40 Years: A Charlie Brown Christmas

Last updated
40 Years: A Charlie Brown Christmas
40yrsCBXmasCD.jpg
Compilation album by
David Benoit
ReleasedOctober 4, 2005
Studio
  • Castle Oaks, Calabasas, California
  • Oceanway Recording Studios, Hollywood, California
  • WonderWorld Studio, Los Angeles, California
  • Paramount Encore Studios, Hollywood, California
  • Surfboard Studios, Boca Raton, Florida
  • Tree Sound Studios, Atlanta, Georgia
  • Backroom Studios, Glendale, California
Genre
Length43:45
Label
Producer
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [1]
All About Jazz Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [2]
Five Cents PleaseMediocre [3]

40 Years: A Charlie Brown Christmas is a compilation album released in the U.S. by Peak Records in October 2005. The album is a tribute to the soundtrack album A Charlie Brown Christmas released by American jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi (credited to the Vince Guaraldi Trio) in December 1965. [4]

Contents

Reception

Rob Theakston of AllMusic noted that the original soundtrack recording has become "a cornerstone for jazz orientation and an essential holiday remedy for the run-of-the-mill-predictable contemporary favorites," adding that the musicians assembled for this tribute album represent a "veritable who's who of adult contemporary and jazz performers." Theakston added that the resulting music is "very warm sounding, heavily polished" and "well-played". [1]

Guaraldi historian Derrick Bang noted that the album is "quite nice", adding that David Benoit's rendition of "Christmas Is Coming" is a "punchy, swinging cover", while Dave Koz's version of "Linus and Lucy" is "equally lively". [3]

All About Jazz critic Woodrow Wilkins called the album a "jazz lover's delight". [2]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Vince Guaraldi, except where noted

Standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)PerformerLength
1."Christmas Is Coming"  David Benoit 2:54
2."Just Like Me"
 Vanessa Williams 4:12
3."Linus and Lucy"  Dave Koz 4:02
4."It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year"
 Toni Braxton 4:17
5."My Little Drum"  Rick Braun 3:28
6."Skating"  Norman Brown 4:01
7."Christmas Time Is Here" (vocal)
  • Vince Guaraldi
  • Lee Mendelson
 Brian McKnight 4:25
8."O Tannenbaum" Ernst Anschütz Gerald Albright 3:53
9."Red Baron"  The Rippingtons 4:10
10."The Christmas Song"
 Chaka Khan 4:03
11."Für Elise" Ludwig van Beethoven David Benoit1:07
12."Christmas Time Is Here" (instrumental)  Eric Marienthal 3:13
Target exclusive
No.TitleWriter(s)PerformerLength
13."Charlie Brown Theme"
 Wayman Tisdale  
14."Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"
 LaToya London  

Session information

Credits adapted from CD liner notes.

Additional personnel

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References

  1. 1 2 Theakston, Rob. 40 Years: A Charlie Brown Christmas at AllMusic. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  2. 1 2 Wilkins, Woodrow (December 16, 2005). "40 Years: A Charlie Brown Christmas". allaboutjazz.com. All About Jazz. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  3. 1 2 Bang, Derrick. "A Charlie Brown Christmas Redux ... and redux and redux". fivecentsplease.org. Derrick Bang, Scott McGuire. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  4. ↑ Caulfield, Keith (December 29, 2020). "'Charlie Brown Christmas' Soundtrack Hits Billboard 200 Top 10 for the First Time". Billboard . Retrieved 22 February 2021.
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