SIDE "A" I often wonder who doesn't already own this soundtrack to "A Charlie Brown Christmas" by Vince Guaraldi...several times over. Yet, every year, we get still more reissues and versions and formats. And somebody's buying them. Lots of people.
On September 14, Barnes & Noble will exclusively release "A Charlie Brown Christmas" on picture disc. Time was, when picture discs were in their original heyday, their sound quality was below that of regular vinyl. I don't know if that issue's been addressed in the intervening, what, 35 or 40 years? But, then, you don't really buy picture discs to play; you buy them to look at, to frame on the wall of your man-cave, or to tuck away in hopes the value will climb. Or maybe you buy them, just because they're kinda cool to have.
No real sense in previewing the music, I know. But let's do it anyway.
On September 14, Barnes & Noble will exclusively release "A Charlie Brown Christmas" on picture disc. Time was, when picture discs were in their original heyday, their sound quality was below that of regular vinyl. I don't know if that issue's been addressed in the intervening, what, 35 or 40 years? But, then, you don't really buy picture discs to play; you buy them to look at, to frame on the wall of your man-cave, or to tuck away in hopes the value will climb. Or maybe you buy them, just because they're kinda cool to have.
No real sense in previewing the music, I know. But let's do it anyway.
SIDE "B" Clearly, the music's brilliant. And the story behind the special is a classic, as well. Peanuts was at peak popularity when CBS and Coca Cola decided to do an animated Christmas special. Charles Schultz wrote the script and Bill Melendez was the director and chief animator. They were on a tight budget and an even tighter schedule. And, when they finished, just 10 days before the broadcast premiere, the powers that be were not happy with what they got. They hated every bit of it, right down to the choice to use actual children to voice the Peanuts characters (who were, of course, children). Oh, the horrors. They hated the animation. They hated the pacing. They were miffed that there was no laugh track. They hated Linus' religious monologue. But most of all, they hated the choice of Vince Guaraldi to provide the soundtrack. A children's Christmas special and we're giving them Jazz? WTF? Even Melendez was certain they had created a disaster. It just goes to prove what my college roommate always tells me: "Stubby, the people with all of the answers......they haven't got a clue." Only Ed Levitt, one of the animators, was prescient. "The show is going to run for a hundred years," he said, while others fretted before the air date. Well, Ed...we're at 53 and counting.
There have been picture discs of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" before. This one features a new design. Officially dropping on September 14, "A Charlie Brown Christmas" (the picture disc) is a Barnes & Noble exclusive.
There have been picture discs of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" before. This one features a new design. Officially dropping on September 14, "A Charlie Brown Christmas" (the picture disc) is a Barnes & Noble exclusive.
 | Side One "O Tannenbaum" "What Child Is This" "My Little Drum" "Linus and Lucy" "Christmas Time Is Here" (Instrumental) Side Two "Christmas Time Is Here" (Vocal) "Skating" "Hark, The Herald Angels Sing" "Christmas Is Coming" "Für Elise" "The Christmas Song" "Greensleeves" |
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