Vince Guaraldi Trio – A Charlie Brown Christmas (Special Pop Up Edition) (Fantasy/Craft)
Out of the thousands of holiday albums that have been recorded over the years, no album gives off more warmth than A Charlie Brown Christmas. The soundtrack to the original 1965 animated children’s cartoon has the ability to fit into just about any holiday gathering, just as inviting as the homemade cookies and hot cocoa.
While Elvis, Mariah Carey, Kenny G and Johnny Mathis have all sold more copies, every one of their albums are imperfect at best – good but not great. Each album contains some great songs alongside filler. A Charlie Brown Christmas works better as a cohesive collection – a fantastic listen, start to finish.
The classic holiday favorite has just been reissued for the 75th anniversary of Peanuts, and the 60th anniversary of the Charlie Brown Christmas TV special in a special, Pop Up Edition. The gatefold album jacket folds open to a scene from the cartoon, featuring Charlie Brown, Snoopy and all the gang.
The album opens with just Guaraldi on piano on “O Tannenbaum,” before the rhythm section joins at :37. The bass lopes and the drums gently swing while Guaraldi glides up and down the keys. Yet, it never sounds flashy, or like he’s trying to show off. “What Child is This” is cleverly arranged in 3/4 time, and it’s Guaraldi’s flourishes at the end of each phrase that are marvels.
“My Little Drum” is a jazzy reworking of “Little Drummer Boy” which makes things much more palatable, even with the kids singing in the left channel. The original song tends to be plodding, but this arrangement really breathes new life into the tired classic. “Linus and Lucy” may be the most recognizable instrumental in the history of recorded music, and this is the definitive version. There’s a buoyancy to the improvisational passages that is absent from other recordings.
“Christmastime is Here,” first in its instrumental form, is just so inviting. The brushes on the drums are incredibly underrated, as is the bass work. This track also features some of Guaraldi’s most adventurous soloing on the album. That melody is reprised for the vocal version, which features the children, all singing in unison, in the left channel.
That’s followed by the single greatest track, “Skating.” No instrumental better captures the title of the song, as this track literally glides around, all three members creating an effervescent concoction that dares to jump out of the grooves. “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” is cute, reminding us of the innocence of the holiday. “Christmas is Coming” is good swinging fun.
You can just see Lucy sitting on Schroeder’s piano on “Fur Elise,” while “The Christmas Song” begins as a solo piano piece, before the band joins at 1:40, creating a completely different mood. The album closes with a gorgeous reading of “Greensleeves,” again, which is just so underrated in the phrasing – playing the melody, but then expanding and lifting it off the ground.
At a mere 34 minutes, the album never overstays its welcome.
Every household with a turntable should own a copy of A Charlie Brown Christmas. The new 60th anniversary, Pop Up Edition makes an excellent addition to any holiday gathering. —Tony Peters