40 Years: A Charlie Brown Christmas

Last updated

40 Years: A Charlie Brown Christmas
40yrsCBXmasCD.jpg
Compilation album by
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." He added that the musicians assembled for this tribute album represent a "veritable who's who of adult contemporary and jazz performers," and 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

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 August 18, 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 February 22, 2021.