Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown

Last updated

Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown
Earlyboyfront 1964.jpg
Soundtrack album by
ReleasedDecember 1964
Recorded
May 26; September 11; October 26, 1964
[1]
Studio [1]
Genre
Length33:29(original 1964 release)
94:35 (2025 remastered expanded edition)
Label Fantasy
Vince Guaraldi chronology
The Latin Side of Vince Guaraldi
(1964)
Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown
(1964)
From All Sides
(1965)
Singles from Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown
  1. "Oh, Good Grief"/"Linus and Lucy"
    Released: 1964
Side One
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Oh, Good Grief"
2:21
2."Pebble Beach" 2:47
3."Happiness Theme (Happiness Is) [a] " 3:37
4."Schroeder" 1:51
5."Charlie Brown Theme"
  • Vince Guaraldi
  • Lee Mendelson
4:20
Side Two
No.TitleLength
6."Linus and Lucy"3:03
7."Blue Charlie Brown"7:26
8."Baseball Theme"3:13
9."Frieda (With the Naturally Curly Hair) [b] "4:31
Total length:33:09

1989 CD release

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
10."Fly Me to the Moon" Bart Howard 8:55

2014 CD remaster

No.TitleLength
11."Baseball Theme" (alternate take)1:56
Total length:44:00

2025 remaster/Expanded Edition

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
10."Linus and Lucy" (Studio Test) 2:28
11."Linus and Lucy" (Take 3) 1:14
12."Happiness Theme (Happiness Is)" (Take 4) 3:36
13."Pebble Beach" (Take 7) 2:37
14."Baseball Theme" (Take 1) 1:27
15."Oh, Good Grief" (Take 1)
  • Vince Guaraldi
  • Lee Mendelson
1:57
16."Schroeder" (Take 3) 1:37
17."Baseball Theme" (Take 2) 2:29
18."Oh, Good Grief" (Take 1/Later Session)
  • Vince Guaraldi
  • Lee Mendelson
2:44
19."Schroeder" (Take 2) 0:48
20."Blues For Peanuts [c] " 4:39
21."Charlie Brown Theme" (Take 4)
  • Vince Guaraldi
  • Lee Mendelson
4:50
22."Blue Charlie Brown" (Take 1) 5:28
23."Frieda (With the Naturally Curly Hair)" (Take 1) 6:11
24."Fly Me to the Moon [c] "Bart Howard9:00
25."Autumn Leaves [c] "10:17
Total length:94:35

Notes

Session information

The following table outlines the known recording sessions for Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown, including key track development, studio locations, personnel, and release status. The information is based on original Fantasy Records session documentation and the 2025 expanded reissue liner notes. [7]

Sessionography: Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown
Track TitleRecording DateStudioPersonnelTake Notes / VariantsRelease Status
Linus and LucyApril 30, 1964 (test)Unknown (solo test session)Vince Guaraldi (solo)Early version; faster tempo, repeated chorus, no bridge. Exploratory take.Released (2025 reissue)
Linus and LucyMay 26, 1964Coast Recorders, San FranciscoGuaraldi, Monty Budwig (bass), Colin Bailey (drums)Final trio version; AABA form with full swing bridge. Became Peanuts signature theme.Released (1964 LP)
Baseball ThemeMay 26, 1964Coast RecordersGuaraldi TrioTwo known alternates: one with a short vamp ending; one slower version with alternate bridge and outro.Alternates released (2025 reissue)
Charlie Brown ThemeSeptember 11, 1964Coast RecordersGuaraldi TrioReflective minor-key theme; unconfirmed alternates.Released (1964 LP)
Oh, Good GriefSeptember 11, 1964Coast RecordersGuaraldi TrioOne version opens with extended rubato intro; another is up-tempo with an improvisational bridge.Final and alternates released (2025)
SchroederSeptember 11, 1964Coast RecordersGuaraldi Trio (alt), solo piano (final)Two alternates: one trio fast version; one bossa nova. Final version is solo piano in classical étude style.All versions released (2025 reissue)
Blue Charlie BrownOctober 26, 1964Whitney Studio, GlendaleGuaraldi TrioMelancholic blues ballad; unused in final documentary.Released (1964 LP)
Happiness ThemeMay 26, 1964Coast RecordersGuaraldi TrioLight waltz structure; no known alternate takes.Released (1964 LP)
Pebble BeachOctober 26, 1964Whitney StudioGuaraldi TrioLatin-influenced melody; possibly tied to golf tournament scene. Praised by drummer Colin Bailey; unused in final documentaryReleased (1964 LP)
Frieda (With the Naturally Curly Hair)September 11, 1964Coast RecordersGuaraldi TrioShort and cheerful character sketch; name misspelled as "Freda" on release.Released (1964 LP)

Notes

Personnel

Credits adapted from 2025 expanded reissue liner notes.

1964 personnel

Vince Guaraldi Trio
Production

2025 reissue personnel

References

  1. 1 2 Bang, Derrick (2012). Vince Guaraldi at the Piano. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 181. ISBN   978-0786490745.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Ginell, Richard S.. Review of A Boy Named Charlie Brown (Original Soundtrack) at AllMusic . Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  3. Rickert, David (November 11, 2004). "Vince Guaraldi: A Boy Named Charlie Brown". allaboutjazz.com. All About Jazz. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  4. 1 2 Bang, Derrick. "Vince Guaraldi on LP and CD: Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown". fivecentsplease.org. Derrick Bang, Scott McGuire. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  5. Fleming, Colin (May 13, 2014). "'A Boy Named Charlie Brown' displays Vince Guaraldi Trio's many gifts". bostonglobe.com. The Boston Globe. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  6. Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 614. ISBN   978-0-141-03401-0.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Bang, Derrick (October 2024). Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown: 2025 Remastered Expanded Edition (liner notes). Vince Guaraldi. Nashville, Tennessee: Craft Recordings.
  8. Priore, Domenic. "Cool Vibes and California Time: Vince Guaraldi and the Sound of West Coast Jazz". DownBeat Magazine, Vol. 72, No. 5, May 2005, pp. 34–39.
  9. Tirro, Frank. Jazz: A History. 2nd ed. New York: W. W. Norton, 1993.
  10. "Linus and Lucy" at AllMusic
  11. Concord Music Group. (2025). Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown – 75th Anniversary Expanded Edition. [Press release]. Retrieved April 11, 2025, from https://concord.com/peanuts75
  12. "VINCE GUARALDI TRIO Jazz Impressions Of A Boy Named Charlie Brown (Alternate Takes)". Record Store Day. April 12, 2025. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  13. Gleason, Ralph J. (December 1964). Jazz Impressions of "A Boy Named Charlie Brown" original liner notes (liner notes). Vince Guaraldi. San Francisco, California: Fantasy Records.
  14. "Album Reviews: Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown". Cashbox. December 19, 1964. p. 28.
  15. "Record Reviews: Best Bets — Vince Guaraldi, "Oh, Good Grief"/"Linus and Lucy"". Cashbox. December 19, 1964. p. 12.
  16. Bang, Derrick. Liner notes for A Boy Named Charlie Brown: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2017); Kritzerland, Inc. Retrieved 7 May 2020
  17. "Vince Guaraldi Trio: Chart History – Soundtracks". Billboard. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  18. Bang, Derrick (August 20, 2022). "The ghost of Christmas past". impressionsofvince.com. Retrieved September 4, 2020.