | "Christmas Is Coming" (2022 Stereo remix) | 3:25 | |
10. | "Für Elise" (2022 Stereo remix) | Ludwig van Beethoven | 1:06 |
11. | "The Christmas Song" (2022 Stereo remix) |
| 3:17 |
12. | "O Tannenbaum" (original 1965 Stereo mix) | Ernst Anschütz | 5:08 |
13. | "What Child Is This" (original 1965 Stereo mix) | William Chatterton Dix | 2:25 |
14. | "My Little Drum" (original 1965 Stereo mix) | 3:12 | |
15. | "Linus and Lucy" (original 1965 Stereo mix) | 3:06 | |
16. | "Christmas Time Is Here (instrumental)" (original 1965 Stereo mix) | 6:05 | |
17. | "Christmas Time Is Here (vocal)" (original 1965 Stereo mix) |
| 2:47 |
18. | "Skating" (original 1965 Stereo mix) | 2:27 | |
19. | "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" (original 1965 Stereo mix) |
| 1:55 |
20. | "Christmas Is Coming" (original 1965 Stereo mix) | 3:25 | |
21. | "Für Elise" (original 1965 Stereo mix) | Ludwig van Beethoven | 1:06 |
22. | "The Christmas Song" (original 1965 Stereo mix) |
| 3:17 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Christmas Is Coming" (#1, Take 1) | 2:13 |
2. | "Christmas Is Coming" (#1, Take 2) | 2:52 |
3. | "Christmas Is Coming" (#1, Take 3) | 3:53 |
4. | "Christmas Is Coming" (#1, Takes 4–5) | 3:07 |
5. | "Christmas Is Coming" (#1, Take 6) | 3:24 |
6. | "Christmas Is Coming" (#1, Take 7) | 2:49 |
7. | "Christmas Time Is Here (instrumental)" (#2, Takes 1–2) | 3:02 |
8. | "Christmas Time Is Here (instrumental)" (#2, Take 3) | 2:26 |
9. | "Skating" (Unnumbered) | 2:18 |
10. | "Skating" (#3, Takes 1–2) | 3:36 |
11. | "Skating" (#3, Take 3) | 3:19 |
12. | "Skating" (#3, Takes 4–6) | 1:32 |
13. | "Skating" (#3, Take 7) | 2:44 |
14. | "Linus and Lucy" (#4, Take 1) | 3:30 |
15. | "Christmas Is Coming" (#5, Take 1) | 5:19 |
16. | "Christmas Is Coming" (#5, Take 2) | 2:58 |
17. | "Christmas Is Coming" (#5, Take 3) | 3:53 |
18. | "Christmas Is Coming" (#5, Take 4) | 3:33 |
19. | "Christmas Time Is Here (instrumental)" (#6, Take 1) | 1:10 |
20. | "Christmas Time Is Here (instrumental)" (#6, Take 2) | 6:14 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Christmas Is Coming" (#1, Take 1) | 3:54 | |
2. | "Christmas Is Coming" (#1, Take 2) | 3:29 | |
3. | "Christmas Is Coming" (#1, Take 3) | 3:05 | |
4. | "Christmas Is Coming" (#1, Takes 4–6) | 1:37 | |
5. | "Christmas Is Coming" (#1, Take 7) | 3:05 | |
6. | "O Tannenbaum" (#2, Take 1) | Ernst Anschütz | 5:36 |
7. | "O Tannenbaum" (#2, Take 2) | Ernst Anschütz | 1:04 |
8. | "O Tannenbaum" (#2, Take 3–4) | Ernst Anschütz | 1:11 |
9. | "O Tannenbaum" (#2, Take 5) | Ernst Anschütz | 1:42 |
10. | "Jingle Bells" (#3, Takes 1–4) | James Lord Pierpont | 1:03 |
11. | "Goin' Out of My Head" (Unnumbered) | 0:24 | |
12. | "Christmas Time Is Here (instrumental)" (#6, Take 3) | 7:21 | |
13. | "Skating" (#7, Take 1) | 4:20 | |
14. | "Skating" (#7, Take 2) | 4:05 | |
15. | "Für Elise" (Takes 1–2) | Ludwig van Beethoven | 1:52 |
16. | "Christmas Time Is Here (vocal)" (#1, Take 1) |
| 1:32 |
17. | "Christmas Time Is Here (vocal)" (#1, Takes 2–3) |
| 0:37 |
18. | "Christmas Time Is Here (vocal)" (#1, Take 4) |
| 1:32 |
19. | "Christmas Time Is Here (vocal)" (#1, Take 5) |
| 1:35 |
20. | "Christmas Time Is Here (vocal)" (Rehearsal) |
| 0:24 |
21. | "Christmas Time Is Here (vocal)" (#1, Take 6) |
| 1:00 |
22. | "Christmas Time Is Here (vocal)" (#1, Take 7) |
| 2:55 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Greensleeves" (Take 1) | Traditional English; arr. by Vince Guaraldi | 1:30 |
2. | "Greensleeves" (Takes 2–4) | Traditional English; arr. by Vince Guaraldi | 1:02 |
3. | "Greensleeves" (Take 5) | Traditional English; arr. by Vince Guaraldi | 6:07 |
4. | "Greensleeves" (Take 6) | Traditional English; arr. by Vince Guaraldi | 5:41 |
5. | "Greensleeves" (Take 7) | Traditional English; arr. by Vince Guaraldi | 5:36 |
6. | "Greensleeves" (Take 8) | Traditional English; arr. by Vince Guaraldi | 5:40 |
7. | "Greensleeves" (Takes 9–10) | Traditional English; arr. by Vince Guaraldi | 1:24 |
8. | "Greensleeves" (Take 11) | Traditional English; arr. by Vince Guaraldi | 2:42 |
9. | "Greensleeves" (Take 12) | Traditional English; arr. by Vince Guaraldi | 2:30 |
10. | "The Christmas Song" (Take 1) |
| 3:28 |
11. | "The Christmas Song" (Takes 2–3) |
| 4:11 |
12. | "The Christmas Song" (Takes 4–7) |
| 1:40 |
13. | "The Christmas Song" (Take 8) |
| 1:51 |
14. | "The Christmas Song" (Take 9) |
| 3:20 |
15. | "The Christmas Song" (Take 10) |
| 3:12 |
16. | "The Christmas Song" (Take 11) |
| 3:19 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "A Charlie Brown Christmas (2022 Stereo Mix) (High-resolution audio)" | 31:46 |
2. | "A Charlie Brown Christmas (2022 Dolby Atmos Mix)" | 31:46 |
Total length: | 63:29 |
Personnel
editVince Guaraldi Trio
- Vince Guaraldi – piano, bandleader, Hammond organ on "Hark, The Herald Angels Sing"
- Fred Marshall – double bass
- Monty Budwig – double bass ("Linus and Lucy", "Greensleeves")
- Jerry Granelli – drums
- Colin Bailey – drums ("Linus and Lucy", "Greensleeves")
Children's chorus for the songs "Christmas Time Is Here", "Hark, The Herald Angels Sing" and when the kids all shout "Merry Christmas Charlie Brown" was the Children's choir of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in San Rafael, California. Several months before the making of Charlie Brown Christmas this choir was featured on the recording Vince Guaraldi at Grace Cathedral.
Original production
- Soul S. Weiss – recording engineer[38]
Production
- Ralph J. Gleason – liner notes
- Derrick Bang – liner notes[37][6]
- Joel Selvin – liner notes (2006 reissue)
- George Horn – mastering (1986, 1988, 2006 reissues)
- Stephen Hart – mixing (2006 reissue)
- Adam Munoz – mixing (2012 reissue)
- Joe Tarantino – mastering (2012 reissue)
- Nick Phillips – reissue producer
- Joe Tarantino – remastering
- Paul Blakemore – mixing (2022 reissue)
Charts
edit
Weekly chartsedit
|
Year-end chartsedit
|
Certifications
editRegion | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA)[77] | 5× Platinum | 5,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
See also
edit- A Philly Special Christmas, a 2022 album with a cover similar to this one
Notes
edit- ^ a b Derrick Bang writes the album was released in the first week of December 1965, so as to coincide with the special's television debut,[1] but an advertisement in the November 26 issue of The Sacramento Bee indicates the album may have already been on sale.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b c Bang 2012, p. 190.
- ^ "Tower Records: XMas LP Record Sale". The Sacramento Bee. November 26, 1965. p. B3 – via Newspapers.com.
Other top artist XMas LP's by ... Guaraldi's 'Charlie Brown' ...
- ^ Bang, Derrick. "Vince Guaraldi Timeline: 1964". fivecentsplease.org. Derrick Bang, Scott McGuire. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
- ^ Bang, Derrick. "Vince Guaraldi Timeline: 1965". fivecentsplease.org. Derrick Bang, Scott McGuire. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
- ^ "DEFINITIVE, SUPER DELUXE EDITION OF A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS ANNOUNC…". archive.ph. September 6, 2022. Archived from the original on September 6, 2022. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Haney, Shawn M. "A Charlie Brown Christmas". AllMusic. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
- ^ Bang, Derrick. "Vince Guaraldi on LP and CD". fivecentsplease.org. Derrick Bang, Scott McGuire. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
- ^ Sinclair, Paul (August 23, 2022). "Vince Guaraldi/A Charlie Brown Christmas; Expanded Deluxe Editions". archive.li. Super Deluxe Edition. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
- ^ a b "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
- ^ a b "The Gifts That Keep on Giving: Biggest Radio and Album Hits of the Holidays". Billboard. December 1, 2014. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
- ^ a b c The Making of A Charlie Brown Christmas (DVD). Paramount Home Entertainment. 2004.
- ^ Mendelson 2013, p. 11.
- ^ Mendelson 2013, p. 12.
- ^ a b c Mendelson 2013, p. 14.
- ^ "Grace Cathedral Discography". Grace Cathedral. 2015. Archived from the original on January 21, 2015. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g Bang, Derrick; Liner notes from CD version of A Charlie Brown Christmas: Deluxe Edition (2022)
- ^ a b Bang 2012, p. 188.
- ^ Bang 2012, p. 176.
- ^ Kiesewetter, John (September 20, 2014). "'A Charlie Brown Christmas' almost didn't get made". archive.li. Cincinnati Enquirer. Archived from the original on September 20, 2014. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
- ^ Bang 2012, p. 187.
- ^ Mendelson 2013, p. 23.
- ^ Mendelson 2013, p. 24.
- ^ Bang, Derrick (August 20, 2022). "The ghost of Christmas past". Impressions of Vince. Derrick Bang, Scott McGuire. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
- ^ a b Leone, Dominique (December 13, 2006). "A Charlie Brown Christmas Review". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
- ^ Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 614. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
- ^ Cherise, Constance (December 14, 2021). "Vince Guaraldi's 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' swaddles with holiday serenity, just like Linus' blanket". manchesterinklink.com. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
- ^ a b c Whitburn, Joel (2004). Christmas in the Charts (1920–2004). Wisconsin: Record Research. p. 149. ISBN 0-89820-161-6.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (December 29, 2020). "'Charlie Brown Christmas' Soundtrack Hits Billboard 200 Top 10 for the First Time". Billboard. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
- ^ Bang, Derrick (December 31, 2020). "Impressions of Vince: Chart success ... after 55 years!". fivecentsplease.org. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
- ^ a b Grein, Paul (January 4, 2012). "Week Ending Jan. 1, 2012. Albums: She's Back". Yahoo. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
- ^ Grein, Paul (January 2, 2014). "The Top 10 Soundtracks of 2013". Yahoo. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
- ^ Trust, Gary (November 18, 2021). "Mariah Carey & 'Charlie Brown Christmas' Top Billboard's Greatest of All Time Holiday Charts". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
- ^ a b c Barton, Chris (December 19, 2013). "Vince Guaraldi's 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' score is a gift". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 24, 2014. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
- ^ Solomon 2013, p. 49.
- ^ Dolan, Jon (November 30, 2019). "The 25 Greatest Christmas Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
- ^ "2011". The Library of Congress. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
- ^ a b Bang, Derrick (2012). A Charlie Brown Christmas (booklet). Vince Guaraldi. Beverly Hills: Concord Music Group. p. 16.
- ^ attributed on rear cover, original album pressing
- ^ "Vince Guaraldi Trio Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
- ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
- ^ "Vince Guaraldi Trio Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
- ^ a b "Vince Guaraldi Trio Chart History (Kid Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
- ^ "Vince Guaraldi Trio Chart History (Soundtrack Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
- ^ "Vince Guaraldi Trio Chart History (Holiday Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
- ^ "Vince Guaraldi Trio Chart History (Top Jazz Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
- ^ "Vince Guaraldi Trio Chart History (Traditional Jazz Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
- ^ "Vince Guaraldi Trio Chart History (Soundtrack Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
- ^ "Vince Guaraldi Trio Chart History (Holiday Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
- ^ "Soundtracks – Year-End 2006". Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
- ^ "Soundtracks – Year-End 2007". Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
- ^ "Soundtracks – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
- ^ "Soundtracks – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
- ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2011". Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
- ^ "Soundtracks – Year-End 2011". Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
- ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
- ^ "Soundtracks – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 10, 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
- ^ "Soundtracks – Year-End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
- ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
- ^ "Soundtracks – Year-End 2014". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 25, 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
- ^ "Soundtracks – Year-End 2015". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 14, 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
- ^ "Soundtracks – Year-End 2016". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 12, 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
- ^ "Soundtracks – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
- ^ "Soundtracks – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
- ^ "Soundtracks – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
- ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
- ^ "Soundtracks – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
- ^ "Jazz Albums – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
- ^ "Soundtracks – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
- ^ "Jazz Albums – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
- ^ "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
- ^ "Soundtracks – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
- ^ "Jazz Albums – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
- ^ "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
- ^ "Soundtracks – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
- ^ "Jazz Albums – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
- ^ "American album certifications – Vince Guaraldi – A Charlie Brown Christmas". Recording Industry Association of America.
Sources
edit- Bang, Derrick (2012). Vince Guaraldi at the Piano. McFarland. ISBN 978-0786459025.
- Mendelson, Lee (2013). A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Making of a Tradition. It Books. ISBN 978-0062272140.
- Solomon, Charles (2013). The Art and Making of Peanuts Animation. Chronicle Books. ISBN 978-1452110912.
External links
edit- A Charlie Brown Christmas at Discogs (list of releases)
- March 2015 radio interview (KDRT program "Davisville") with David Willat, who as a child sang in the A Charlie Brown Christmas chorus, and Guaraldi author Derrick Bang
- November 2022 radio interview (KDRT program "Davisville") with Jason and Sean Mendelson, and Derrick Bang, about the extended deluxe versions of A Charlie Brown Christmas released in late 2022
- Jazzy ‘Charlie Brown Christmas’ swings on after 57 years by David Bauder, from AP News (December 6, 2022)