| Vince Guaraldi and the Lost Cues from the Charlie Brown Television Specials | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Compilation album by Vince Guaraldi | ||||
| Released | June 15, 2007 (2007-06-15) | |||
| Recorded | 1972–1975 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 39:05 | |||
| Label | D & D | |||
| Producer | David Guaraldi | |||
| Vince Guaraldi chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Five Cents Please |   |
Vince Guaraldi and the Lost Cues from the Charlie Brown Television Specials is a compilation soundtrack album by Vince Guaraldi released by D & D Records (Guaraldi’s label) in 2007. The album consists of select music cues featured on several Peanuts television specials produced between 1972 and 1975.
Background
In the mid-2000s, Dave Guaraldi discovered recordings from seven 1970s-era Peanuts television specials composed by his father, Vince Guaraldi. He curated select tracks to compile the first of two volumes of previously unreleased musical cues, sourced from his father's personal recording session reel-to-reel tapes.
Dave collaborated with sound engineer Michael Graves at Osiris Studio in Atlanta, Georgia, to restore and remaster the recordings for release.
The songs chosen for this volume were featured in the following Peanuts television specials:
- You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown (1972)
- There's No Time for Love, Charlie Brown (1973)
- A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973)
- It's a Mystery, Charlie Brown (1974)
- You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown (1975)
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.
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."
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."
Track listing
All songs composed by Vince Guaraldi.
| No. | Title | Television special | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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" | 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 | ||
Notes
- 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.
- The vocal version of "Joe Cool" is a composite of three separate recordings from different specials.
- This track was reissued in 2024 on You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown: Original Soundtrack Recording, with the original vocal track reinstated.
Personnel
All songs recorded at Wally Heider Studios, San Francisco, California.
You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown – Vince Guaraldi Sextet
Recorded on August 22, 1972
- Vince Guaraldi – acoustic piano, electric keyboards, guitars, vocals
- Seward McCain – electric bass, flute
- Glenn Cronkhite – drums
- Tom Harrell – trumpet
- Pat O'Hara – trombone
- Mel Martin – woodwinds
There's No Time for Love, Charlie Brown – Vince Guaraldi Quintet
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
Recorded on August 20, 22 and September 4, 1973
- 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
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
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
References
- ^ Bang, Derrick. "Vince Guaraldi on LP and CD: Vince Guaraldi and the Lost Cues from the Charlie Brown Television Specials, Volume 2". fivecentsplease.org. Derrick Bang, Scott McGuire. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
- Bang, Derrick (August 2, 2023). "Thanksgiving comes early this year!". impressionsofvince.blogspot.com. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
The D&D label has been moribund for years, and I don't expect it to return. Although both volumes of the "Lost Cues" albums have some 'Thanksgiving' cues, they were mastered from Guaraldi's personal session reel-to-reel recording, as opposed to the higher-quality studio recording; you'll definitely notice the difference on this new album.
- Vince Guaraldi and the Lost Cues from the Charlie Brown Television Specials at dougpayne.com
- Holmes, Chris (November 30, 2010). "Get to Know…Vince Guaraldi". grayflannelsuit.net. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
- Lesemann, T. Ballard (November 24, 2011). "'Little Birdie,' the Best Thanksgiving Theme". Charleston City Paper. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
- Vince Guaraldi and the Lost Cues from the Charlie Brown TV Specials at AllMusic. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
- Bang, Derrick. "Vince Guaraldi Timeline: 1972". fivecentsplease.org. Derrick Bang, Scott McGuire. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
- ^ Bang, Derrick. "Vince Guaraldi Timeline: 1973". fivecentsplease.org. Derrick Bang, Scott McGuire. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
- Mendelson, Sean; Liner notes from CD version of A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving: Original Soundtrack Recording (2023)
- Bang, Derrick. "Vince Guaraldi Timeline: 1974". fivecentsplease.org. Derrick Bang, Scott McGuire. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
- Bang, Derrick. "Vince Guaraldi Timeline: 1975". fivecentsplease.org. Derrick Bang, Scott McGuire. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
External links
- Vince Guaraldi and the Lost Cues from the Charlie Brown Television Specials at Discogs (list of releases)
