The Eclectic Vince Guaraldi

Last updated
The Eclectic Vince Guaraldi
EclecticVG cover.jpg
Studio album by
Vince Guaraldi
ReleasedMarch 1969 [1]
RecordedLate 1968-Early 1969
StudioGolden State Studios, San Francisco, California [2]
Genre
Length45:28
Label Warner Bros.-Seven Arts
Producer Vince Guaraldi
Vince Guaraldi chronology
Oh Good Grief!
(1968)		The Eclectic Vince Guaraldi
(1969)		 Alma-Ville
(1969)

The Eclectic Vince Guaraldi is the 11th and penultimate studio album by American jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi, released in the U.S. by Warner Bros.-Seven Arts in March 1969. [1] In a departure from his standard jazz output, Guaraldi experimented with electric keyboard and electric harpsichord in preparation of the release of the album, which he also produced and arranged. [1]

Contents

Background

Vince Guaraldi's final three albums released during his lifetime were recorded for Warner Bros.-Seven Arts after spending considerable time struggling to extricate himself from Fantasy Records. [2] Warner signed Guaraldi to a three-record deal, and insisted that his inaugural release consist of his Peanuts songs. Guaraldi responded with new renditions of eight of his most popular scores from those programs on his first release, Oh Good Grief! . [3]

Guaraldi was then given complete artistic control over his sophomore, self-produced Warner effort, The Eclectic Vince Guaraldi, resulting in an unfocused and overindulgent album that was not well received by both critics and consumers. [1] Only one track, "Lucifer's Lady", would eventually be featured in the film A Boy Named Charlie Brown (1969) and the television special, Play It Again, Charlie Brown (1971). [2] The album is notable for featuring a cover of The Beatles’ song "Yesterday". [1]

A remastered edition of The Eclectic Vince Guaraldi was released in July 6, 2018, by Omnivore Recordings as part of the 2-CD set The Complete Warner Bros.–Seven Arts Recordings . [3]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Five Cents PleaseStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]

The Eclectic Vince Guaraldi received mixed reviews from critics. In a retrospective review by Richard S. Ginell on AllMusic , he commented that Guaraldi "roams farther afield than ever — playing piano and electric harpsichord, experimenting with sleek string backdrops, dabbling with the guitar." Ginell also called Guaraldi's "amateur Bohemian vocal" attempts at singing Tim Hardin's "Black Sheep Boy" and "Reason to Believe" "rather endearing." Ginell concluded by saying Guaraldi "generally keeps things at a low-key level, which gives this scattershot album at least a veneer of unity." [2]

Guaraldi historian Derrick Bang offered a mediocre review, saying "everybody's allowed to be grotesquely self-indulgent once, but this overproduced album...is well-named even by the most magnanimous standards," added that Guaraldi's vocals are "untrained at best, off-key at worst, and ill-advised in both cases." Bang points out that Guaraldi's "traditional acoustic jazz persona" is only represented by "Once I Loved" and Ervin Drake's "It Was a Very Good Year." [1]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Vince Guaraldi, except where noted.

Side One
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Nobody Else" 3:15
2."Lucifer's Lady" 6:56
3."Black Sheep Boy" Tim Hardin 2:42
4."Once I Loved"
8:30
Side Two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
5."The Beat Goes On" Sonny Bono 3:54
6."Yesterday"
3:36
7."Coffee and Doe-Nuts" 7:03
8."Reason to Believe"Hardin2:57
9."It Was a Very Good Year" Ervin Drake 6:35
Total length:45:28

Personnel

Related Research Articles

Vince Guaraldi American jazz pianist (1928–1976)

Vincent Anthony Guaraldi was an American jazz pianist noted for his innovative compositions and arrangements, and for composing music for animated television adaptations of the Peanuts comic strip. His compositions for this series included their signature melody "Linus and Lucy" and the holiday standard "Christmas Time Is Here". He is also known for his performances on piano as a member of Cal Tjader's 1950s ensembles and for his own solo career. His 1962 composition "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" became a radio hit and won a Grammy Award in 1963 for Best Original Jazz Composition. He died of a sudden heart attack in February 1976 at age 47, moments after concluding a nightclub performance in Menlo Park, California.

Linus and Lucy 1964 single by Vince Guaraldi

"Linus and Lucy" is a popular instrumental jazz standard written by American jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi, appearing in many Peanuts animated specials. Named for the two fictional siblings Linus and Lucy van Pelt, it was originally released on Guaraldi's album Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown. However, it gained its greatest exposure as part of the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack the following year. It is one of the most recognizable pieces by Guaraldi, and has gained status as the signature melody of the Peanuts franchise.

<i>A Charlie Brown Christmas</i> (soundtrack) 1965 soundtrack album by Vince Guaraldi

A Charlie Brown Christmas is the eighth studio album by American jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi. The album was released in December 1965 in the U.S. by Fantasy Records and was Guaraldi's final studio album for the label. It is the soundtrack to the Christmas television special of the same name.

<i>Oh Good Grief!</i> 1968 studio album by Vince Guaraldi

Oh Good Grief! is the 10th studio album by Vince Guaraldi, released in the U.S. in May 1968. The album was the artist's first release with Warner Bros.-Seven Arts after leaving Fantasy Records in 1966.

<i>From All Sides</i> 1965 studio album by Vince Guaraldi and Bola Sete

From All Sides is a collaboration between pianist Vince Guaraldi and guitarist Bola Sete released in February 1965 by Fantasy Records. It was Guaraldi's seventh studio album and the second of three collaborations with Sete.

Eddie Duran American jazz guitarist

Edward Lozano Duran was an American jazz guitarist from San Francisco. He recorded often with Vince Guaraldi and was a member of the Benny Goodman orchestra during the 1970s.

<i>Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown</i> 1964 soundtrack album by Vince Guaraldi

Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown is the sixth studio album by American jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi, released in the U.S. by Fantasy Records in December 1964. It is the soundtrack to the unreleased television documentary film entitled A Boy Named Charlie Brown.

<i>Vince Guaraldi and the Lost Cues from the Charlie Brown Television Specials</i> 2007 compilation album by Vince Guaraldi

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 in 2007. The album consists of select music cues featured on several Peanuts television specials produced between 1972 and 1975.

<i>Vince Guaraldi and the Lost Cues from the Charlie Brown Television Specials, Volume 2</i> 2008 compilation album by Vince Guaraldi

Vince Guaraldi and the Lost Cues from the Charlie Brown Television Specials, Volume 2 is a compilation album by Vince Guaraldi released by D & D Records in 2008. The album is a follow-up to the 2007 release, Vince Guaraldi and the Lost Cues from the Charlie Brown Television Specials, which consisted of previously unreleased music cues featured on several Peanuts television specials produced in the 1970s.

<i>The Latin Side of Vince Guaraldi</i> 1964 studio album by Vince Guaraldi

The Latin Side of Vince Guaraldi is the fifth studio album by Vince Guaraldi released by Fantasy Records in 1964. In a departure from his standard jazz output, Guaraldi combined elements of Brazilian and Caribbean styles of Latin jazz, utilizing a string quartet on five tracks.

<i>The Charlie Brown Suite & Other Favorites</i> 2003 compilation album by Vince Guaraldi

The Charlie Brown Suite & Other Favorites is a 2003 compilation album by jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi released by RCA/Bluebird Records. The album is a mix of previously released material, newly discovered studio recordings, plus an archived 1969 live concert recording entitled The Charlie Brown Suite.

<i>Charlie Browns Holiday Hits</i> 1998 compilation album by Vince Guaraldi

Charlie Brown's Holiday Hits is a compilation album by jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi released by Fantasy Records in 1998. The album was the first of several posthumous releases containing a mix of previously released material in addition to nine previously unavailable songs featured in prime-time animated television specials based on the Peanuts comic strip by Charles M. Schulz.

<i>Alma-Ville</i> 1969 studio album by Vince Guaraldi

Alma-Ville is the 12th and final studio album by American jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi, released in the U.S. by Warner Bros.-Seven Arts in December 1969.

<i>At Grace Cathedral</i> 1965 live album by Vince Guaraldi

At Grace Cathedral is a live performance album by jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi, released in the U.S. in September 1965 on Fantasy Records.

<i>Vince Guaraldi with the San Francisco Boys Chorus</i> 1967 studio album by Vince Guaraldi

Vince Guaraldi with the San Francisco Boys Chorus is an album collaboration between American jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi and the San Francisco Boys Chorus released in December 1967. It was Guaraldi's ninth studio album and the first to be released on his D&D record label, named for the first initials of his two children, David and Dia.

<i>The Definitive Vince Guaraldi</i> 2009 compilation album by Vince Guaraldi

The Definitive Vince Guaraldi is Fantasy/Concord Records compilation album of songs by American jazz pianist/composer Vince Guaraldi released on November 3, 2009. It contains 31 tracks over two CDs, highlighting Guaraldi's Peanuts work as well his collaborations with guitarist Bola Sete.

<i>An Afternoon with the Vince Guaraldi Quartet</i> 2011 live album by Vince Guaraldi

An Afternoon with the Vince Guaraldi Quartet is a live performance double CD by American jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi, released on November 24, 2011, by V.A.G. Publishing. To date, it is the last album compiled and produced by Guaraldi's son, David.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (Vince Guaraldi album) 1980 compilation album by Vince Guaraldi

Greatest Hits is the second compilation album of songs by American jazz pianist/composer Vince Guaraldi released in 1980 in the U.S., Canada and Europe.

<i>The Complete Warner Bros.–Seven Arts Recordings</i> 2018 compilation album by Vince Guaraldi

The Complete Warner Bros.–Seven Arts Recordings is a double CD compilation of songs by American jazz pianist/composer Vince Guaraldi released by Omnivore Recordings on July 6, 2018. It contains 30 tracks, containing remastered versions of Guaraldi's complete recorded output for Warner Bros.-Seven Arts, plus four bonus tracks.

The 1969 animated film A Boy Named Charlie Brown, based on Charles M. Schulz's comic strip Peanuts, had two different soundtrack albums. These albums were released individually in 1970 and 2017.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Bang, Derrick. "Vince Guaraldi on LP and CD: The Eclectic Vince Guaraldi". fivecentsplease.org. Derrick Bang, Scott McGuire. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Ginell, Richard S.. The Eclectic Vince Guaraldi at AllMusic. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  3. 1 2 Jurek, Thom. The Complete Warner Bros.-Seven Arts Recordings at AllMusic . Retrieved 17 April 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.